Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: Sisterpeer helps women get back on their feet, start businesses
Social enterprise founded amid Covid pandemic is among this year’s finalists in Spirit of Hong Kong Awards’ teamwork category
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck Hong Kong, the economic impact took away livelihoods and forced some businesses to close down. So a group of women in 2020 stepped in, offering support to their peers through the power of sisterhood.
The friends formed a social enterprise called Sisterpeer with the aim of helping women overcome adversity and, where possible, become entrepreneurs.
“At the beginning, we had no resources, no network – just a group of friends who wanted to make a difference,” said Vivian Chow Man-yi, the enterprise’s chairwoman and one of its founders.
“We couldn’t guarantee success, but we gave it everything we had. That’s the spirit that still drives us today.”
One of the organisation’s first moves was securing 43 workspaces in Lai Chi Kok at minimal rent to create affordable opportunities for women, including those who had lost their jobs and were hoping to start or rebuild a business.
“The pandemic left a lot of vacant spaces, and we saw an opportunity,” Chow said. “We approached landlords and managed to negotiate favourable terms. These workspaces became a lifeline for many women.”
