Founded in 2012 as Asia’s first and largest youth-led soap recycling charity, Soap Cycling has long been dedicated to environmental conservation, community empowerment, and advancing equitable hygiene, especially in underserved communities in Asia and beyond.
On 15 November, 25 HSBC Scholars and Hub for the Future community members joined a workshop organized by Soap Cycling, FSI’s social impact partner, where they volunteered their time to create soap art that will be given to underprivileged children as Christmas presents through the annual festive gift-sharing event coordinated by Box of Hope.
Kickstarting the workshop, Ronald Ho, Soap Cycling’s General Manager, shared the organization’s mission and mission with the HSBC Scholars: “Soap Cycling was founded to collect lightly used soap bars from hotels, recycle them into new soap bars, and distribute these precious hygiene resources to communities in need in Hong Kong and beyond.”
To help the HSBC Scholars retain their newly gained knowledge about the power of soap, Ronald quizzed them on things like why washing hands with soap doesn’t spread diseases, and why soap bar carries a lower environmental footprint than liquid soap.
HSBC Scholars Contributing to Hygiene Equity Under the Leadership of Veteran Volunteers
Although established as a youth-led impact organization, Soap Cycling also empowers ethnic minority and senior citizens through dignified work opportunities offered by its MEY Programme. In fact, it was under the guidance of the three senior citizen volunteers, Mr and Mrs Leung and Ms Fung, that the HSBC Scholars learned to make the soap art.
Led by the veteran volunteers, the HSBC scholars mixed soap powder with water before adding colors. Once the mixture reached a sticky consistency, the HSBC Scholars poured it into a cookie mould for the soap to set.
Through collective efforts made amidst laughter and learning, the HSBC Scholars created 110 pieces of soap art, which will be packed along with educational toys and daily essentials, and distributed to children in impoverished communities this festive season.
But the recipients are not the only beneficiaries – the HSBC Scholars who participated in the workshop found an immense sense of fulfilment, too.
Said Eric Tsui, 2025 HSBC Hong Kong Scholar: “I feel very glad that I met so many wonderful people, as well as the elderly who taught us how to make the soap. It is a really interesting experience, and I definitely encourage others to join this workshop.”
The sentiment was echoed by Athena Wong and Iman Hussain, 2025 HSBC Hong Kong Scholar and 2025 HSBC Greater Bay Area Scholar, respectively.
“I found the workshop very meaningful,” said Athena. “Ronald is very nice; he introduced us to the soap recycling workshop, its purpose, and where the soap goes. Then we got to make the soap ourselves, knowing that the soap will ultimately go to underprivileged children.”
“It was a great experience today at Soap Cycling because we got to make so many different types of soap for underprivileged children all over the world,” said Iman. “It was a very fulfilling experience.”
“Today was fun!” said Ayeisha Shafana, 2025 HSBC Hong Kong Scholar. “It was really interesting to see how Soap Cycling creates social impact, not just in Hong Kong, but also in the Philippines, and I am happy to contribute to creating social impact.”
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.
