Ventures in Development

July Hong Kong Social Innovation Salon

Thank you to those who joined our July Social Innovation Salon in Hong Kong (July 4). If you have missed it, don't worry! Here's a recap of the social challenge we presented and the innovative solutions that our participants have pitched:

Social challenge:
How to help ethnic minority (EM) children better integrate into the local community?
How to provide more educational/ vocational opportunities for EM teens who may not speak/ read Chinese fluently?

Why is this important?

There are currently 10413 EM children (aged < 15) and 5200 EM teens (aged 15-24) in Hong Kong. Most of them come from India, Pakistan and Nepal. [HK Population By-census, 2006]

Background

Due to differences in language, religion, cultural and familial values, EM children often encounter challenges when adjusting to the local community. Education seems to be the biggest problem of all since they have a limited school choice and places, with many schools lack funding in providing special curriculum for EMs. A majority of EM children and parents also have a limited knowledge in Chinese. This result in a low school enrollment rate and frequent difficulties when EM youth wish to further their studies or to look for jobs.

Status Quo

The Education and Manpower Bureau allowed EM children to choose mainstream schools in the "Primary One Admission System" starting from 2004. 22 designated schools also receive special grants from the government to run special policies to accomodate the needs of EM children. Some NGOs set up community centers in areas where live the most EM population to provide additional support. However, the scope of their work is limited because it requires EM families cooperation as well as locals' understanding of EMs' needs.

Responses to Social Challenge from Hong Kong:

Solution 1: Kitchen School for Ethnic Minorities
Solution 2: Diversity Salon
Solution 3: Skills Exchange and Internship Program
Solution 4: South Asian Community Street
Solution 5: Saying it with Flair
Solution 6: Fun for All Sports Program
Solution 7: All-Purpose Community Centre for EMs and Locals

Summary of all ideas from Hong Kong for social challenge - Mindmap

 

June Hong Kong Social Innovation Salon

Social Challenge 1: Household Recycling

How might we improve the effectiveness and boost the participation rate of the existing household recycling program?

How might we encourage second-hand exchange in Hong Kong? (another form of household recycling)

Why is this important?

The 3 existing landfills in Hong Kong will reach their maximum capacity by early to mid 2010.

Background

Each year, more than 6 million tonnes of solid waste are generated in Hong Kong, over half of which is disposed of in the three strategic landfills. If the waste loads continue to increase, there will be a need to allocate an additional 400 hectares of land to develop new landfill sites to meet our waste disposal needs up to 2030. Clearly, Hong Kong needs a more sustainable way to deal with waste.

Status Quo

The government initiated a territory-wide campaign to promote household recycling through separation of domestic waste at source in 2005. Yet, Hong Kong’s household waste recycling rate (23% in 2007) is still falling behind compared with nearby cities. A recent survey in 2009 reveals that 90% of the residences in the estates participating in the program are still confused about what can be recycled and what cannot. NGOs have regular second-hand item collection services in housing estates to recycle and donate usable items to those in need.

Responses to Social Challenge 1:

Solution 1: Green Estate Olympiad

Solution 2: Waste Reduction Campaign

Solution 3: Second-hand NGO

Solution 4: Donation to Third World Countries

Solution 5: Incentive Systems

Solution 6: Green Concert

Solution 7: Dress Second-hand Day

Solution 8: Mobile Recycling Education Workshop

Solution 9: Rubbish Collection Charge

Summary of all ideas from Hong Kong for social challenge 1 - Mindmap

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Social Challenge 2: Domestic Violence

How might we empower domestic violence victims?

Why is this important?

Breakdowns in family communication can trigger violent incidents, which range from heated disputes to crimes, including injuries, rapes and even murder cases.

Background

Many attribute the growing problem of domestic violence to prevailing society's low attitude towards women, the elderly and the children - who comprised most of the victims of domestic violence. In particular, women cases have increased dramatically by 257%, from 1009 cases in 1998 to 3598 cases in 2005.  The total number of reported cases only represents 1-2% of the total number of spousal abuse cases, which reflects only the tip of an iceberg.

Status Quo

Growing awareness and sense of empowerment among local women to report abuses may have also been a factor in this increasing visibility of the problem. Assistance available to victims of violence in the family remains limited. There are only four shelters in Hong Kong, providing around 170 places, which is a starkly inadequate number for a population of 6.8 million. Private resources are also hampered by lack of funding. Moreover, there is a low level of awareness amongst victims in respect of the services or assistance offered by the Government or NGOs. Some women are also reluctant to report cases due to fear of the negative impacts on their families and children.

Responses to Social Challenge 2:

Solution 1: Men's Club

Solution 2: Sports for Men

Solution 3: Women's Support Group

Solution 4: 24-Hour Help Hotline

Solution 5: Men's Workshop

Solution 6: Domestic Violence Alarm

Summary of all ideas from Hong Kong for social challenge 2 - Mindmap

April Social Innovation Salon

Thanks everyone for coming to our April Social Innovation Salons in Shanghai (4/27) and Hong Kong (4/29). Here's a recap of our two social challenges and each group's innovation solution:

Social challenge 1: How to improve the quality of libraries in rural China?

Why is this important?

Libraries provide a gateway to knowledge for rural population

Background

Most people who live in rural areas lack access to good libraries due to lack of government funding. Libraries that do exist often have poor infrastructure and are not well managed.

Status Quo

Non profits have donated money to rebuild rural libraries. However most resources are put into building hard infrastructures, rather than improving the quality of the libraries. Rural libraries often lack access to good quality books,  and librarians  lack professional training.

Responses to social challenge 1 from Shanghai:

Group 1: Mobile Barnes & Nobles

Group 2: Solar mobile library

Group 3: Music bus

Group 4: Text a book

Group 5: Room to read

Group 6: Centralized

Group 7: Library Angels

Group 8: Trickle down libraries (Winner)

Responses to social challenge 1 from Hong Kong:

Group 1: Profit Driven

Group 2: Revamp library concept
Group 3: 1st page

Group 4: Cranswick

Summary of all ideas (HK & SH) for social challenge 1- Mindmap

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Social Challenge 2: How to engage at-risk youth to positively contribute to the society?

Why is this important?

At-risk youth are on the borderline of being trapped into a vicious cycle of crime and substance abuse.

Background

At risk youth generally are in the age range of 12-18 They often times have dropped out of school, have low levels of education, and come from broken families.

Status Quo

There are several government and non-profit programs targeted at this population, most of them being vocational programs. However, these programs are usually short-term, lack follow-up, and do not teach skills that interest the youth.

Responses to social challenge 2 from Shanghai:
Group 1: Loose the key

Group 2: Take the lead

Group 3: Born free

Group 4: Step up
Group 5: Creative Community Center - CCC
Group 6: Kick it

Group 7: Camp China (Winner)

Responses to social challenge 2 from Hong Kong:

Group 1: Give him a job
Group 2: Get it done
Group 3: Social EQ
Group 4: Bright feet

Summary of all ideas (HK & SH) for social challenge 2- Mindmap

March Social Innovation Salon

Social challenge 1: How to provide long term care for elderly home?
社會議題一：如何給老人院提供長期照顧？

Response to Social challenge 1 from Shanghai:
Group 1: Pet ownership & Partnership
Group 2: Cultural/ History documentation
Group 3: Skill-set matching
Group 4: Elderly mentorship program
Group 5: Elderly knowledge platform

Response to Social challenge 1 from Taipei:
Group 1: Resources sharing
Group 2: Elderly party
Group 3: Pet therapy
Group 4: Volunteer accreditation program

Response to Social challenge 1 from Hong Kong:
Group 1: Education
Group 2: Elderly dialogue
Group 3: Compulsory social services
Group 4: Hong Kong elderly stories

Summary of ideas for social challenge 1- Mindmap

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Social challenge 2: Employment opportunities for unskilled migrant workers in the cities are limited, how to provide them with education opportunities sustainably?
社會議題二：中國民工的問題，從二級城市到大城市找工作，沒有受過教育或沒有一技之長，如何給他們一個持久性的教育機會？

Response to Social challenge 2 from Shanghai:
Group 1: Standardization of skills
Group 2: Recycling by migrant workers
Group 3: Entrepreneurship by migrant workers
Group 4: Organic farming
Group 5: Nationwide training certificate
Group 6: Environmental conservation

Response to Social challenge 2 from Taipei:
Group 1: Job training by the government
Group 2: Mentorship program

Response to Social challenge 2 from Hong Kong:

Group 1: Expand infrastructures, create new communities
Group 2: Recycling/ military services
Group 3: Four prongs approach
Group 4: Recycling and waste management program
Group 5: Sustainable business in rural area

Summary of ideas for social challenge 1- Mindmap

Our new initiative: Social Innovation Salon

Ventures in Development (www.venturesindev.org) is formally launching its new initiative, the Social Innovation Salon - a monthly after-work cocktail event that aims to stimulate a cross-disciplinary audience to generate innovative ideas that address particular social issues.

Refer to the following links to find out more about our new initiative, or to watch video clips from our pilot salons:

What is a Social Innovation Salon?
How are the sessions run?
What kind of follow-up will there be?
Does a good idea go anywhere?
Social Challenges
Results of Challenges
    Shanghai Salon
    Taipei Salon
    Hong Kong Salon
Salon Calendar
Salon Venues

Interested in knowing more about us?
- Visit our website
- Become our fan on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter

Refer to the following links to find out more about our new initiative, or to watch video clips from our pilot salons:

What is a Social Innovation Salon?
How are the sessions run?
What kind of follow-up will there be?
Does a good idea go anywhere?
Social Challenges
Results of Challenges
    Shanghai Salon
    Taipei Salon
    Hong Kong Salon
Salon Calendar
Salon Venues

Interested in knowing more about us?
- Visit our website
- Become our fan on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter

Refer to the following links to find out more about our new initiative, or to watch video clips from our pilot salons:

What is a Social Innovation Salon?
How are the sessions run?
What kind of follow-up will there be?
Does a good idea go anywhere?
Social Challenges
Results of Challenges
    Shanghai Salon
    Taipei Salon
    Hong Kong Salon
Salon Calendar
Salon Venues

Interested in knowing more about us?
- Visit our website
- Become our fan on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter