EmpowerU

EmpowerU alumna Veronica returned to the EmpowerU classroom and led a creative poetry workshop for the first time since the release of her passion project, 𝙐𝙣𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙, which features a collection of poems by the EmpowerU community 💫

In the workshop, EmpowerU students learned about different types of poems, such as couplets and cinquains. Then, using their newfound knowledge, they wrote poems about various topics, such as family, community, loss and self-love 🫂

We'd like to thank Veronica for conducting a poetry workshop that celebrated community and self-expression 🤩 It’s always great to see EmpowerU alumni thrive and come back 💓

Ask and you shall receive!🗣️

Our recent Professionalisation Workshop with volunteers from gave our interns an opportunity to have a chat with professionals to discuss common career questions and work out any doubts about the workplace.

They bonded over a tasty bite, and our volunteers' intriguing workplace stories sparked discussions of essential networking skills, insider tips for interviews, and more.🤩

Thank you to volunteers for taking the time to share their knowledge and lend an ear ✨. With their advice, our interns are sure to be more informed on their next steps before entering the professional workplace!

Eli Zaelo, a professional singer and actress, recently led a script writing workshop for EmpowerU students 📝

After introducing the concept and process of script writing, everyone in class tried their hand at creating characters and developing a narrative in their own scripts ✍🏽

To wrap up, the EmpowerU students put what they learned into practice and wrote a scene together with Eli about “the courageous women of Hong Kong” 💗

Thank you Eli for engaging with everyone in fun theater games and for challenging students to write about out-of-the-box characters. Your workshop was a reminder of how the arts help build community and connect people together.

Meet EmpowerU's Class of 2026 💓 The graduation photoshoot was a wonderful way to commemorate how far everyone has come in their EmpowerU educational journey.

From EmpowerU to you, congratulations on this important milestone 🎓💫 55 days to go until graduation!

Dr. Staci Ford, an Affiliated Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong, led a Gender, Generation, & Leadership class for our EmpowerU students 🤝🏽

The class discussed the historical context of different generations, which made way for a reflective exercise about exploring one's generational identity, and the relevance of generational labeling in everyone's personal journeys.

After a discussion on what constitutes leadership, EmpowerU students zeroed in on leadership through a gender lens, then reflected on their own leadership strengths and experiences 💪🏽

Thank you Staci for leading a leadership class that opened the floor to profound and meaningful discussions. You encouraged everyone to reflect on their leadership experiences not just as domestic workers, but also mothers, daughters, community leaders, and more 💗‼️

EmpowerU students learned how to protect themselves from financial scams by studying common scam patterns 📝, red flags 🚩, preventative measures to avoid becoming a victim 🚨, and immediate practical steps to take if found in an unfavorable situation 🆘

David Bishop, HKU Professor of Associate Teaching, taught students about social engineering, a form of manipulation that leads victims to unintentionally share confidential information and compromises their personal security 🛡️

By the end of the session, students had a better understanding of the psychology behind scams and the most common scam types that domestic workers are vulnerable to, leaving them more aware and confident in handling scam attempts.

We would like to thank David who led this as a free class open to all. Knowledge is power, and scam safety is especially important knowledge in our modern world where scams are becoming both more elaborate and more difficult to catch 🫂

This is the first of a three-part Cantonese class, as part of a collaborative effort by EmpowerU and Language for All, whose mission is to empower MDWs with tailored Mandarin and Cantonese training programs.

Everyone started with the basics: tones, numbers, time, and common phrases used in general everyday conversations 💬

Once students got comfortable with the basics, they moved onto more MDW-specific learning materials 🤩 This included range of topics, such as produce, grocery items, cleaning items, and common phrases used at a wet market (about weight, freshness, etc.) 🐟

Finally, they wrapped up with a roleplaying exercise set in a wet market, so students can utilize the vocabulary they just learned and become more comfortable holding a full conversation in Cantonese.

We would like to thank Ian, Tina, Ranice, Cheryl and Gigi for engaging with the EmpowerU students, and thank Ernest for creating the lesson plan! Your efforts will help everyone along on their Cantonese-speaking journey! 💫

EmpowerU Program Director Sumi and Program Coordinator Ayesha recently attended the 4th Annual American Club Foundation Foundation Gala 💓

As a charity partner supported by the Grants+ program, we at EmpowerU are grateful for those who believe in our work, and for everyone who came together to raise awareness and funds for the work that we do.

We would like to thank Fiona, ACF's Executive Director, for the invite, and for being an avid supporter of EmpowerU!