Thinking about volunteering in Hong Kong? Nothing’s more rewarding than getting involved as a volunteer to address the issues 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 is seeking to assist pet adoption and 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 at Hong Kong Dog Rescue, an organisation that provides rescue and re-homing efforts, as well as foster care and training classes for abandoned dogs. While the dogs 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 cleaning the kennels and walking the dogs.
Hong Kong Dog Rescue has homing centres in Kennedy Town and Tai Po.
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.
Learn more about HK Alley Cat Watch online.
3. Kirsten’s Zoo
Another place where animal lovers can volunteer in Hong Kong is Kirsten’s Zoo, an organisation that saves 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.
Learn more about Kirsten’s Zoo online.
4. SPCA
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.
SPCA has multiple centres across Hong Kong.
5. Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP)
Another Hong Kong animal rescue dedicated to helping needy animals, Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP) 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. Besides providing foster homes, you can also help out at fundraising events, walk dogs, bottle-feed, answer phones, and more.
Lifelong Animal Protection Charity (LAP) has adoption centres in Tsuen Wan and Sai Ying Pun.
Volunteer in Hong Kong by giving back to the community
6. Pathfinders
Pathfinders supports foreign domestic workers during times of pregnancy and ensures the protection of their children in Hong Kong. The team runs classes and workshops to educate and advise on protocols regarding what to do when/if an employer finds out their helper is pregnant. You can give aid by donating or volunteering, so that these women and their newborns get a fresh and fair start in life.
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. It’s 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 has multiple centres across Hong Kong.
8. Foodlink
Another group that aims to connect the supply of edible surplus to the demand for food is Foodlink. This organisation collects leftovers from F&B outlets across Hong Kong and delivers them to those in need. You can contribute as a volunteer in different areas, such as translation, graphic design, 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 bread from local 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. ImpactHK
Want to volunteer in Hong Kong while connecting with an overlooked community? Reach out to ImpactHK. It supports homeless people 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 make a simple donation.
Impact HK has several locations in Tai Kok Tsui.
10. HandsOn
Want to help in more ways than one? Check out HandsOn, a charity organisation that connects volunteers to 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. Choose which social issues you’d like to address, the categories you’re interested in, and who you’d like to serve, so that you get to support the causes you’re passionate about.
Use HandsOn’s handy online calendar to find volunteering opportunities today!
HandsOn, Room A, 9/F, Easy Tower, 609-611 Tai Nan West Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Hong Kong, p. 2481 8092
11. Art in Hospital
Creating art is believed to be a therapeutic treatment, so this charity organisation aims to use art to serve those in need. Art in Hospital provides mural painting in hospitals and care homes to create a comforting environment for 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.
Art in Hospital, L8-07, 8/F, Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, 30 Pak Tin Street, Shek Kip Mei, Hong Kong, p. 2824 6138
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, tech, arts and crafts, cooking, music, 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, 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 who are women’s and mental health professionals. You’re also welcome to help in translation, web design, project management, administration, and more.
Learn more about Teen’s Key online.
Volunteering in Hong Kong to help the environment
14. 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 tidy 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. As of 2024, Hong Kong Cleanup hosts beach cleanups every other Sunday. Sign up online to help keep Hong Kong’s beautiful oceans, coasts, country parks, and streets clean!
Learn more about Hong Kong Cleanup online.
15. Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden
Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden aims to provide farmers in need with agricultural aid, rescue wild animals, as well as offering a leisure and educational experience to the public. Programmes focus on sustainable living, nature conservation, and holistic education, in which volunteers play an important role. As volunteers, you can use your skills to aid different departments in various roles. These include event planning, assisting 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
[This article was originally published in March 2018 and updated in 2024 by Elaine Wong.]
