EMPOWER by The Amber Foundation was formed seven years ago with the goal of increasing the visibility of ethnic minority girls to future employers and ensuring their career success and financial independence, and, ultimately, taking their families out of poverty. The Foundation runs a series of seven workshops from September to May every year and holds them at major law firms or corporates who provide the venue and light catering, as well as senior female staff as group leaders. They now have an alumna of 180 girls with 40 more in this year’s cohort.

“For this project, we receive applications in late July so that we are ready to have our first workshop in late September. The girls in the program come from every university in Hong Kong, but all are either born and raised in Hong Kong or came here at a young age. They are all Hong Kong residents who see themselves living here forever. They come from the Pakistani, Nepali, Filipina, Bangladeshi, Indian and Chinese/Nigerian communities.” The Foundation has helped many of the girls get internships and graduate jobs at law firms, accounting firms and banks.

“There is a great deal of talk about diversity and inclusion but where is the action? We know that these young women can be important to SME’s, NGOs and corporates, but those groups need to know these women are here, educated, are native English speakers and can help them grow their business or their charity work.”

Will the Amber Foundation launch a third project? Thomson says they don’t have any intention to do so, but are contemplating expanding ‘The Toiletries Project’ into other countries.