Awards mirror surge in volunteer spirit

More than 22,000 individual volunteers, enterprises, schools and non-government organizations have won recognition for outstanding contributions to society from the Hong Kong Volunteer Award 2023.

That number is triple last year's.

The award presentation was held yesterday in Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai with guests from government, business sectors and academia in attendance.

Melissa Kaye Pang, chairwoman of the Agency for Volunteer Service, one of the award organizers, said she was happy to see the number of awards had tripled.

"It shows a wide range of efforts in volunteering from all sectors of society and that Hongkongers are paying more attention to volunteering," Pang said.

Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim, wife of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, expressed gratitude.

"All the awardees' contributions not only mean a lot to those who receive help but will also have a profound impact on the whole society," she said.

"What you give, not what you gain, shapes your life," Lee added, as she encouraged more people, especially the younger generation, to be volunteers.

Seven new awards were made, with six of them enabled by support from Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The new awards aim to encourage young people, people aged 50 or above and first-timers to volunteer.

The ceremony also highlighted a few exceptional volunteer acts.

Ninety-year-old Siu Ah-yi won the JC volunteer together outstanding evergreen volunteer award.

She has been serving as a volunteer in Tung Chung for more than five years, and has participated in services, such as taking care of the elderly and children, accompaniment and emergency support services.

Despite encountering occasional problems Siu said volunteering has equipped her with skills and knowledge and given her a chance to make friends with people as young as 15 years old.

"I have to rest from time to time during volunteering activities or my physical limitations won't allow me to complete my commitments ," Siu said, adding volunteering has enriched her and that she hopes to keep serving "till I am 100 years old".

Lam Sze-wing won the outstanding youth volunteer award for supporting young people with mental health issues.

She set up a shelter, the first social enterprise offering peer mental health aid services in Hong Kong, after recovering from mental health problems herself.

She has also trained over 50 young people to be mental health support volunteers and organized courses to educate the public about emotional diseases.

She hopes to train more volunteers and benefit more people in need.