********************************************************
Christmas is the season to give and people can give a helping hand to the underprivileged by just shopping at the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo being held in Victoria Park.
The exhibition organiser, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, has generously set up a "Social Enterprise Zone" at the Expo where 16 social enterprises (SEs) sponsored under the Home Affairs Department's "Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme" (ESR Programme) will take turns to showcase their products and services at booths No 3A40 to 3A44 from today (December 24) to January 4.
Compared with last two years, the number of SEs participating in this year's Expo has increased and the variety of business has also expanded. Business includes health food, organic farm products, accessories and gifts, household items, bicycle gears and travel kits, car care products and home furnishing services. Some SEs also provide massage services, and give demonstrations on planting of organic mushroom and product usage on site.
TWGHs Mrs Mc Dessert, a social enterprise that sells homemade desserts was a first-time participant at the Expo and has received encouraging response from visitors. The project manager, Ms May Wong, said, "The Expo has helped us reach out a wider clientele and helped with our publicity. It has also enhanced the public's understanding of social enterprises."
"Our staff can gain sales experience and polish their communication skills. Instant feedback and appreciation from customers have also brought our staff great satisfaction."
"With the Government's active promotion of social enterprises, people are now becoming more aware of our products. We will keep improving our products and services so that we can remain self-sustainable and further develop our business," she said.
Another social enterprise participating in the Expo is the Love Multi Culture South Asian Boutique established by HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre, which aims to help ethnic minorities from South Asia realise their potential and earn a living by selling their hand-made accessories and gifts.
Its spokesman said it was the third year they participated in the Expo. Compared with previous years, people's understanding of social enterprises had increased. "Not only do they know that social enterprises are businesses, they also understand the mission behind our operations."
The Government aims to promote the development of SEs to increase the employment opportunities for the underprivileged, encourage them to be self-reliant and build a caring culture in the community.
The ESR Programme, implemented by the Home Affairs Department (HAD), provides seed money for non-governmental organisations to establish SE projects, to increase the skills and capacity of the employable, help them to be well-equipped and smoothly integrate into the community.
Since the programme's launch in 2006, six phases of applications have been approved, granting a total of about $94 million to about 90 SE projects and creating about 1,500 jobs for the socially disadvantaged.
People who are interested in products and services offered by SEs are welcomed to visit and purchase at the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo during its exhibition period. Participating SEs are divided into three groups and each SE will join the Expo for six to eight days.
To enhance the public's understanding of the products and services provided by SEs, HAD has also compiled and uploaded an SE directory on the dedicated website www.social-enterprises.gov.hk .
Ends/Thursday, December 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN
