In our line of work, envy can take strange forms. It’s not that we aspire to plush offices or elegant homes, but we can become quite envious when we see commercial warehouse equipment which lightens the load of our volunteers. Until recently, they loaded tons of cargo into containers using sheer determination and massive perspiration. Swire, however, has helped.

One of its companies, HAECO, specialises in aircraft repair and maintenance services at Hong Kong’s International Airport. Some of their work processes are not unlike our own so, when we considered fundraising to buy more supportive equipment, we consulted HAECO for their recommendation. As it happened, the man we spoke to had been to Crossroads and undertaken our poverty x-periential programme. “Take what you like!” he told our team, as he showed them a collection of equipment the airport no longer needed.

And the story got better. Some adjustments were needed for our use and these might have proved expensive. One of our volunteers, however, is a professional with the needed expertise and devoted his spare time over several weeks to fit it precisely to purpose.

As we say, it’s a strange kind of envy we harbour here. Sometimes the business community helps us with a straight up financial gift, and that is always welcome. Sometimes, they help with the provision of the needed expertise or equipment, and that can also be transforming. We are constantly looking for commercial partnerships, large and small, that can build capacity and empower us further on behalf of the powerless.small, that can build capacity and empower us further on behalf of the powerless.