Prof. Gladys Tang, Chairperson, Board of Directors of "SLCO Community Resources", pointed out that deaf persons dislike being stereotyped as disabled or hearing impaired and everyone can learn sign language. She and her team strive to promote sign bilingualism, aiming to enhance public awareness to foster deaf-hearing inclusiveness in society.  Details

Given the intensifying usage of digital products to receive instant information and maintain close connection with the society amid the novel coronavirus epidemic, the elderly, who generally have lower digital literacy, have become more isolated and vulnerable. Meanwhile, more and more young people who are in general well-versed in digital technologies have become unemployed or underemployed under the epidemic. The SIE Fund is inviting funding proposals for enhancing the capability and interest of the elderly in learning and adopting digital technologies with participation/engagement of the youth. The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 May 2021.  Details

The SIE Fund has appointed a collaborative coalition of ten organisations led by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service as an intermediary to design, develop and operate an inclusive Gerontechnology Platform. The Gerontechnology Platform is the second flagship project of the Fund with the aim of fostering the development and application of gerontechnology to enhance the well-being of the elderly, particularly under the "new normal". Please refer to the press release for further details. 

Aspiring to tackle social problems with innovative ideas, KK Ling, Director of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, leads his team to drive "participatory social innovation" which fosters community engagement and cross-sector collaboration for stakeholders to co-create solutions.  Read more...

'Since the establishment of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) in 2013, over $400 million has been allocated and 230 projects funded under three priority areas of work, namely, capacity building, innovative programmes and research, benefiting around 250 000 persons. An injection of $500 million to the SIE Fund will be made in 2021–22.' (extracted from Chapter V of the Supplement, Unlimited Business Opportunities)

'Design, develop and operate an inclusive "Gerontechnology Platform" under the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund to link up different stakeholders on the supply and demand sides and enhance synergy by way of engagement, cross-sector partnership and collaboration. The goal is to foster the development and application of gerontechnology as a means to enhancing the well-being, quality of life, independence and self-reliance of the elderly as well as providing support to their families, caregivers, healthcare staff and institutions, particularly under the "new normal".' (extracted from Chapter VIII of the Supplement, Caring Society)

Read more... 

By promoting audio description services, Dr Dawning Leung, the founder of Audio Description Association (Hong Kong), aims to help persons with visual impairment enjoy equal rights to take part in cultural and outdoor activities just as their sighted counterparts do, realising what she sees as true equality and inclusion for the visually impaired.  Read more...

With the SIE Fund assuming the role of Commissioner, the first Pay-for-Success project in Hong Kong was launched by Oxfam Hong Kong. The project, namely "Start from the Beginning - Chinese Supporting Scheme for Non-Chinese Speaking Students (NCS) in Kindergarten", seeks to help NCS kindergarten students improve their Chinese proficiency and learning motivation and enhance kindergarten teachers' capability of teaching NCS students Chinese, thereby relieving the poverty and social exclusion issues of NCS students in the long run.  Read more...

The SIE Fund has hired consultancy service for conducting an evaluation study of the Fund since 2016. The service will complete in end 2020. It is decided to conduct the second study to continue to assess the impacts created by the Fund in the social innovation space and define the Fund’s role in poverty alleviation and enhancement of social inclusion. The Fund is now inviting proposals from interested parties to act as the consultant to conduct the Second Evaluation Study of the SIE Fund. Proposals from entities established in Hong Kong are welcome.  Read more...

Anthea Lee, Chief Executive of The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong, sees many in the marginalised communities as “unpolished gemstones”. The Society provides training, mentorship and a network to help them partake in social innovation and become “co-creators” in building an inclusive and safe society.  Read more...

Tracy Ng, Chief Executive of Fullness Social Enterprises Society, is knowledgeable about project management. She and the Society's Chair and senior members provide training on social entrepreneurship by which knowledge is passed on to young social entrepreneurs. Check out how Tracy contributes to the social innovation space. 

The government has announced the membership of the new term of the SIE Fund Task Force with an office term running from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2022.  Read more...