By Iriz York
 |
| Graduates with Enrich co-founder Myriam Bartu, Enrich board chair Annalotte Walsh and Consul Charles Macaspac. |
There are no shortcuts to financial
planning.
This was the message of
Consul Chuck Macaspac to about 60 foreign domestic workers honored at the first
graduation ceremony of Enrich held at Lingnan University in Tuen Mun on Feb.
21.
“There are no
shortcuts,” Consul Macaspac told the graduates. “If you try to do short cuts
that's when you open the door to getting victimized. You become victims of
scams and start borrowing money atrociously”.
Macaspac said it is not
uncommon to see Filipino domestic workers who have been in Hong Kong for 20 to
30 years because they have not planned well for their future. He urged the
graduates to make a plan, stick to it, and go back to the Philippines as soon
as possible.
A total of 55 Filipino
and four Indonesian migrant workers completed the financial education and
empowerment education program of Enrich, which included five workshops covering
topics on budgeting, savings, debt management, making investments, business
development and assertive communication.
Another 17 Filipino
domestic workers who completed the lecture series on domestic worker rights
through the Knowledge Transfer Project between Enrich and Lingnan University
and Professor James Rice, also received certificates.
One of Enrich’s pioneer
migrant advisers Liza Avelino, inspired the graduates by sharing her humble
beginnings and how she persevered to pursue her dream of traveling the world
and climbing Everest, becoming the first domestic worker to do so.
“If you wanted to do
stuff that you've never done before, I'm asking you to take this first step:
invest in yourself. Review your dreams everyday and say to yourself- I will not
give up until I win. You can live your dream”, Avelino said.
Adelaida Valencia, one
of the Filipino graduates of the financial education program, shared her her
experience.
“Enrich not only
moulded me to be more knowledgeable, but also enlightened me to see the error
of my ways. (It has) given me tools, and equipped me to face challenges”, she
said.
Enrich executive
director Lenlen Mesina thanked the graduates for their hard work and
dedication, but emphasized the importance of continuing their quest for
knowledge and information.
“If you want a brighter
future for your loved ones, you have to start investing in a brighter future
for yourselves”, Mesina said.
She further encouraged
them to share the knowledge and be ambassadors to their family and friends.
Family and friends of
the graduates, and the employers of some, also attended the ceremony.
Aside from the
financial and empowerment educ-ation program, Enrich has also begun giving an
investment lecture series early this year, to be followed by a business
develop-ment series.
For inquiries, please
visit Enrich HK’s Facebook page or their website www.enrichhk.org.
