Supporting the Salvation Army in Hong Kong

A student-led initiative to provide books and resources to those in need

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About Our Project

We are a group of KGV students - Ryan, Lucinda, and Khusheen - running a book donation drive to support the Salvation Army in Hong Kong. Our goal is to collect educational resources and books for underprivileged children and families in our community.

The Salvation Army has been serving Hong Kong since 1930, providing essential services to those in need. They operate community centers, shelters, and educational programs throughout the city.

Through our survey of KGV students, we discovered that while many are aware of poverty issues, few have direct experience. This project is our way of turning awareness into action and making a tangible difference in our community.

All books collected will be donated to Salvation Army community centers to support their educational programs for children from low-income families.

"A book is a dream that you hold in your hand." - Neil Gaiman
Salvation Army Logo

Our Survey Findings

We surveyed 13 KGV students about poverty awareness in Hong Kong

Poverty Status

All 13 respondents indicated they do not live in poverty, reflecting the economic background of KGV students.

100%

Not in poverty

Encountering Poverty

Frequency of encountering people living in poverty:

61.5%

Very rarely

23.1%

Occasionally

15.4%

Frequently

Understanding Poverty

92.3% of students understand that poverty involves more than just lacking money.

92.3%

Understands the concept of Poverty

Willingness to Help

92.3% of respondents expressed willingness to donate books or toys to support children in poverty.

92.3%

Willing to donate

Understanding Poverty

Why our work matters in the Hong Kong context

Hong Kong Poverty Statistics

Hong Kong has one of the highest wealth disparities in the developed world:

1.65M

People live below the poverty line (2023)

23.6%

Poverty rate - highest in 12 years

1 in 5

Children live in poverty

Causes of Poverty

Poverty in Hong Kong stems from multiple complex factors:

  • High cost of living: World's most expensive housing market
  • Income inequality: Top 10% earn 44% of total income
  • Aging population: 20% are elderly with limited support
  • Structural unemployment: Mismatch of skills and opportunities
  • Limited social mobility: Difficult to escape poverty cycles
  • COVID-19 impact: Increased unemployment to 7.2%

Why Books Matter

Education is the most powerful weapon against poverty:

3x

More likely to escape poverty with access to books

60%

Of low-income homes have no children's books

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." - Dr. Seuss

Salvation Army Impact

Providing vital services to Hong Kong's vulnerable:

80+

Social service units across HK

15

Family Stores accepting donations

35

Schools providing education

25M+

People served annually

Our Contributions

How each team member made a difference

Ryan

Project Leader
Ryan coordinating with Salvation Army

Project Leader

  • Organized the entire project from conception to execution
  • Coordinated with Salvation Army representatives to arrange drop-off logistics
  • Managed the donation drive schedule and volunteer assignments
  • Created surveys and posters to raise awareness across KGV
  • Developed the project timeline and ensured all milestones were met
10+ hours Spent on coding website
600+ Books and toys collected

Project Evidences

Photos and documentation of our donation drive

Book donation collection

Putting Donation Boxes In HKUST

People donating books and toys

May, 2025
Donation box in kgv

Donation Boxes in KGV

Students contributing to help the uneducated

26th - 30th May, 2025
Packing donations for delivery

Categorizing all the donations

Boxes of books are ready to be delivered to Salvation Army centers

31st May, 2025
Salvation Army staff receiving donations

Donation Day!!!

Donated 600+ books and toys to the salvation donation centre

June 1st, 2025