Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: NGO leader inspires change through empathy

Crossroads Foundation president David Begbie has spent three decades showing Hongkongers what life is like on the margins, stripping away comfort in realistic simulations that turn empathy into action.

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The humanitarian has been named a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the Community category, in recognition of his efforts to build empathy and inspire change among leaders, students and families in the city.

The Crossroads Foundation has served people in need for three decades, redistributing surplus resources from Hong Kong to families locally and to communities in more than 100 countries.

The NGO’s simulations, developed to immerse participants in the lives of those at the edge of society, have been running for 20 years.

While the charity distributes donated goods across the world, David Begbie believes its simulations provide the empathy that makes it scalable and sustainable. Photo: Kong Yat-pang
While the charity distributes donated goods across the world, David Begbie believes its simulations provide the empathy that makes it scalable and sustainable. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

When Begbie first invited chief executives of companies to spend a night in a slum simulation at the Crossroads Foundation, he wondered if they would walk away in a huff.

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