Thinking about volunteering in Hong Kong? Nothing’s more rewarding than getting involved as a volunteer to address the issues that you care about most.
Want to volunteer in Hong Kong? There are lots of things you can do to lend your helping hand for those in need. Whether you want to give aid to at-risk communities, donate goods, or if you’re an animal lover who loves adopting pets and is seeking to assist our four-legged friends, these organisations and social enterprises could use your help and creative talents to make a change in the society.
Our definitive list of where to volunteer in Hong Kong
Volunteering in Hong Kong for animal lovers
1. Hong Kong Dog Rescue
Are you an avid dog lover who believes that each of these lovable animals deserves a home? Sign up as a volunteer in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Dog Rescue, an organisation that provides rescue and re-homing efforts, as well as foster care and training classes for abandoned dogs. The rescue can also use talents in photography, design, accounting, and event planning. While the dogs have to wait for new owners, you can offer temporary foster care until they find their forever home. Also, as the homing centres house over 600 dogs, HKDR needs your help walking the dogs on weekdays.
Hong Kong Dog Rescue has homing centres across Hong Kong.
2. HK Alley Cat Watch
If you’re more of a cat person, you may want to check out HK Alley Cat Watch. The goal of this private organisation is to look after the general welfare and health of the cats on the streets, which is done through the efforts of trap, neuter, and release, or homing programme for the friendly ones. Just like the other animal rescue organisations, HK Alley Cat Watch is always on the lookout for people who are willing to adopt or provide foster care for the cats and kittens. You can also take part in their fundraising efforts to help support the cats’ veterinary treatments.
HK Alley Cat Watch, Hong Kong, p. 9310 0744
3. Kirsten’s Zoo
Another place where animal lovers can volunteer in Hong Kong is Kirsten’s Zoo, an organisation that saves not only dogs, but also cats and other animals in need. The team aims to stop the flow of unwanted animals by spaying them and providing them with medical care. However, Kirsten’s Zoo doesn’t have its own shelter, so it relies heavily on foster homes – which you can provide before they find a new home for the animal. Another way you can assist the animals is by volunteering at adoption days, fundraising events, and social media outreach, or simply donating some funds.
Kirsten’s Zoo, Hong Kong, p. 5595 1933
4. SPCA
SPCA is always looking for more volunteers in Hong Kong to help its cause. As one of our city’s most successful animal welfare organisations, SPCA works hard to aid the animals across Hong Kong. The organisation offers neutering services, provides medical care to homeless animals, works with the government to improve legislations, and more. By volunteering, you can be a kennel keeper at the Wan Chai headquarters, or work at events as an administrator, writer, or photographer. You can also look into becoming a foster for some animals while they wait for their forever home.
SPCA has multiple centres across Hong Kong
5. Lifelong Animal Protection Charity
Another Hong Kong animal rescue dedicated to helping the city’s needy animals, Lifelong Animal Protection Charity operates an adoption centre for dogs in Tsuen Wan and one for cats in Sai Ying Pun. Relying on generous public donations to stay afloat, LAP can always use volunteers to keep its wheels turning. Beyond providing foster homes for adoptable animals, you can also help out at fundraising events, walk dogs, bottle-feed, answer phones, and more. If you have an open mind and a love for animals, be sure to apply to help out today!
Lifelong Animal Protection Charity has adoption centres in Tsuen Wan and Sai Ying Pun.
Volunteer in Hong Kong by giving back to the community
6. Pathfinders
This organisation works tirelessly to help foreign domestic workers during times of pregnancy. They run classes and workshops for those in the community to help educate, and advise on protocols regarding what to do when/if an employer finds out their helper is pregnant. You can help by donating or volunteering, so that these women and their newborns don’t get lost in the system, end up undocumented, and live in poverty in Hong Kong.
Pathfinders, Unit 11C, Worldwide Centre, 123 Tung Chau Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 5500 5486 (or 5190 4886 for migrant workers)
7. Food Angel
As its name suggests, Food Angel is a food rescue and food assistance programme, launched by Bo Charity Foundation to ease hunger in underprivileged communities in Hong Kong. The organisation is constantly looking for volunteers who are willing to help its operations, such as collecting food items like bakery products, as well as preparing, serving, and delivering meals. Moreover, you can provide your own food donations including fresh food, canned food, oil and seasonings, cooked foods, and frozen foods.
Food Angel (惜食堂) has multiple locations across Hong Kong.
8. Foodlink
Another group that aims to connect the supply of edible surplus to the demand for food is Foodlink, which collects leftovers from F&B outlets all over Hong Kong and delivers them to those in need. Aside from food items, Foodlink receives product donations like furniture, refrigerators, clothes, and stationery. You can take part as a volunteer in different areas, such as translation, graphic design, data management, bookkeeping, legal advice, and more. If you and your company want to help, Foodlink also has corporate volunteer programmes for rice packing, collection, and delivery of unsold leftover bread from bakeries, making it easy for you to volunteer in Hong Kong.
Foodlink, Unit C1, 10/F, Wing Hing Industrial Building, 14 Hing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong, p. 2567 1561
9. Impact HK
Want to volunteer in Hong Kong and looking for a way to connect with an overlooked community? Impact HK supports Hong Kong’s homeless by providing support services, temporary housing, and job training, as well as giving out food and necessities. Sign up to help deliver goods, raise funds, reach out to employers who can provide jobs, or even just help out by making a donation to ImpactHK. Give back to all members of the Hong Kong community and help them get back on their feet.
Read our full interview with the founder of Impact HK, Jeff Rotmeyer.
Find out more about Impact HK.
10. HandsOn
If you’re looking for various volunteer opportunities that you can choose from in Hong Kong, you’ll want to check out HandsOn. This charity organisation accommodates volunteers who want to lend their helping hands for different activities. Whatever your talents and interests, you’ll find a programme that suits you here, as the platform features over 250 volunteer action centres across the city. Here you can choose which social issues you’d like to address, the type of activities you’re interested in, and who you’d like to serve, making sure that you get to do what you’re passionate about as volunteers.
HandsOn, Unit A, 9/F, Easy Tower, 609-611 Tai Nan West Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong, p. 2481 8092
11. Art in Hospital
Creating art is believed to be a therapeutic treatment, and this charity organisation aims to use art to serve those in need. Art in Hospital provides mural painting in hospitals and care homes in Hong Kong to create a comforting environment for the patients receiving treatments. If you feel like you have the creativity and artistic skills, you can take part as a volunteer to benefit the community. Sounds like it’s time to volunteer in Hong Kong!
Art in Hospital, Room 704A, 7/F, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, p. 2824 5320
12. The Women’s Foundation
With a goal to improve the lives of women in Hong Kong, The Women’s Foundation runs various community programmes that challenge gender stereotypes, empower women in poverty, and advance women leaders. As the organisation provides education programmes for disadvantaged and marginalised youth, it needs Cantonese-speaking volunteers to teach certain skills like English, arts and crafts, cooking, guitar, or photography. Furthermore, you can help with events where you can get involved in planning, logistics support, and more.
The Women’s Foundation, Unit, 9A, Chun Wo Commercial Centre, 23-29 Wing Wo Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2592 8265
13. Teen’s Key
Dedicated to supporting vulnerable young women and girls in Hong Kong who work in the sex industry, Teen’s Key aims to provide a supportive environment that empowers and nurtures them. The organisation’s efforts include providing access to sexual health and reproductive services, free STD testing, as well as healthy sexuality and consent education. Teen’s Key looks for volunteers like women’s and mental health professionals as well as those who want to help out with translation, web design, project management, administration, and more.
Learn more about Teen’s Key.
Volunteering in Hong Kong to help the environment
14. Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden
Located in Tai Po, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden aims to provide farmers in need with agricultural aid and offer a leisure and educational experience to the public. The organisation’s strategic directions and programmes include sustainable living, nature conservation, and holistic education, in which volunteers play an important role. As volunteers, you can use your talents and skills to help different departments in various roles, such as event planning, providing assistance for the animal rescue centre or flora conservation, and getting involved in environmental education activities.
Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong, p. 2483 7200
15. Hong Kong Cleanup
A fixture in the Hong Kong environmental NGO landscape for decades, Hong Kong Cleanup has had over a million participants who’ve helped clean up over 11 million kilograms of trash since 2000. What started as one beach cleanup event has now evolved into a community that includes individual volunteers, companies, schools, and the government. Help keep Hong Kong’s beautiful oceans, coasts, country parks, and streets clean by volunteering for a cleanup day.
Learn more about Hong Kong Cleanup.
[This article was originally published in March 2018 and updated in 2024 by Min Ji Park.]
