Blending Data and Purpose | Timothy Cheng’s Volunteer Journey with CareER Association

Together with Time Auction, the Swire Trust Go-Givers Program encourages skilled volunteers for Swire Trust NGO partners in education, marine conservation, and arts. From now to 2025. 10 outstanding volunteers will be selected annually as the “Swire Trust Go-Givers of the Year” with special rewards & recognition. Meet our 10 Go-Givers of 2024!

Meet Timothy — Turning Skills into Social Change

Timothy has been passionate about social issues and sustainability since he started his volunteering journey in secondary school. His began his career as an actuary, but his strong drive to make a positive difference soon led him to pivot toward sustainability consulting and climate risk analysis for both non-profits and corporations.

Now, Timothy is focused on blending his actuarial and data skills with his background in sustainability to address major challenges that neither businesses nor governments can solve alone. Volunteering with CareER Association gave him the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Pioneering Disability Inclusion

CareER Association is a non-profit organization in Hong Kong dedicated to advancing disability inclusion by supporting those with accessibility needs. Through various initiatives, such as the Disability Inclusion Index, CareER aspires to empower people with disabilities to succeed in their careers and ultimately create a more inclusive workforce.

Finding the Right Cause to Champion

Disability inclusion has been a cause close to Timothy’s heart for over a decade. His advocacy began with an internship at the Rehabilitation Alliance and helping students with special educational needs at CUHK. These experiences exposed him to the barriers faced by people with disabilities, and inspired him to raise awareness so that the city is more accessible and friendly to everyone.

When CareER was establishing its Disability Inclusion Index and recruited volunteer consultants on Time Auction, Timothy saw an opportunity to make a long-term impact. “The Index can guide corporations toward best practices that ensure equal opportunities for all, empowering everyone to succeed in their careers,” he explained. When CareER reached out to him, he didn’t hesitate to get involved.

Moments of Insight and Inspiration

Although Timothy’s volunteer work with CareER mostly took place through video calls, the connection and passion of the team have left a lasting impression. “Even during virtual meetings, I could feel the dedication of the CareER team to promoting disability inclusion,” he shared. With a genuine hope for the greater good, their conversations about the immediate tasks at hand often turned into deep discussions about bigger aspirations: how they could together make Hong Kong a more inclusive place.

“These moments were heartwarming, offering a space filled with hope and possibility,” Timothy recalled. Whenever someone asks him about leading examples of social inclusion in Hong Kong, the brilliant team at CareER always comes to mind first.

The CareER team shared their deep appreciation for Timothy’s contributions: “Timothy has been an invaluable asset to our team. His profound insights, extensive knowledge, and strategic thinking have been instrumental in shaping the success of the Disability Inclusion Index. His proactive approach has made a remarkable difference, and we are deeply grateful for the lasting change he has helped create.”

Creating Equal Opportunities

For Timothy, volunteering with CareER reminds him of the critical role that corporations play in advancing disability inclusion. While environmental issues like climate change often take center stage in conversations about ESG and sustainability, social inclusion is actually very important too. “By creating equal opportunities—from inclusive hiring practices to accommodating diverse needs in the workplace—businesses can ensure that no one is left behind,” Timothy explained.

Through his work with CareER, Timothy saw firsthand how empowering people with disabilities to build fulfilling careers can improve their quality of life and contribute to equity in society.

Making Fun Count

Here is Timothy’s advice for volunteers: “Make volunteering your favorite hobby! It’s so much fun, and you can meet interesting, passionate people who energize you.”

Thank you Timothy for contributing 40 volunteer hours, with CareER Association!

To see details of the Swire Trust Go-Givers Program and support their NGO partners, head over to Time Auction website.

Written by Time Auction team, Edited by Margaret Ng, Volunteer Editor