Like other metropolitan cities, the dynamic and vibrant city of Hong Kong is home to various economic and social challenges. However, the big-picture perspective tells a positive story: quality of life has enjoyed steady improvement over the past decades, and this is largely due to the impactful work of the city’s community organizations.
As one of the longest-standing philanthropic organizations in the city, The Hongkong Bank Foundation deemed it necessary to shine a light on the unsung heroes who were uplifting the underserved and the community as a whole.
That is why, in 2012, the HSBC Hong Kong Community Partnership Programme (CPP) was inaugurated to promote social inclusion by strengthening collaboration with community partners, addressing district-specific needs, and supporting the capacity building of NGOs and community organizations.
Since its launch, CPP, supported by the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department, and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), has empowered over 1,400 projects, benefiting more than six million people.
HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival: Celebrating Everyday Heroes
In 2025 alone, The Hongkong Bank Foundation allocated HK$18 million to support 21 district-based projects, designed to help disadvantaged communities build resilience and become future-ready. The 21 outstanding projects also received a bespoke award at this year’s CCP, themed “Celebrating Everyday Heroes”, for their collective achievements as well as dedication and innovative spirit in supporting the community.
The CCP’s endeavor to honor everyday heroes did not stop at that. The HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival, held on 25 and 26 April at the Central Market, served as a bridge between the 21 community partners and members of the public to foster meaningful engagement, showcase socially and environmentally impactful work, promote knowledge exchange, while enabling participants to join hands in shaping a brighter future for all.
HSBC Scholars and FSI Volunteering Their Support at the Community Festival
Across the two-day HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival, 20 HSBC Scholars and Hub for the Future members, and two FSI staff, Toni Leung, HSBC Scholarship Scheme Program Manager, and Mandy Yeung, Program Officer, volunteered their support.
From introducing the event to the public and inviting them to participate in interactive games, from assisting with workshop set-up to registration, from promoting community organizations’ booths to crowd management, the HSBC Scholars and Hub members’ enthusiasm and resourcefulness played a significant role in ensuring the smooth running of the event, packed with interactive and informative activities and workshops throughout the three floors of the Central Market.
At the ground-floor Oasis Space, participants were welcomed by a photo booth, a space where they could put up messages of gratitude for the everyday heroes, and the Supercharge Hub, where information on the 21 projects and community organizations was displayed.
The first floor likewise greeted participants with a photo booth before they browsed and stopped by various community partner booths for games and activities, curated to help participants gain an in-depth understanding of the work of the everyday heroes.
In addition to the digital screen showcasing the CCP-awarded community organizations, the second floor also featured a Connection Kiosk, where participants could stand inside a phone booth to listen to community stories read by celebrities such as Nancy Sit, Adekunbi Salako, and Aiden Tsang.
Amongst the highlights of the event was the Communi-tea session on the first day, where HSBC expressed gratitude to the community organizations for supporting the Hong Kong community.
HSBC Scholars: A Privilege to be Part of an Impactful Event
The great turnout also meant plenty of ceaseless volunteering work for the HSBC Scholars and Hub members, but that did not dampen their spirit to support community organizations and to take a deep dive into the positive social impact generated by the CCP.
Said Iris Tam, recipient of the 2022 HSBC Vocational Education Scholarship: “I think this is a truly great event for the public, and I really appreciate HSBC for their efforts in making it happen. It was a privilege to be part of it! Many parents and children were genuinely amazed by the experiences offered at the NGO booths. I especially loved how the booths educated visitors on protecting the environment and animals — it really warmed my heart. My biggest takeaway was witnessing how a well-organized community event can bring generations together. Watching children light up with joy and families engage meaningfully with NGO booths showed me the real impact volunteering can have. It reinforced how education, compassion, and community spirit can make a lasting difference in people’s lives.”
Also learning more about HSBC’s social impact through volunteering at the Community Festival was Mimi Wong, recipient of the 2024 HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship: “I learned more about how HSBC contributed to the community by providing grants to different NGOs and even helped NGOs promote their projects. I realized that supporting a community project required a lot of work. Apart from funding the organizations, HSBC also cooperated with NGOs and managed their projects. This activity allowed me to interact with individuals from different backgrounds, which enabled me to improve my communication skills and speaking skills.”
Indeed, interacting with people from diverse backgrounds benefited the volunteering scholars in unexpected ways. Said Jolin Ho, recipient of the 2018 HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship: “During the volunteering event, I met people from diverse backgrounds, such as HSBC staff members and NGO partners. Their generous sharing has widened my horizons and inspired my future research and social good projects. I have also gained knowledge of birds in Hong Kong, as well as the perspectives of older adults within our community, when assisting the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. It’s truly a fruitful and rewarding volunteering experience! I am very grateful for this opportunity.”
As the secretariat of the HSBC Scholarship Scheme and the coordinator for Hub for the Future – a community of past and current recipients of HSBC Scholarships – FSI works to transform the Hub community into a force for good. Since July 2024, we have provided the Hub community with opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, skills acquisition, and community service activities. Learn more about our youth empowerment work here.
