Comparative Cultures of Care:
An Interdisciplinary Project
Work Package 4:
Immersive Experiential Probes
on Caregiving
Volunteering is a common but meaningful expression of social care, but how would it respond to the critical view that “Care is almost always characterized by asymmetries of power, ability, and resources” (Adams, 2020, 695)? In what ways is care work distinguished from charitable work, and how do young people who engage in volunteer care work conceptualize, feel, and reflect on their experience?
This initiative is a collaborative effort between the 'Comparative Cultures of Care' project and two local NGOs, - Breadline and Footprint, who are both committed to fostering acts of care focused on food rescue and waste reduction within our local community through a slightly different way.
Two distinct subprograms are designed with each NGO for this critical caregiving study to address food-related challenges in Hong Kong and encourage community-based volunteer work among EdUHK students:
Subprogram A with the NGO Breadline will have keynote talks and workshops focused on food security and food waste in Hong Kong, critical care practices, and representations of care and charity. Volunteering activities organized by Breadline will collect surplus food from bakeries just in time through the web application 'Breadline,' which serves as a dynamic platform with real-time data on food availability and demand. The collection of leftover bread will be delivered the same night to people in need, including the homeless, low-income families, refugees and their children, the elderly poor, etc.
Jan - Apr 2024
Subprogram B with the NGO Footprint will learn about food waste issues in Hong Kong, design thinking of food waste reduction, and the transformative process of converting food waste into environmentally beneficial materials. Footprint will organize volunteer activities at the Tai Po wet market, where surplus vegetables await collection and will be transferred to nearby farms to continue their life journey. Participants are also required to record the waste generated in their daily life. The aim is not just waste reduction but also sustainable solutions for effectively managing food waste.
Jan - Apr 2024
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By joining either one (or both) of the subprograms, students can:
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Learn about the essential concepts of food rescue and food waste and the operation of local NGOs
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Gain valuable insights into care practices and critical reflection on volunteer work
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Make friends with like-minded students and take action in community care work
*Students with an 80% attendance rate will receive a volunteer certificate.
*Students who attend the keynote talks and workshop and complete the surveys and digital diary are eligible for a transportation & research subsidy of HKD180 (through EdUHK IWork system) for participating in each volunteer activity; the maximum subsidy is HKD900.
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