To Honour and Serve

Being Neighbourly x Matthew Yu, The Zubin Foundation

Author/ Being Neighbourly
18 July 2025

The Zubin Foundation is proud to be one of Hong Kong’s leading charities, working in the space of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, affecting meaningful change in the community through our advocacy, research and direct community outreach,” says Matthew Yu, Director of Core Services, at The Zubin Foundation.

A registered charity in Hong Kong, the Foundation has a mission to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse community by reducing suffering and providing opportunities. It was founded by Shalini Mahtani and Ravi Gidumal to honour their son, Zubin, who passed away at the age of 3 in 2009 from medical negligence. ‘Zubin’ means to honour and to serve.

Now in its 10th year, Yu calls the anniversary a powerful reminder of the continuing need of ethnic minorities in the SAR, who make up approximately 4% of Hong Kong. For them, skin colour, language and poverty are all-too common barriers and Yu says there are thousands of individuals in need of support, “whether women victims of domestic violence, elderly individuals living alone, or children facing mental health problems.” In an attempt to balance the scales, the Foundation offers an exhaustive array of integrated services: a hotline, job advice, training, scholarships and community to alleviate suffering and create opportunity.

Initiated in the summer of 2018, the Call Mira Helpline – 9682 3100, provides support to ethnic minority women and girls in Hong Kong in English, Urdu and Hindi (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), while an online resource portal with information on relevant topics complements it.

The helpline has been a ‘best friend’ to 81-year old Dolly Wadhwani, who first used it when her Chinese neighbour was throwing rubbish at her door because they are Indian. ‘My husband and I were scared because we were both in wheelchairs and have no other family. They [Zubin] got me a lawyer and after, they visited my home. When my husband and I were very sick, they visited us in hospital and helped me visit my husband,’ she says. Although her husband died last year, Wadhwani says that her social worker was a pallbearer, while other contacts at Zubin helped organise the last rites and prayers.

Another illustration of the Foundation’s work in action is Fahim Hossain, a Pakistani Year 3 student at The University of Hong Kong, who says he’s thankful for receiving a Zubin Foundation scholarship, allowing him to concentrate on his studies instead of worrying about his financial situation.

“The fact is that fewer ethnic minority youth pursue higher education than the general population in Hong Kong,” says Director of Core Services Yu, explaining that ethnic minority youth want to enter the job market as soon as possible to lift the financial burden of their families, and, as a result, sacrifice their education dreams and future aspirations.

Yu confirms that women and girls in the community face even more challenges to education and employment compared to their male and Chinese counterparts. “Some say they are being seen as a ‘burden’ to their families, and some are forced into early marriage,” says Yu, emphasising that The Zubin Foundation Scholarships aim to break intergenerational poverty and financial and cultural barriers by providing them with resources to study further.

Meanwhile, “Quite a number of ethnic minority women in Hong Kong are upholding overwhelming family responsibilities, which often contribute to their distress,” says Yu. He adds that while exploring the local community and building social networks are essential for their well-being, they often hesitate to engage because of personal, family and cultural reasons. Also, limited access to resources hinders their ability to upskill, fostering self-doubt and impeding their personal growth.

“The Foundation holds a weekly gathering to encourage women to step out of their homes to learn basic Cantonese, make traditional Chinese snacks and nurture their physical well-being,” he says. Through these recreational and interest-based activities, Yu explains that the idea is to expose the women to new experiences that bridge communities and foster inclusion and understanding.

While their services directly help the community, The Zubin Foundation works closely with schools, universities, non-profits, companies and the government to drive systemic change.

For example, The Foundation proposes talented ethnic minorities from their Diversity Lists (published from 2016 to 2024), to join government advisory and statutory bodies, and 38 have been appointed to 81 ASB positions.

Their Institute of Racial Equality promotes awareness and improves the understanding of racial inclusion in Hong Kong and in Asia by promoting positive attitudes and dispelling negative beliefs and stereotypes about the Ethnic Minority population in Hong Kong.

In addition, the Foundation has launched an Anti-Racism Toolkit, a free resource to be used by individuals, schools and organisations, which ‘takes you on an info-packed journey to help you understand and become an anti-racist in Hong Kong.’

“As we enter our second decade, The Zubin Foundation is committed to deepening our impact and expanding our reach across Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse communities. Our goals are shaped by the lived experiences of the people we serve – women facing isolation, children navigating discrimination, youth striving to break cycles of poverty and elderly individuals longing for connection. We believe that every person deserves dignity, opportunity and a sense of belonging,” says Yu.

“We can always use support, whether it’s through donations or an extra pair of hands and believe that we are stronger when we work together.”

If you would like to support The Zubin Foundation, please email [email protected].

What is the best thing about the work that you do?

“The Zubin Foundation is honoured to walk alongside our ethnically diverse community, especially when they feel invisible,” says Matthew Yu, Director of Core Services, at The Zubin Foundation.

“What keeps us going is the trust placed in us and the hope we see in people’s eyes when they realise they’re not alone. Whether it’s a job offer that changes a family’s future, a scholarship that opens a door, or a phone call that brings comfort, we’re reminded that real change happens one person at a time.”

“As we enter our second decade,” says Yu, “The Zubin Foundation is focused on deepening our impact and expanding our reach. We’re not just providing services — we’re proud to be a bridge between people and opportunities, and to contribute to a more inclusive Hong Kong for all.”

Zubin Founation
Unit 5F, High Fashion Centre, No. 1 Kwai Hei Street, Kwai Chung.