How this volunteer network is opening doors for ethnic minority women in Hong Kong
- 2 days ago
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Updated: 8 hours ago
Empower by the Amber Foundation earns a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the teamwork category
In light of our official win of the Spirit of Hong Kong Award for Teamwork, we share the full original article by SCMP, as published here on 13 October 2025, plus the official The Spirit of Teamwork Award | 團隊合作獎 EMPOWER by The Amber Foundation video. You can also read more about our journey to this award here.
A volunteer network of business leaders, educators and professionals has joined forces to help ethnically diverse young women gain confidence and access careers in Hong Kong.
Founded in 2017, Empower by the Amber Foundation has grown into a citywide community of more than 250 mentors and coaches, earning the group a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the teamwork category.
The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Sino Group, recognises the city’s unsung heroes, including those who strengthen communities and inspire others through their service and resilience.
“We started years ago providing young women [from ethnic minority groups] with scholarships,” foundation chairwoman Elizabeth Thomson said. “But we realised that they still lacked networks, connections, confidence and access to the corporate world. Empower fills that gap.”
The programme runs seven interactive workshops each year, teaching practical skills such as CV writing, interview preparation, workplace etiquette and financial literacy.
More than 250 volunteers, including mentors, counsellors, coaches and industry professionals, contribute their time and expertise.
“It’s all teamwork,” Thomson said. “We have psychologists, bankers, educators and coaches, each sharing their skills. None of this could happen without everyone’s contribution.”
Manisha Wijesinghe said collaboration was not limited to the executive committee.
“We have more than 250 group leaders and mentors, all working for free because they believe these women deserve the same opportunities as anyone else,” she said.
Mamta Hotchandani, who works in a bank and is one of the mentors, said the mission was deeply personal.
“When I was growing up, I did not see anyone who looked like me in professional roles,” she said.
“People assumed I should be an English teacher because I’m Indian. Representation matters. When the girls see mentors from similar backgrounds, they realise they can do it too.”
Reena Rollason, a lawyer and another executive committee member, said Empower was not about charity but about equal access.
“These young women do not need help. They need opportunities,” she said. “They’re talented and ambitious. Our job is to open doors and make sure they’re seen.”
That philosophy – lifting as we climb – defines Empower’s teamwork. Graduates return as mentors, alumni support new cohorts and mentors learn from the students they guide.
Watch the The Spirit of Teamwork Award | 團隊合作獎 EMPOWER by The Amber Foundation video now.
May Anne Bird, also an executive committee member, said this ongoing cycle kept the community thriving.
“We all want the same outcome,” she said. “The alumni remind us why this work matters. Seeing them come back to mentor others is proof of success.”
For Felicity McRobb, who leads training and development, humility was what kept the team strong.
“We’re a team without egos. Everyone steps in where needed. It took eight years to become an ‘overnight success’, but persistence and shared values made it happen,” she said.
Wijesinghe added that confidence grew not only through career training but also through emotional support.
“Confidence comes from feeling heard,” she said. “That is why we include counselling and coaching alongside professional workshops.”
James Thomson-Sakhrani, managing director of the Amber Foundation, said he believed the programme also bridged cultural gaps in Hong Kong.
“There’s growing awareness of diversity here, but we still need to make it part of the system, from schools to workplaces,” he said. “Empower shows what inclusion looks like in practice.”
For Empower, teamwork is key to success.
“It’s never been about one leader,” Rollason said. “It’s about collaboration. People from different walks of life coming together to create opportunities for others.”
Thomson added that this spirit reflected Hong Kong at its best.
“Opportunity is what defines this city. When people from different backgrounds work together to lift others, that is the true spirit of Hong Kong,” she said.
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