Starting a business in Hong Kong is never easy. Regardless of age or stage of entrepreneurship, changemakers face various challenges on this journey, making it difficult to create meaningful change.
In our recent interviews with two social impact partners — Social Innovation Magician (SIM) and Girls Be Change (GBC) — we explored their key “aha” moments and how they achieved their current successes.
Connecting with Changemakers from around the world
What was your “epiphany” moment that led you into impact work?
SIM: I’ve been a magician for over a decade, dedicated to bringing joy and wonder through my performances. One pivotal moment was when I traveled to rural Mainland China to teach, and another was when I performed for terminally ill children. These two experiences profoundly taught me that magic is not just entertainment; it’s a powerful force capable of creating miracles.
I have embraced magic as a tool for education and therapy, aiming to help more people in meaningful ways. Magic transcends simple tricks like pulling a card or making a coin disappear; it embodies a unique power that can inspire change in society. While working in social initiatives, I realized that magic could be an invaluable tool. This realisation led me to join Dream Impact, where I am eager to explore how magic can create even greater influence and transform lives.
GBC: In 2020, I embarked on my first volunteer experience, dedicated to supporting women affected by sex trafficking. I taught them entrepreneurship courses, reintegrated to society, and assisted them in rebuilding their confidence to reclaim control of their lives.
This experience revealed the severe consequences of gender inequality and sparked a reflection on how my work could create meaningful change in society. After four years of volunteering, I was determined to engage in impact work and become a key player in social change.
How did that realisation reshape your career path or ambitions?
SIM: This “aha” moment was transformative for me. In rural Mainland China, I discovered that magic could engage students, making them more receptive to academic talks. Our initial focus was to integrate magic into Hong Kong’s special educational needs (SEN), addressing areas like ADHD and autism, helping children discover their potential and instilling faith and hope. I aim to educate these children and the elderly, using magic to train fine motor skills, find their life purposes, and establish volunteer teams in schools, allowing students to become community magicians and make the community better.
Secondly, magic possesses remarkable therapeutic effects, alleviating both physical and emotional pain while creating magical moments that spark joy and release dopamine. We aim to integrate magic into emotional therapy, providing a means to soothe distress and enhance fine motor skills and body coordination.
GBC: That moment profoundly reshaped my career plans and ambitions. By chance, I solidified my existing values regarding gender inequality. During a presentation by an NGO, I learned about their work and began volunteering. Initially, I handled public relations, but gradually shifted to teaching entrepreneurship classes.
My previous work in event management was closely related to community building, focusing on connections between people. My business philosophy is very personal and is closely tied to the development of social enterprises. Therefore, I began to seek my own personal purpose and integrate it into the vision and mission of Girls Be Change. This process has helped me gain a clearer understanding of the goals I want to achieve.
Additionally, I take time to travel and observe how other changemakers worked and maintained their communities. These experiences confirmed my career direction and commitment to driving social change.
Social Innovation Magician founder Keanu and his apprentices at a magic performance event
Can you share your experience working with changemakers at different ages? What do you think are their unique strengths?
SIM: From my experiences collaborating with numerous companions and advocates, I’ve come to realize that our common thread is grace and a genuine desire to help others. This is our true strength. With an open heart, anyone can create miracles. We embody the spirit of giving back without expecting anything in return. The impact we can make in social enterprises, NGOs, or the realm of social innovation may seem limited, but it’s this grace that empowers us to act. Additionally, our empathetic hearts enable us to give selflessly.
In this field, it fundamentally comes down to two essential qualities: grace and love. Without them, we wouldn’t be part of this industry, this movement, or among these like-minded individuals. So, if someone asks how to join our mission and become a companion or advocate, whether special skills or advantages are necessary, I would sincerely say no—there are none. As long as you have the heart and the desire to contribute, you are welcome here. You may encounter many challenges; the social and economic landscape can be daunting. Yet, we don’t see ourselves as extraordinary. We simply respond to what we believe the world needs from us. Ultimately, it’s not about being unique; it’s about having a heart committed to community service that truly matters.
GBC: Everyone can be an advocate for change, whether in their work, social circles, or everyday life. As long as they genuinely wish to make a difference and take action, they can become agents of change. At the Changemakers Gathering I hosted in Nairobi, I met a young woman in her twenties from Kenya who is passionate about empowering women. Despite her age, she understands the importance of mentorship for local girls and has reached over 30,000 girls through webinars.
Another inspiring individual was a girl from Indonesia, a co-host of a community gathering who began her social entrepreneurship journey at the age of ten. Her curiosity and ability to ask questions have enabled her to make significant changes and establish various social enterprises. One of her most striking points was about the steps to change: first, allow yourself to dream; second, share those dreams; third, allow others to have different dreams; and finally, preserve those dreams. Transitioning from dreams to impact is a step-by-step process.
What stands out about changemakers is their ability to see challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles. They focus on solutions and actively position themselves as part of the problem-solving process. Additionally, they deeply value collaboration, recognizing that collective efforts amplify their impact. This collaborative spirit enables them to harness the power of community in driving meaningful change.
Social Innovation Magician participated in “Magic Family Day,” bringing magic to the community
How can Dream Impact better support your changemaking journey?
SIM: Dream Impact provides me with a great deal of freedom to explore my imagination and put it into practice, allowing for various new experiences. Everyone supports each other like family, and this kind of support is vital.
We’ll soon be hosting our Mental Health First Aid course. We hope you’ll join us to learn the right skills to support yourself and those around you.
GBC: Dream Impact supports my journey by helping us build community and providing a rich network. They also connect us with various investors, thereby expanding our community-building efforts.
Carmen connecting with like-minded individuals at Dream Impact
What collaboration / opportunities are you looking for?
SIM: My expectations are quite simple. I believe that social enterprises should engage in commercial activities while fulfilling an important mission. If we can reach a consensus on collaboration and goals, embark on projects together, and contribute our respective resources, we will have a unified common objective, making our cooperation highly effective.
I hope that Dream Impact can help us build a network within the business community, allowing us to understand the challenges different companies face and where they need to change. This way, we can propose suitable solutions and promote these initiatives to those businesses. Such an approach should be very effective.
GBC: I look forward to more opportunities to participate in networking events, such as those held in co-working spaces, where we can pitch our projects to investors and funding partners, build valuable connections, and have more chances to secure funding to further advance community building. I hope to collaborate with more like-minded partners to achieve our dreams and goals together.
About Dream Impact
Coworking | Event venue | Membership
Dream Impact is Hong Kong’s leading network of social enterprises and impact ventures. We support changemakers from different sectors through transformative experiences and community building initiatives that lead to more sustainable business models.
We envision a world where nurturing relationships with ourselves, each other, and the environment will create a harmonious, sustainable future. Through our network membership, coworking spaces, and event venues, we foster a close-knit, supportive community of social entrepreneurs and changemakers. This allows our partners to collaborate, connect, and upskill together.
Additionally, our flagship Transformative Retreat is designed to help purpose-driven professionals integrate sustainability into both their personal and professional lives, achieving greater alignment in their own journeys as well as within their organizations.
Interested in becoming our member? Sign up here and come visit with a free day pass.
