International Relief Agencies

There are six major international disaster and relief agencies operating in Hong Kong (see the Mingpao news below). Yesterday my little sister asked me how to choose among the relief agencies, and it's difficult to tell... with due respect to the other four agencies, I recommended UNICEF and MSF at last, mainly because the widespread geographical locations might correspond better for the two agencies. I would probably recommend the other four agencies (all are HK-chapters of int'l agencies) if it is a relief operation in China.

A good friend of mine working for ADRA has been headed to Sri Lanka organising for their relief work there. It's likely that another friend at UNDP is also working on fire to coordinate some sorts of relief work. I wish them all the best...

政府舉辦籌款呼籲踴躍捐款[22:38]
2004/12/30

民政事務總署署長陳甘美華呼籲市民發揮人類互助互愛的崇高精神，踴躍捐款協助南亞地區的地震海嘯災民。

陳甘美華今午在新聞發布會上說，為響應聯合國的呼籲，政府將於本星期六舉行籌款活動。她說，連日來已經接觸過不少熱心市民、社區及慈善團體，甚至政黨成員，他們都表示願意捐款協助。

是項名為「四海同心送關懷」的籌款活動，已定於元旦當日下午三時至五時在香港大球場舉行，由香港電視廣播有限公司負責製作，安排本地歌手演唱募捐。善款將交予紅十字會、香港世界宣明會、樂施會、無國界醫生、聯合國兒童基金會及救世軍等六個國際救援組織，在受影響地區進行賑災工作。

無線電視翡翠台將直播「四海同心送關懷」節目，市民也可親自到大球場觀賞節目，免費入場，額滿即止。

Donating in 7-Eleven Stores for MSF & HK Red Cross

Subject: 7-Eleven helps Medecins Sans Frontiers & Red Cross to collect tsunami disaster fund

Dear Colleagues,

The South Asia tsunami tragedies took tens of thousands of lives and made millions homeless. Victims are in emergency need of assistance. In immediate response, 7-Eleven Hong Kong has lined up with two international voluntary organizations in collecting disaster relief funds. They are:

Medecins Sans Frontiers
Hong Kong Red Cross

Please visit any of the 610 7-Eleven stores in Hong Kong and make donation in the multiple of HK$10. You will get a receipt immediately and the money will be transmitted to the voluntary organization's relief fund of your choice.

ACT NOW! Please forward this message to your friends, relatives and business associates.

Thank you very much for your contribution,

7-Eleven Hong Kong Management Team

Tsunami Blogs

According to Yahoo...
Blogs from around the world are offering instant witness reports from the region affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that the traditional media cannot match, as well as links to relief groups for readers seeking to provide immediate help.

Blogs became an important means of communication and information following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States. The phenomenon has now reached global proportions with the explosion of Asian blog sites and sites dedicated to the southwest Asian disaster.

www.worldchanging.com
tsunamihelp.blogspot.com
tsunamimissing.blogspot.com
www.sumankumar.com or tsunamihelpindia.blogspot.com
www.command-post.org

慈善國宴

慈善國宴是一場誤解?

損款3.8萬可與國家領導人同進餐
慈善國宴人民大會堂舉行

【明報專訊】具官方背景的中國扶貧基金會將於明年2月1日在人民大會堂 國宴大廳首次舉辦慈善晚宴，以門票收入募集資金，並請中共黨和國家領導人出席宴會，為扶貧基金募捐。凡認捐1800元人民幣即可出席晚宴，而捐 38,000元更可與國家領導人同桌進餐。活動籌備辦公室負責人對本報表示，此舉目的是為中國 的慈善活動創造新平台，但與領導人同進餐者須先經資格審查。當局有意今後每年舉辦一次，發展成中國的招牌慈善活動。

CCSG e-Newsletter (3rd Issue)

The third issue of our HKU Research Centre's e-newsletter has been released today. Much of the news have already been reported in this blog - actually one of the reasons for me to set up this blog is to facilitate my work to compile the quarterly e-newsletter. But now it has become a very interesting exercise to me...

The latest issue of the e-newsletter (December 2004/January 2005) of the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (CCSG) at HKU has been released: http://web.hku.hk/~ccsg/newsletter/ccsg_issue3.htm
You're welcome to send us your comment at ccsg@hku.hk. Thank you for your attention.

Centre for Civil Society and Governance
website: www.hku.hk/ppaweb/ccsg
email: ccsg@hku.hk

-----------------------------

ABOUT CCSG AND THE NEWSLETTER

The Centre for Civil Society and Governance is a multi-disciplinary research unit established by the Department of Politics and Public Administration under the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong.

The Centre aims to enhance our knowledge of civil society - its nature, constituents, dynamics, roles, and in particular its contributions toward governance, and to foster the development of a vibrant civil society in Hong Kong, mainland China, and other parts of the world. The Centre seeks to do this through research, advocacy, and dissemination.

The CCSG e-Newsletter, first published in June 2004, is a quarterly online news bulletin which serves to provide a platform for allowing interested parties to disseminate news and happenings about civil society development to local NGO practitioners.

香港兒童合唱團成立「藝術基金」

In the past few weeks I have introduced two new charitable funds that support NGO activities (viz. the Digital Solidarity Fund and the HER Fund). Another new $30 million trust fund from the arts sector - the Hong Kong Arts Fund for the Youth (temporary name only) - will be established by the Hongkong Children's Choir using funds from the organisation's own accumulated reserve. As noted by HKCC, it is kind of an unprecedented move by an arts organization (indeed by any NGO in Hong Kong) to deploy its own resources to set up a permanent fund for supporting some general purpose social causes (promoting youth arts in this particular case). The organisation also challenges the property developers bidding for the West Kowloon Cultural Project (see the quotes below) by asking them to set up a $15 billion Arts Endowment for promoting arts in the territory...

It's good to see recently many trust funds are established in Hong Kong, given the fact that we do not have a strong foundation culture, and worse still many existing foundations (individual, family, or corporate) simply do not operate in a very transparent manner and appear not very responsive to community needs. In the past two years, I have been advocating for the establishment of the Hong Kong Community Foundation for serving as an umbrella philanthropic institution that assists individuals and groups in different service fields to establish charitable endowments. While from time to time (usually as the aftermath of some critical social events) there would be individuals and organisations working to set up charitable endowments (just like after the SARS outbreak many funds have been set up), those efforts may not be sustainable. The creation of a community foundation could assist such efforts to produce concerted and lasting impacts in the society. While up to this moment the project is still not a very successful endeavour, I'll continue to promote this concept given the right opportunities...

拋磚引玉成立「藝術基金」

為了貫徹我們的理想，董事局在慶祝建團三十五周年的好時機，通過一個在業餘藝術團體來說實屬破天荒的創舉，就是設立一個「香港青年藝術基金」（暫定名稱），金額初步定為不少於三千萬港元（由本團歷年的儲備中撥出），長遠目標為五千萬港元（規模和現時的「香港賽馬會舞蹈、音樂藝術基金」相若）。基金以每年的利息和收益撥作推廣青年藝術活動，同時會支助有藝術才華和具發展潛力的青年人深造。這計劃待會員大會通過後，即可進行。

挑戰「西九龍」計劃入圍財團

這次「西九龍文娛藝術區」計劃中入圍的三大財團，對推廣藝術都表現出無比的熱情，其中之一更豪氣地說，就算為這計劃補貼一百幾十億都不成問題！以他們的財力 我們相信並非虛言，為了顯示他們對藝術支持的誠意，我們公開呼籲三個入圍財團承諾，任何一個在奪標後先行捐出一百五十億元成立一個「香港文娛藝術發展基金」，讓文化界及專業人士組成獨立委員會為信托人負責管理，這樣香港才真正有希望成為亞洲文化之都！

假如「西九龍文娛藝術區」計劃不幸告吹，亦希望起初有意支持此計劃的財團，合力捐助實現特區政府令香港成為藝術之都的大計！這些香港舉世知名的財團的實力比起「香兒」何只高出千倍萬倍，但我們做得到，你們亦一樣輕而易舉做得到，這樣全港市民就不會再說你們「忽然藝術」了！

阿麥書房 - 「非牟利機構」專業參考書目

Mackie Study is a very small 2nd floor bookstore at Causeway Bay selling mostly Chinese books (and mostly books imported from Taiwan). I highly recommend book lovers to visit them to pick up a book, enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee, or buy a CD of alternative music produced by Hong Kong or Taiwan musicians.

I have also introduced Mackie to my nonprofit friends because of the nonprofit management series that they are selling. Capacity building of NGOs - or nonprofit management - has been a hot topic in Taiwan in recent years and many overseas books on nonprofit management have been translated into Chinese by the Taiwanese. However, few of them are available for sale in Hong Kong. Markie is the authorized sole distributer for a Taiwan publisher whose collections include the nonprofit management series and the creative industries series... A 10% discount is now offered to NGOs purchasing books from the nonprofit management series; check it out to help yourself...

阿麥書房 -「非牟利機構」專業參考書目

非牟利團體訂購優惠 !!!

為了進一步提倡本地優質的非牟利事業管理，「阿麥書房」從大中華出版界找到了台灣的藝術行政專門出版社「五觀藝術管理有限公司」的「非營利事業管理」系列叢書，並獲授權在香港專門銷售他們的所有出版，希望給本地的非牟利機構和行政人員，提供寶貴的參考書籍和實務手冊，協助非牟利事業以強勢主導的管理出?，辦好任重道遠的慈善、教育、社會、環保、文化等非牟利事務。

阿麥書房非常榮幸，獲此機會向香港地區的非牟利機構成員介紹「五觀藝術」整系列優質的中文出版。六年來，「五觀藝術」默默耕耘，將「藝術管理」專業概念廣泛引進華人地區，加上「非營利事業管理」叢書所涵蓋之「第三部門」(Third Sector)管理知識，致使非營利事業的執行和發展得到應有的關注。

1a Space - Bilateral Cultural Exchange Project

1a space is one of the more active arts organisations promoting visual arts in Hong Kong and this is a upcoming event...

Bilateral Cultural Exchange Project
How To See Woman Art will begin in late-February at Cattle Depot Artist Village. With eight local woman artists, 1a space is continuing its investigation into art and cultural environment in Hong Kong by addressing issues that look at wider concerns of the modern world. Whether or not it is feminine, they are all enjoying their life as an artist at different positions in Hong Kong, One of the exhibitions A Woman/ Traveller is going to explore the journey of being a woman artist. Besides, we are glad to invite Griselda Pollock, Professor of the Social and Critical Histories of Art, University of Leeds, who is interested in art history and feminist studies in the visual arts to give a seminar.
Programme details and seminar booking will be announced soon.

SoCo & KPMG (Part II)

29個寶貝故事盼引起關注

【明報專訊】香港社區組織協會由畢馬威會計師事務所贊助製作的攝影集《貝》，將於下周二在尖沙嘴文化中心舉行攝影展，將部分照片展出，希望呼籲公眾關注這一群活在貧窮線下的兒童。

社協社區組織幹事施麗珊表示，將攝影集命名為《貝》的原因是，任何兒童不論在父母或其他人心目中都是「寶貝」，奈何因為貧窮，有些小孩有不同的命運，他 們要承受貧窮所帶來的不幸，但社會上了解他們苦的人不多，所以便以照片記錄貧童的生活，亦可作為實證向社會人士交代。

她續稱，這一代貧 窮兒童的生活較以前的更艱難，以前是「窮，不緊要，我們有書讀」，但現在的教育動輒也需要金錢及資源配合，有時教師不理解學生的處境，令貧窮學生的學習更 加困難，有時更會打擊他們的自尊。因此在攝影集中，有要求小朋友寫上最欣賞自己的地方，從中可窺見小童的自我形象。

她指，現時政府削減綜援，令貧窮兒童生活難上加難，所以他們唯有尋求其他方法，其中就是向中產人士求助。只要他們出一點力，便可幫助多幾名有需要的兒童。

攝影集內共展示29名貧窮兒童的生活實，由他們如何幫助父母分憂，到拾荒幫補家計，以及蝸居的狹窄生活環境，其中有部分更被至親拋棄，也有未能融入社區的少數族裔兒童。

施麗珊說，攝影集只展露了部分慘，實際上有些更慘的，例如有一名小童為節省金錢，每日都到快餐店取免費茄汁，帶回家撈飯吃，可惜他拒絕上鏡，無法將這慘告訴大家。

SoCo 社區組織協會

KPMG (畢馬威) is my past employer. It's good that they now address poverty issues and partner with SoCo and organize their employees to make home visits to children living in poverty...

中產貧童挽手走出板間房

【明報專訊】香港一般小朋友的聖誕禮物多是玩具、聖誕大餐或是跟父母去旅遊等，但同一天空下的深水，板間房內的小朋友想要的聖誕禮物，卻是一罐奶粉、一包米 或一樽生油，因他們希望減輕家庭負擔。貧窮令小孩子鮮有機會逛商場、看電影、到公園玩耍、食漢堡包薯條……一群會計師事務所職員，每月抽出時間，義務安排 活動給深水的兒童，助他們增廣見聞，多接觸社會。中產與貧童的每月相遇，是政府資源以外的另類資源再分配。

政府正醞釀扶貧政策，行政長官董建華下月中的施政報告亦會作出公布。社區組織協會主任何喜華說，扶貧有很多模式，政府直接資助是方法，而動員社會上的中產，為貧窮階層做點事也可以。社協估計，生活在貧窮線下的兒童達35萬。

每月約會同吃同玩

願 意奉獻公餘時間義助這群小童的，是全球四大會計師行之一畢馬威會計師事務所的職員，他們都對義務工作有興趣，經過公司的問卷調查後，發現大家都樂意幫助新移民小朋友，於是主動聯絡社協。由社協作「紅娘」，為這群中產階層穿針引線，與約400名貧窮兒童聯繫，並促成了「協助貧困兒童全人發展計劃」。

畢馬威會計師事務所合伙人麥嘉軒，是這項計劃的其中一名成員。過去一年半，她與同事多次安排活動，曾帶小朋友遊農莊及海洋公園，也有特意帶他們入東涌逛商場及看電影。這個月，他們便帶約30名小孩到中環，先去食薯條漢堡包，然後到附近玩攤位遊戲。

大讚特別團結懂事

面 對一群與他們良好生活環境截然不同的小朋友，難不倒仍未婚的麥嘉軒，她說﹕「小孩就是小孩，不會因生活的環境而有分別，只是各有各的個性，只要用對待小孩的心態與他們相處便可以。」但她坦言，這群小朋友是特別團結及懂事，令她感受至深的，是一次她到社協的社區學習中心幫一名女孩補習，怎料，女孩突然哭起 來，麥無論怎樣也不能令女孩停止哭泣，其間，另一名小女孩走過來協助安慰。

一個星期日，記者「隨團」到中環遊玩，一名女員工說﹕「每次小朋友都可能因為怕陌生而對你有點抗拒，但一段時間後，他們會主動和你交談，然後無時無刻都用他的小手拖你，還有臨別時的依依不捨，都令你很感動的。」

會計師行職員除了帶小孩外出，亦經常與社協聯絡，跟進小朋友，如在盛夏時贈送涼風機，或為個別小朋友與家庭提供緊急援助等，由細微到買鞋給無鞋穿的小朋友、補習功課，以至協助貧困家庭交租等，他們都會從員工集腋成裘的小基金撥款協助。

聖誕禮物盼要一包米

今個聖誕節，全公司約1000名員工將搖身變成聖誕老人，給400名小孩送上聖誕禮物。但麥嘉軒透露，沒想過部分小朋友的願望會是一罐奶粉、一包米或一樽生油，其實這都反映他們希望減輕家庭負擔的心意。所以，負責的員工都會暗中加送禮物，給他們驚喜。

他們經過一年半與貧窮小朋友相處，感慨良多，公司亦贊助製作攝影集《貝》，希望記錄貧窮兒童的生活，帶動多些人參與扶貧工作。

Playright Play Day

The Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in the heart of bustling Central was transformed into a festive fun-filled playground on 12 December 2004, as the Hong Kong Institute of CPAs (HKICPA) and Playright Children's Play Association (Playright) co-organised the PlayStreet∞2004. The event was a great success in bringing lots of fun and laughter to thousands of families and raising funds for the HKICPA Charitable Fund and Playright.

Watch out for it - Cable TV Children's Channel has captured footage of PlayStreet in its Children's programme, "IQ雙拼", on Friday, 24 December 2004 at 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Click here to visit the photo gallery and press release of the event.

HER Fund 婦女動力基金

The HER Fund was established on 8 March 2004 (i.e. the last women's day) with an aim to undertake collective fundraising for supporting the development of women services in Hong Kong. The Fund is now calling for submission of funding applications for the year 2005, with application deadline set on February 7, 2005. Priority areas of concern include economic justice, political participation, gender-based violence, health, and sexual and reproductive rights. Current grantees of the Fund include Action for REACH OUT, The Association for the Advancement of Feminism, Gutsy Women, Hong Kong Women Workers' Association, and Lady MacLehose Centre.

香港愛滋病基金會 傑出義工

Outstanding volunteers from the Hong Kong AIDS Foundation...

抗愛滋無尷尬
傑出女義工大派安全套

【明報專訊】由尷尬忐忑到勇敢面對，3名女子為推廣預防愛滋病，放下傳統婦女的保守觀念——在落馬洲關口向北上的陌生男士大派安全套、在中小學大談性知識，更有人在去年SARS高峰期，為怕在一夜情後染上愛滋病的青少年抽血。她們憑勇敢及堅持，獲得香港愛滋病基金會頒發傑出義工獎。

45歲的得 獎者余仲英是家庭主婦，她與同為義工的丈夫齊齊拍檔，在落馬洲、澳門向外遊的男士派發免費安全套。余坦言，最初向陌生男士派安全套感到極尷尬，連說話也是 「細細聲」，又試過有男人前來「搶套」或一次索取4個套，但思前想後，她認定「派套」是正確的，於是堅持至今。

另一得獎者冼賜梅任職護士8年，即使在去年SARS的高峰期，她仍不怕風險，堅持當義工幫助懷疑愛滋病者抽血，見盡不少「一夜情」後忐忑不安的十六七歲青少年。

另一得獎人林玉珍僅24歲，任職護士半年，但她已有4年義工經驗，曾在中、小學講座大談預防愛滋病的知識，縱使部分學生不太接受，但她仍努力解釋。

有份督導眾得獎義工的高級資訊主任蔡頌文說，持續推行講座很重要。她憶述一次在小學談到懷孕母親感染愛滋病時，竟有8歲小童舉手建議不如「落佢(墮胎)」，反映歧視愛滋病的思想根深柢固，故學校的愛滋病教育非常重要。

愛護動物協會否認糊塗帳

A potential scandel (at least bad publicity) of a prominent nonprofit...

愛護動物協會否認糊塗帳

主動邀廉署助檢討

【明報專訊】本港有逾80年歷史、去年獲公帑及捐款數百萬元的愛護動物協會（下稱協會），最近鬧出帳目不清的風波。有協會會員質疑，會內財務混亂，管理失當， 並於前晚舉行的周年大會中提出質詢，與執行委員會擦出激烈火花。愛護動物協會昨日發出聲明，否認帳目不正常，但將邀請廉政公署私營機構顧問組，協助該會進 行檢討及匯報。

「給動物福利變給人福利」

該會的財務報告資料顯示，協會於2001至2003年，分別虧蝕348萬、245萬及370萬元，今年卻轉虧為盈，淨盈餘高達210萬元。一名參加協會逾10年但不願透露姓名的會員說，財政獲改善固然高興，但他不禁懷疑過去數年協會出現嚴重虧蝕的背後原因。

報告顯示，協會今年收入與去年相若為4700萬，但支出則由去年的5072萬元，減少約一成即600萬，其中僱員支出相距最大，約減少230萬元。該會員憤怒地表示，「給動物的福利，變成給人的福利﹗」

不過，轉虧為盈的「幕後功臣」、協會執行總監戴寶蓮今年10月起開始申請病假，至今仍未復工，遂會內有傳言指，她在整飭協會財務及進行財務調查時與執行委員 會人士發生衝突。自稱是戴寶蓮的朋友PhilCurlewis說，他曾義務到協會進行初部調查，從部分文件及職員訪談中，懷疑多項帳目及程序有問題，包括 聘用價格較高的物料供應商、動物藥物採購與存貨數目不符等。他本欲進一步邀請執行委員會提供資料時，遭拒絕，他說﹕「究竟他們是不想知﹖還是不想別人知﹖ 他們的反應引起我懷疑。」

藉此加強公眾信心

協會公關及傳訊經理顏綺苓承認，戴寶蓮至今仍在病假，但協會財務報告經由核數 師審核，並已在周年大會上獲會員一致通過。今年協會轉虧為盈，主要因為今年籌錢多，支出少。顏又指，邀請廉政公署介入，一方面是應部分會員在周年大會提出 的要求，同時希望藉此加強公眾信心。截稿前仍未找到戴寶蓮作回應。

Stanford Social Innovation Review - Call for Submissions

The Stanford Social Innovation Review is a new journal that publishes research and practice-based articles on nonprofit management, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility. Our mission is to encourage an exchange of ideas between the nonprofit, public, and private sectors that fosters innovative solutions to social problems.

I also want to encourage you to consider submitting a paper to the Review. We welcome submissions that make strong connections between theory, research, and practice and that take an interdisciplinary perspective. We are especially interested in grounded articles that approach important issues in new ways.

Past contributors have included:
* Mayer Zald on why foundations should support social movements
* David P. Baron on strategies for activists and companies when they go head to head in a boycott.
* Robert Cialdini on putting the power of influence to work in nonprofit fundraising.
* James Austin on nonprofit and corporate strategic alliances.
* Mark Chaves on debunking the myths about faith-based organizations.

We are seeking both original and adapted articles (i.e., book excerpts, synopses, or adaptations of articles published elsewhere). Our editors will work with authors to craft a paper that conveys the authors' message as they understand it and that will also be interesting and accessible to the high level nonprofit executives. Please email your paper to editor@ssireview.com. Deadlines are rolling.

樂施電子報 Oxfam e-News

Check out the December 2004 issue of the Oxfam e-News here. You can also send a e-X'mas card (and make a donation to help the poor)...

最新活動
樂施會電子賀卡傳心意

聖誕節快到了！想和偏遠地區的貧窮人一同分享聖誕佳節的喜悅，只要捐款港幣20元，就可以在任何一張樂施會賀卡上，加上您的個人祝福字句，寄給本港或遠方的親友。你的小小幫忙，可以為更多貧窮人的生活帶來大大的改善。請即登入樂施會的網站，為親友送上一份扶貧心意！

網上教育籌款平台

An interesting development and a new kind of organized philanthropy that is very different from the conventional model of federated fundraising. Should the other nonprofit fields also consider developing similar federated fundraising campaigns? In the States, United Way is not the only federated fundraisers. Many other federated campaigns such as the Combined Federal Campaign are in existense to support other specific community causes such as women's services, green groups etc...

網上平台助中小學幼園籌款

【明報專訊】為協助中、小學建立籌款文化推動教育計劃，美林（亞太）有限公司擬於 明年3月建立一個網上籌款平台，讓全港中、小學和幼稚園在網上公開籌款。由學校於平台發放募捐教育計劃，捐款人可選擇有興趣的項目「配對」認捐，由社會大 眾贊助學校推行教育活動。多個議會代表歡迎有關計劃。

3月開始學校上載計劃書

教育統籌局與美林（亞太）有限公司代表及多 個學校議會日前召開會議，討論設立網上籌款平台的計劃。據悉，建構中的網上平台注入股票市場的「集資」概念，為提升學校籌款的透明度和靈活性。有意募捐的 學校因應各自需要，上載籌款計劃書及介紹籌款項目，捐款人閱覽計劃書後可直接向學校認捐。籌款平台作為籌款學校和捐款者的中介角色，能發揮市場力量，更有效地分配社會資源。

據與會者透露，已有機構願意捐款鼓勵學校發展籌款文化，向上載最多計劃書和籌款成功率高的學校發放額外捐款，目前已有兩間本地機構表示願意捐款。據悉，明年3月將邀請首批24所學校參與先導計劃，每校發布兩項計劃，共48項計劃供市民認捐。

集腋成裘推動學校活動

津貼中學議會主席儲富有歡迎有關建議，學校現時沒有渠道公開籌款，透過網上平台，可讓有興趣贊助學校活動的市民捐款，學校活動亦可得到支持。他說﹕「雖然市民捐款未必多，但可集腋成裘。」不過，他亦擔心平台上太多教育項目無人認捐，猶如「孤兒仔」無人認領。

東區小學校長召集人馮家正指出，部分學校的學生家庭社經地位低，難以籌募經費，平台可協助該類學校籌款，推動教育活動。他又稱，申請優質教育基金撥款舉辦活動，會增加工作量亦未必獲批，期望捐款平台可彌補不足。

資助小學校長會林湘雲認為，捐款平台應供全港中、小學、幼稚園及特殊學校參加，避免出現不公平﹔他建議由教統局中央監察捐款的運用，避免平台被濫用。他亦擔心公眾向中、小學捐款的文化未建立，籌款成效未必顯著。

救世軍回收舊電腦計劃

救世軍助窮戶打開資訊之窗

翻新舊電腦捐弱勢社群

【明報專訊】今時今日，互聯網已成為我們生活的一部分，不過，香港卻有逾 六成貧窮家庭，就連數百元的二手電腦也負擔不起，更遑論上網服務的費用。為令弱勢社群能擁有自己的電腦，得以開啟一扇通往世界資訊的窗，救世軍一班職員發 起回收舊電腦計劃，翻新、復修後送給有需要的人，並深深感受到「助人為快樂之本」這句說話的真諦。

「我們的計劃自10月開始接受申請，一個月內已收到近400張申請表，反映社會上其實有很多人都很需要電腦，但卻沒有錢買。」救世軍港澳軍區教育及就業服務主任張華新告訴記者，申請人不只是年輕人，還有不少失業的中年人和老人。

負責維修及翻新電腦的資訊科技助理Matthew，工作間擺滿一部部待修的電腦，他憶述自己將電腦送往一些貧窮家庭時，有受惠者向他表示「等了很久」，更有智障人士非常用心地學用。看見自己的努力能幫助有需要的人，他覺得很開心和有滿足感。

為貧困人士爭取上網優惠

他說，在送電腦期間，不少家庭向他們表示負擔不起上網費用，因此他有一個心願，希望爭取互聯網供應商支持，優惠貧困人士，讓他們得以接觸世界。

另一位資訊科技助理阿強，對長者接收電腦時的印象分外深刻，「有些老人家很想學上網，希望透過電郵跟身在外地的子女聯絡。看到他們那麼用心，自己既開心又感動」。

發信300公司回收千部電腦

該 項計劃於今年4月獲得利希慎基金和香港工商及科技局資助60萬元，救世軍之後向近300間大公司發信，要求捐出舊電腦，反應踴躍，其中包括匯豐銀行、東方 海外、九廣鐵路、香港大學、國泰航空及多個政府部門，現時已回收近1000部電腦，工作人員及義工早前已先後將100部電腦送出。

看工作間內堆積如山的電腦，Matthew和阿強表示會盡最大努力，盡快完成維修及翻新，令更多人受惠。

數碼共融基金供團體申請

Announcing the establishment of the Digital Solidarity Fund [news from today's Mingpao] (see earlier post here)

數碼共融基金供團體申請

【明報專訊】香港社會服務聯會獲得政府及商界共165萬元的捐款支持，昨日宣布成立「數碼共融基金」，供志願團體申請，協助弱勢社群獲得電腦軟硬件，令他們趕上瞬息萬變的社會發展。

基金主要資助以下三類計劃﹕

●為弱勢社群提供接觸資訊科技的設施，如回收舊電腦贈予低收入家庭及改進軟件功能

●提升弱勢社群的資訊科技知識，如提供訓練課程

●助弱勢社群融入資訊社會，如提倡網頁無障礙設計

基金每年將有兩次公開接受申請，而每項計劃最高可獲20萬元資助，至於計劃的受益人可包括長者、傷殘人士、單親家庭、低收入家庭、新移民及婦女等。

Institute for Volunteering Research (UK)

Some of those on the list might be interested in a new publication by the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR), the 'Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit.'

The toolkit has been written to help organisations to understand how they can undertake their own research to demonstrate the impact made by volunteers to:

• The volunteer themselves
• The organisation involving the volunteers
• The service users
• The wider community

The toolkit comprises of a 130 page book and a CD ROM of materials which users can adapt.

To order copies of the Volunteering Impact Assessment Toolkit priced at GB POUNDS 35 or GB POUNDS 30 to members of Volunteering England Telephone +44(0)845 305 6979 or visit www.ivr.org.uk to order online.