✊LoTW: Teen Changemakers of Hong Kong Part 1
✊LoTW: Teen Changemakers of Hong Kong Part 1
LoTW: Volunteering, Podcasting and eating - Stefanie Lee
Good morning,
Hi! My name is Stefanie Lee and I'm a 17-year-old changemaker studying at St. Paul's Co-educational College in Hong Kong. I’m interested in the intertwining relationship between business and social impact.
I am the Founder and Executive Director of SimplyShare, a platform connecting youths with skill-based volunteer opportunities for under-resourced children. SimplyShare covers a variety of extra-curricular programs from arts to sports and technology to narrow the opportunity gap caused by generational poverty.
Alongside Bailey Cherry (who will be featured later this week in Part 2!), I also co-host the Never Too Early Podcast, a podcast by young changemakers, for young changemakers.
Updated every Wednesday, we showcase the stories, challenges and experiences of youth around the world, encouraging our audience to make a difference in their own communities as well!
Make sure to keep reading on to find out more about SimplyShare, Never Too Early and more of my other works!
~ Stef
Socially aware news for socially aware teens
Unicef: New research confirms Cambodian children experienced extensive "learning loss" during COVID-19, requiring increased investment in education
Having been an annual volunteer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for 3 summers, I have served numerous children from the rural villages who have been sent to the streets to beg for a living. The lack of education has not only burdened them into an endless cycle of generational poverty, but also worsened under the pandemic.
More awareness should be given to those that cannot access basic learning opportunities, not to mention remote education resources!
"Over 70 percent of workers said they were laid off or forced to take no-pay leave or salary cuts amid the pandemic."
Through my work at SimplyShare, I've come in contact with many grassroots children, who have relayed that their families have been in harsher financial conditions recently. With the economy opening back up, I hope the low-income workers will get a hold of a new job as soon as possible!
Something I have been especially grateful for is in-person lessons and sports training sessions, but it still saddens me when I say that 3 out of my 5 years in the school basketball team went by without a single inter-school tournament. As the captain, I could do nothing but wait patiently for courts to reopen. In April, we finally, we had our first training session, which reminded me of the camaraderie within our team.
Volunteering and Podcasting for the greater good
Season 2 of the Never Too Early Podcast launched on 18th May!
After a month of rebranding and repositioning, Never Too Early is producing its second season, full of insightful interviews and conversations. We had the privilege of featuring Melati Wijsen, Founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags and YOUTHTOPIA in our first episode, where she gives her tips to be authentic, unapologetic and changemaking - go give it a listen!
Harbour Times’ own Jasmine and Charlotte were featured in the second episode of season two!
Check out our latest episode on:
Spotify (and Anchor)
or on Apple Podcasts
SimplyShare Pilot Program
Simply Share’s Pilot volunteer program lets talented students teach under-resourced children extra-curricular activities of their preference.
We will handle all the logistics including the contacting and "nitty-gritty" parts of organising a service program. You can sit back and enjoy the fun of volunteering.
Apply or share this to someone you think will love this!
Stef’s connection recommendations
The 24 Hour Race
In 2010, Christopher Schrader founded the 24 Hour Race at the age of 16 in Hong Kong. It is an amazing global, student-run non-profit that fights modern slavery. Now, he is its first Executive Chairman, helping the charity spread to 10 more ncities!
We had the privilege of interviewing Christopher Schrader in one of our past episodes - check out his advice on starting a scalable non-profit!
Greenhouse: Asian with a Western Twist
If we're friends, you would definitely know that enjoying good food is one of my personality traits.
One of the restaurants that my family and I always go back to is Greenhouse, which serves Asian cuisines with a Western twist - my favourite type of fusion! It is conveniently located in Times Square and serves amazing pastas!
Stef has a secret 👀
What’s the best place to chill on a Sunday? What’s the one rule that this good girl breaks when she just wants to relax?
Find out that and more on today’s normal (but not as exciting) High Tide!
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