From food security to future-ready skills, DBS Foundation is committed to improving lives in Hong Kong
- DBS Bank has pledged up to S$1 billion and 1.5 million volunteer hours over the next 10 years to support underprivileged and vulnerable communities across the region
Despite its iconic skyscrapers and renowned reputation as one of the world’s leading financial hubs, Hong Kong is not immune from societal issues such as food scarcity, education and poverty, with a significant portion of the population being underserved and underprivileged.
At present, about 1.3 million residents face poverty-related challenges amid the city’s high cost of living. Offering them a helping hand are food distribution projects such as The Kind Kitchen, run by local charity ImpactHK, and the Food Resources Recycling Centre, operated by The Conservancy Association.
With support from the DBS Foundation, The Kind Kitchen provides free meals on a daily basis, while the Food Resources Recycling Centre collects unsold produce from local wet markets to be redistributed to the needy.
Located in Tai Kok Tsui, The Kind Kitchen serves nutritious hot meals every day to the elderly and underprivileged, and also provides job opportunities and training to people who are experiencing homelessness to help them get back on their feet.
“I know the painful feeling of not having food,” says The Kind Kitchen’s senior assistant, who only gave her name as Cindy, adding that she had once been homeless. “So I come in here every day, turn on the gas and prepare to steam the rice.”
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How Hong Kong organisations offer food and empowerment to people in need
Through the Food Resources Recycling Centre, The Conservancy Association aims to reduce food waste and promote sustainable development while also helping people in need by recycling and redistributing surplus produce collected from Hong Kong’s wet markets.
