In Hong Kong, ethnically diverse individuals account for 4.1% of the population (301,344 people). In this particular community comprising mainly of individuals of South Asian heritage, one in five currently lives under the poverty line, while 80% of South Asians are working poor, compared to 50.3% of the overall Hong Kong population.
For too long, members of Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse communities have been perceived and treated as a helpless group trapped in intergenerational poverty, yet little was done to help these individuals to break the vicious cycle of poverty.
As a tax-exempt charity registered in Hong Kong, addressing society’s biggest problems by empowering disadvantaged communities, Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI) believes entrepreneurship is an effective solution to alleviate poverty while solving intractable social issues. In addition to nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs through our annual Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, FSI also supports under-resourced entrepreneurs through our GuideFong business directory and bespoke direct business support.
Some of the entrepreneurs supported by FSI have gone on to innovate HealthTech, environmental conservation, food waste reduction, education, cultural exchange etc. for the greater good. The work of these social impact businesses or organizations is grounded in the founders’ vision of a better future for Hong Kong. For these ethnically diverse entrepreneurs, winning awards locally and internationally is but an acknowledgement of their deep-rooted drive to leverage business solutions to build a more resilient and sustainable society for Hong Kong.
Impact Businesses Owned by Hong Kong’s Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs
For Hongkongers who wish to integrate social impact in their everyday decision-making relating to lifestyle, environmental conservation, and community participation, the options are plenty even within FSI’s small but growing community of ethnically diverse entrepreneurs.
On GuideFong, Hong Kong’s first online directory for ethnically diverse businesses created by FSI, you can find businesses and organizations founded and operated by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs and leaders on a mission to create positive social impact.
The Blomstre, for example, is a business specializing in handcrafted, all-natural soy wax candles and home fragrances, owned by Filipino husband-and-wife duo Aaron and Jerwine Que. Since its founding, The Blomstre has been offering a candle refill service to reuse the glass candle jars. From the learning they gained as mentee entrepreneurs of FSI’s inaugural Mentorship Program, Aaron and Jerwine went on to open their own studio and were able to expand their business and client base.
Fans of sustainably sourced or made beverages will appreciate the unique tea experience delivered by Nepcha, which sources the finest organic high-altitude teas directly from farmers’ cooperatives in Nepal, and contributes a portion of its proceeds to supporting community projects in Nepal and Hong Kong. Breer, co-founded by Anushka Purohit and Naman Tekriwal (and others), both mentors of FSI’s Mentorship Program, diverts unsold surplus bread from the landfills by using it to brew premium quality craft beer.
Speaking of Naman Tekriwal, his experience as an impact startup co-founder has enabled him to share his network and resources to help Kebba Jallow, a mentee entrepreneur of FSI’s 2023-24 Mentorship Program, to build JK Auto Recycling from scratch. In operation since January 2024, JK Auto Recycling specializes in dismantling and recycling various motor parts and materials to reduce the environmental pollution that could result from Hong Kong’s phasing out of diesel gasoline vehicles in the near future.
Originally from Gambia, Kebba came to Hong Kong in January 2023 to pursue a fresh start in entrepreneurship. In addition to the mentorship from Naman, Kebba also received immense support to successfully register his company, enhance his business plan, and create receipt templates for his targeted customers in Africa from Innocent Mutanga, a mentor of FSI’s 2023-24 Mentorship Program and Founder and CEO of Africa Center Hong Kong. On a mission to rebrand blackness in Asia, Africa Center Hong Kong organizes a wide range of experiential activities to connect and build communities across ethnic groups, gender, socio-economic status, etc. to facilitate value exchange between these communities.
In-depth cultural exchange exploration is also offered by be/longing, an arts-for-education lab harnessing the transformative power of participatory storytelling to cultivate cultures of inclusion for Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse communities and society as a whole. Check out their Instagram for activities that bring people together to build a resilient community, and what Christine Vicera, Founder and Co-director, deems necessary to effectively promote social inclusion.
Also working towards empowering ethnically diverse communities is the Institute of Leadership and Management Foundation Limited (ilm), which leverages leadership, mentorship, and community development to help individuals reach their full potential and build a community of changemakers working towards a more inclusive future.
Buy Social at the GuideFong Bazaar
Interested in checking out and supporting these socially impactful businesses owned and founded by ethnically diverse entrepreneurs and leaders? The good news is you don’t have to go all around Hong Kong to do that – FSI is bringing some of them to you at the GuideFong Bazaar on 8 September 2024 (Sunday), 1-4pm, at the Hive Sheung Wan!
In celebration of the GuideFong directory’s first anniversary and the cultural diversity of the Hong Kong entrepreneurial ecosystem, FSI will be partnering with the Hive Sheung Wan to host the bazaar to showcase dozens of ethnically diverse businesses, including Nepcha, The Blomstre, ilm, Shilpa’s Masala Mill, Anvi Candles, Eternity Jewels, Foodie Explorerz, Africa Center Hong Kong, blooms.forever BamPads, Asmita Das Photography, Siony’s Lutong Bahay Catering, Hot Hot Asian Groceries and more, offering visitors the opportunity to purchase sustainably sourced Nepalese tea, lovingly handcrafted soy wax candles and home fragrances, flavorsome masala and spice blends, elegant designer jewellery, African fashion items and experiences, and sustainable bouquets.
Join this vibrant bazaar to meet and interact with fellow Hongkongers from diverse backgrounds, and explore the plethora of products and services handcrafted and sustainably sourced by the city’s ethnically diverse entrepreneurs. The event is free, but if you are interested in making a HK$20 donation at the door, you will get a HK$20 discount voucher to be used at any vendor for purchases of HK$100 or above. Visitors who want to support GuideFong’s work are welcome to buy raffle tickets and stand a chance to win prizes sponsored by the attending entrepreneurs.
All proceeds from raffle ticket sales will be used to support FSI’s ongoing endeavors to build a truly diverse, inclusive, and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem by empowering the ethnically diverse community through GuideFong, our annual Mentorship Program for Ethnically Diverse Entrepreneurs, direct business support, and the Entrepreneur’s Toolkit.
This September, be a supportive Hong Kong guidefong, visit the GuideFong Bazaar to celebrate the multicultural entrepreneurial ecosystem of the city! Register for your access here today.
