Clock up volunteer hours for a chance to meet business leaders: Hong Kong charity Time Auction’s unique model to inspire young
- Group set up by two financial sector workers encourages budding entrepreneurs to work for a good cause
Fion Leung Ka-po and Wong Suet-yi were financial sector workers when they embarked on a very different path more than five years ago over a piping hot dinner of wonton noodles.
Realising they both wanted richer life experiences, their self-searching journey would eventually lead them to set up a unique charity that allows people to trade volunteer hours with “inspiring” opportunities such as meeting prominent business leaders.
Leung, now 31, had joined a bank as a graduate trainee but realised she did not want a long-term career in the field. She began exploring other career and lifestyle options through volunteering and discovered she was most interested in helping children and the youth.
“Volunteering is important because that’s how you experience social issues first-hand. They are emotional experiences that eventually encourage you to spread awareness about these issues. I hope more people get to experience that.”
Volunteering is important because that’s how you experience social issues first-hand
Seeking greater exposure and ideas, Leung and Wong, 30, also began attending networking events for entrepreneurs, but felt awkward about approaching industry leaders.
