Society for Community Organization (SoCO) | 香港社區組織協會
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Mission Statement
Society for Community Organization (SoCO) is a human rights pioneer in Hong Kong. SoCO firmly believes that everyone should be entitled to equal rights. Equal opportunity for participation and fair distribution of social resources is the foundation of human rights. In the face of the widening disparity between the rich and the poor, and the increasingly restrictive political arena, we stand firm in our crusade to establish an equal society and to build a strong power base for the people. We are motivated by a common dream, and that is: "Let us work hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to build a caring, equal and just society". SoCO is an incorporated, non-profit-making and non-governmental community organization. It was formed in 1972 by people from the Catholic and the Protestant church under the ecumenical movement. It was financially supported by donations from overseas churches, the Hong Kong Community Chest, the Hong Kong Government and individuals. SoCO has, through civic education programs and social actions, nurtured grassroots people with a sense of civic rights so that they can exert their political power to the Government. These people have, during the course, regained their self-confidence and cemented with one another to champion for an equal social system. In view of the plight of the marginalized groups, SoCO also provides direct and emergent services to relieve their hardship temporarily. Grassroots people are struggling day in and day out to keep their head above water. It is most scornful to see economic development brings social inequality. These deprived cannot enjoy our economic success and they are socially discriminated. They have been snubbed and fallen into oblivion. Standing in the line of underprivileged are caged lodgers, tenants with financial difficulties and living in appalling conditions, aged singletons, street-sleepers, ex-offenders, mentally ill patients, ethnic minorities, non-documented mothers of split families, families made up of new immigrants, patients and their families, Hong Kong residents being detained at the Mainland, etc. They are our serving targets. In the coming years, SoCO will stand four squares behind the grassroots in supporting them fight for their rights and social justice. By doing so, we hope that we can realize our common dream of making "all members of human family equal".
About This Cause
1. SoCO's Vision Equal for All For the past 45 years, SoCO upholds the motto that all people are equal. We believe in the rule of law. We advocate that the basic rights of all people should be protected under the law. We are also of the view that the community needs to supervise the performance of the government in an effective manner. Apart from providing daily services, we unite the vulnerable groups and help them fight for their rights and better lives through a fairer distribution of social resources. We want everyone to have an equal chance for development. We also want to raise the people’s social consciousness through civic education. People's Participation SoCO believes that the foundation of a solid democratic system and a fair society is through the participation of the people in the decision-making process of the government. Throughout the years, SoCO has introduced a series of civic education programs to cultivate a sense of direction and political responsibility in the community and grassroots organizations. The aim is to consolidate civic power. A Caring Society It is also our belief that to build a society respecting human rights, reasonable social policies including housing, medical and retirement schemes should be introduced to achieve a redistribution of resources. To achieve this, strong social actions based on mass mobilization are called for. 2. Aims of SoCO 2.1 To safeguard the human rights of the underprivileged and the general public; 2.2 To ensure the fully enjoyment of the human rights as enshrined by the International Covenants; 2.3 To advocate the democratic system in Hong Kong; 2.4 To empower the underprivileged in the society; 2.5 To foster a sense of community among the people of Hong Kong; 2.6 To educate and enable people to accept and take responsibility for participating in resolving problems affecting the community; 2.7 To provide training programs and local projects for community organization; 2.8 To provide direct and emergent social service to the underprivileged groups; 2.9 To stimulate community organization in Hong Kong; 2.10 To maintain contacts with community and related organizations overseas. SoCO pioneers efforts to mobilize the grassroots people to accomplish community organization among the citizens of Hong Kong. The aim is to establish a real power base for the people to protect their civil, political, economic and social rights. SoCO strives for greater social justice, equality and democracy through the different campaigns. The basic philosophy of empowering the people for structural changes is the firm adherence to the community approach in solving social problems based on the results of policy analysis and empirical research.