Arise and Shine, Ladies

It is no secret that many women in Hong Kong live a life of quiet desperation. These are some of the most beautiful, powerful and self-sacrificial human beings that you will ever meet, and yet their selfless service has come at the expense of their own mental health.

In October 2023 Hong Kong’s SAR Government established the Women Empowerment Fund. It is designed to help this very needy segment of our population who are juggling jobs and family life, and to bring awareness to women's physical and mental health.

Ever since I began working at Christian Action, it has been my goal to help Hong Kong be more inclusive for women, so I was overjoyed when the Women Empowerment Fund was announced!

During CA's first launch of a two-year programme for women called the "LADIES LIVING JOYFUL PROJECT", we recruited many women and planned over a hundred events to delight them, help them to discover their interests, and foster their success. We enlisted thirty female volunteers to oversee the events and create a welcoming environment for the 1,200 attendees. We want to support women in unwinding, having fun, realizing their full potential, and advancing their overall growth.

On July 7, 2024, Christian Action launched the second phase of the "LADIES LIVING JOYFUL PROJECT", to better champion mental health and promote positive living for women in communities. As I took the stage alongside my officiating guests, Miss. Alice Mak, SBS, JP, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr. Denny Ho Lap Ki, JP , Home Affairs Department, District Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr. Thomas Wu, JP, Home Affairs Department, District Officer (Wong Tai Sin) and others, we were elated to see the hall filled to capacity. This was the evidence of how much the project meant to so many women and their families. The ladies from the first phase of the project, in celebration of their achievements, gave us heartwarming performances, showcasing their resilience and spirit of unity!

It is my hope that through a new range of activities, such as coffee-making and cooking classes and mental health care lectures, women can have some opportunities to unwind and de-stress. We also want to provide a space for the ladies to relax, try some coffee, communicate with others, and help them build a supportive, meaningful social circle. The next step of the project will cover ethnic minorities and newly-arrived women.

Ladies, I’d like to invite you to arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1a). May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor. 13:14).

Siew Mei