Ridealist

It’s worth a try

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 19:16:00 +0000

Sometimes, explaining what we do, and why we do it, can be difficult.

We recently received this email from an intermediary.

The second part of the question is fairly normal: What can we do for the folks who are the subject of the video?

But the first part “what’s in it for you?” To be frank, it came across as aggressive.

We’d already shared our website, the platforms where our videos are available, our success stories, and of course our failures.

So here’s the story. This is why Ridealist does what it does, and why we are leaving Hong Kong.

XXX Cancer Support Centre are not interested in participating in any video making, sorry.

I was unable to explain why you are interested in coming such a long way to do a free filming session. Can you explain what's in it for you - and for the video participants please?

That’s a real pity, but of course it's their decision and I am sure they have their reasons.

In fact, their concerns are not unfamiliar to ones we have met before. They are good questions.

We’ve tried to structure our website Ridealist and information about what we do on the platforms where our videos are presented to address the questions raised. Clearly, it is something we need to examine again! A work in progress.

A) What’s in it for us - as in Ridealist? Well, certainly not the money! Since 2009 we have operated Ridealist entirely out of our own pocket. We were fortunate that I had a reasonably well-paying job with a television broadcaster here in Hong Kong, and prior to that, while not quite so well paid, we were lucky that my previous employers were - let’s say - more “socially conscious” and actively encouraged our community work.

To maintain the quality of our output has required some considerable expenditure in terms of equipment, and that is an almost never ending story... there is always something to buy or repair or replace.

So after years of doing this entirely out of our own pocket, we decided to become a social enterprise. This is the work we like to do. It is a way of using our skills to pay-back or “pay it forward” to the community.

But to be clear. It would be a social enterprise. While we plan to remain committed to producing as many pro-bono videos as is economically possible, we have to be realistic.

Why are we leaving Hong Kong?

One of the main constraints - in fact the deal breaking and iniquitous constraint of my contract with my existing employer here in Hong Kong (until the end of the month) - is that I am “legally” not allowed to become involved in any charitable, community based activities, no fundraising, no support or endorsement - without the express written consent of my employer. Which they’ve made clear isn’t going to happen.

So I ignored them and did it anyway. They did threaten to fire me.. but that’s another story.

As we moved deeper into the non-profit sector, and produced more videos, we were frequently finding ourselves in a situation where we were having to say no. People liked our work, and asked us to help. There were time constraints, of course, but one of the main obstructions was funding.

Again, because of my contractual obligations, I was not allowed to take any other paid employment. So a direct payment - even just to cover our costs - was out of the question. Fundraising to cover the costs. Out of the question. And in the end, we just got frustrated and embarrassed. Making up excusing to say no to some very deserving causes, awesome individuals - stories that needed to be told.

By moving to France, we are free of these restrictions. But, the move presents its own unique set of problems.

I will no longer have the “security” of a monthly salary. So we really do need to start looking at this as a business - a social enterprise - but a business.

For groups and charities that obviously have a budget, then we will charge on a case by case basis - basically how much can they afford. We would not be saying, for example, this is our daily rate - take it or leave it. We’d talk to them, see if they could contribute.

If their contribution will cover everything, we’re good to go. If their contribution cannot cover everything, then we’d go to plan B.

For those that can’t come up with the funds - assuming Bradford and Airedale do not - Plan B kicks in - we would join forces on a crowdfunding campaign to raise the expenses to produce the video.

And part two of the question. What’s in it for them - the charity/nonprofit?

Well, I have visited their website, and confess to being impressed with the “grounded” down to Earth way they present many of their volunteers and some of the work they do. But it is all text, and a few photographs. I spent quite a while on their website because I was interested in learning about an organisation I might have the opportunity of working with.

Unless you are intimately involved with an individual who is suffering from cancer in that particular location of the UK, your client’s website will not “hold” visitors long enough to get the whole message. Which is a huge shame because they have a great message. And as a consequence, they are potentially losing opportunities for donations to keep the operation going. And maybe some volunteers too.

Frankly, I think they are doing an amazing job, with some fascinating volunteers and stories. To tell you the truth, there is more than one video we could do about the Bradford and Airedale Cancer Support Centre! We could do an entire series!

However, people looking for general information about cancer support groups in the region would likely move on. They might come back if all the groups are structured in the same way. But if they came across one that looked - progressive, fun, interactive and informative - that is where they might make their donation.

We believe that a video, short, sharp, to the point, that gets the message across - in a visually appealing and stimulating - and even an emotional or amusing way, is worth...... Well, yes, what is it worth?

In pounds, euros, dollars? Hard to say, we are not privy to the accounts of the nonprofits we work with. But we can say that previous groups who have used our videos in fundraisers have come back to us and asked for more!

What is a video's worth in spreading awareness in the general public, in changing their attitude? Inspiring cancer victims to fight and not give up? And on a broader spectrum, encouraging other folks not to give in to whatever challenges they are facing?

No figures available. Our only answer is, it’s worth a try.

To conclude, David - Shirley and I are both very impressed with what you are doing, and applaud your generous community spirit.

Please keep us in mind for next year!

Very warm regards,

Chris

Gizzajob.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:52:00 +0000

Some of you know, some of you don’t - but I’ve had a lot of time on my hands recently.

While I have managed to do a little work, most of my time has been spent reading, researching, and trying very hard not to feel too bloody sorry for myself.

But an article I read today by international cancer blogger Chris Lewis in the latest edition of My Healthy Lifestyle gave me some food for thought, and probably a much needed kick up the arse. I strongly recommend you give it a read.

Let me explain. I need a job.

I mean I really need a job. Not the money. Not the security. The job.

I’m experienced. Across the broad spectrum of journalism and broadcast news I’ve been there, done it, and bought the t-shirt. I’m not even that old.

So what’s the problem?

I have cancer. Da-daaa! That’s a downer, eh? A bit of a party stopper. Stage IV too!

While I am relatively new to the struggle, I was only diagnosed in August, I am already feeling isolated from the regular workforce that was once so important to me.

I had given up my full-time job and was on the threshold of entering the freelance market when I was diagnosed. Talk about awkward timing - just when I needed every ounce of my energy and confidence.

But of course a cancer patient has to be honest with a prospective employer, even as a freelance. And to be fair, anyone suffering from a chronic illness that involves frequent and sometimes debilitating courses of treatment would present an unfair burden or risk.

So it’s tough. None of us know exactly how we are going to respond to any particular round of treatment, or how long it will take us to get back on our feet. So while I have certainly been looking for a job, I haven’t actually applied for any because I've pretty much convinced myself that I am unemployable.

And this makes having a job so much more important. Self esteem. A reason to get up in the morning the day after chemotherapy. Feeling responsible. Wanted. Important even. Needed.

That is really needing a job. Any financial rewards or security are pleasant by-products.

Yes I need a job. But so do many others who are in far worse shape than me.

So the question is: how do we change this? What can we do as a society, as a community, to create opportunities for people with chronic diseases such as cancer?

I would really like to hear your thoughts.

Pediatric Cancer Research/Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:34:00 +0000

Ridealist Productions is donating 30 percent of our fee for an upcoming project to an organisation(s) involved in childhood cancer research or support.

Why?

Just over three months ago Ridealist cameraman and producer Chris Gelken was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. While Chris and Ridealist have previously supported cancer research in one way or another - including participating in Movember 2012 - the diagnosis sharpened our focus.

For instance, we became aware of a huge disparity in the distribution of research funds and of available resources for supporting individuals and families dealing with cancer. In the United States for example, less than 5 percent of the government’s total budget for cancer research is spent on childhood cancer.

Ridealist is not going to change that. But we can make a contribution towards changing it.

About us and more on the project.

Ridealist was established as a non-profit society in Hong Kong in 2009.

Since then we have produced more than 30 videos for small, grassroots NPOs and community groups on a pro-bono, volunteer basis.

In June of this year we de-camped from Hong Kong and moved to central France where our plan is to re-establish Ridealist as a functioning social enterprise.

Our essential “business plan” is to produce social documentary material and commercial videos as a social enterprise - at a social enterprise rate. This will enable us to remain sustainable while pursuing our original goals to provide media services on a volunteer/pro-bono basis to those groups and individuals who simply have no budget.

We are currently working on the first of our commercial projects - A Year In The Vines - a four-part series on wine production in the south of France.

Ridealist is responsible for filming and editing the production. As part of our commitment to social responsibility we plan to donate 30 percent of our fee for this project to pediatric cancer research/pediatric cancer resource organisations.

In addition, the producers of A Year In The Vines has announced they will contribute 50 percent of all funds raised above the production target amount.

We are currently seeking research/resource organisations to partner with. Perhaps we can select an organisation for each of the four segments of the production, or share the overall amount between two, three, four, five, six organisations. What do you think?

We would promote the partner organisations on A Year In The Vines website, Facebook page etc, using your logo and carrying links to your websites.

If you would like to be considered as a partner organisation, please do get in touch with us as soon as possible! We plan to roll out the fundraising video on November 1st.

For some of our latest work please visit our website, but for a more comprehensive gallery of the videos we have produced over the past couple of years you can find us on our page at GoodnessTV.

Warm regards,

Chris Gelken

BC/AD

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:02:00 +0000

Nothing can prepare you.

Even when you have harboured suspicions that there might be something seriously wrong, the words still hit you like a hammer blow.

“You have cancer”.

Suddenly everything becomes BC and AD.

Before Cancer, After Diagnosis.

In less than the time it takes to draw a breath, the person you were in the years BC has left the room.

And for a while it feels like he has taken every friend or lover you have ever had with him.

The contemplation of your own fragile mortality is a very lonely process.

________

While still trying to absorb and come to terms with the diagnosis -- and the often debilitating consequences of the treatment -- you suddenly notice you have stopped planning.

It really is quite a shock.

We all plan. It is a central plank of our very existence. Next week, next month, next year. Retirement. Children’s graduation. Wedding anniversaries. We all plan. We can’t help it.

But the freshman AD just stops doing it. Perhaps not entirely consciously, but stop it does.

The future is no longer a fascinating mystery in which we surrender our inhibitions and indulge our fantasies.

It is dark, painful and so very scary. The freshman AD just doesn’t (want to) think about it.

Period.

_________

TBC.....

Ridealist - Social Enterprise Video Productions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:32:00 +0000

Ridealist Productions - was originally established in Hong Kong as a non-profit society in 2009.

Since then we have produced more than 30 videos for small, grassroots NPOs and community groups entirely on a pro-bono, volunteer basis.

In late 2012 we decided to embark on this work full time - and since mid-June this year have been setting up our new base of operations at our home near Limoges in southwest France.

Our essential “business plan” is to produce documentary and social awareness videos as a social enterprise - at a social enterprise rate. This income will enable us to remain sustainable while pursuing our original ambition to provide media services on a volunteer/pro-bono basis to those groups and individuals who simply have no budget.

We’d like to become the “go to crew” for social documentary and awareness videos for the grassroots non-profit sector - globally!

For some of our latest work please visit our website, but for a more comprehensive gallery of the videos we have produced over the past couple of years please take a look at our page on GoodnessTV.

Warm regards,

Chris Gelken

Ridealist - The "go to” crew for non-profit video

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:47:00 +0000

Ridealist Productions will be moving from Hong Kong to central France in May or June of this year.

After several years of producing awareness and fundraising videos for non-profits and grassroots community groups on an entirely pro-bono/volunteer basis, we have decided to establish ourselves as a freelance, social enterprise production house.

It is a necessary and inevitable move in order to preserve our own sustainability.

Accepting paid commissions - but at a social enterprise rate - is the only way to keep Ridealist going.

The funds raised will allow us to cover our expenses and give us the financial freedom to continue to produce campaign and awareness videos on a pro-bono/volunteer basis for non-profits or community groups that simply do not have a budget.

This was the reason we established Ridealist, and we have no intention of losing sight of our original goals.

While based in France, we will be very mobile and delighted to consider projects in any location around the globe.

Please share this information with your non-profit and NGO contacts and help us hit the ground running. Your support will help us keep our service free for the majority of our clients.

Warm regards,

Chris

http://www.ridealist.com - our main website
http://www.goodnesstv.org/en/profil/Ridealist - host for 30 of our pro-bono videos
http://www.gelken.com - Chris’ Ridealist blog
http://childofuganda.com - Our project for children in Uganda

Hands of Action Children’s Art Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Who would like to help us arrange a “cheap and cheerful wine, and cheesy nibbles” art auction?

Six-hundred children from 4 schools and orphanages, dozens of volunteers in Hong Kong, the UK, Malaysia, and Holland helped to create the Hands of Action Children’s Art Project.

On the website, each digital image sells for HK$8 - about US$1 or 70 euro cents.

So far we’ve raised enough to provide 960 meals for the children who painted the pictures. But we could do so much better, couldn’t we? After all, creativity needs feeding!

The images have been quality scanned and are printable on canvas up to 30 x 40 cm.

We can get this done locally in Hong Kong for about HK$100 per print.

So, with the help of a sponsor we reproduce 10 pictures. Find a location, prevail on a generous wine supplier, set up Skype links with the children, and have a fun couple of hours chatting with the kids, enjoying each other’s charming company, pretending not to notice how cheap the wine is, and bidding on the pictures.

If this sounds like a plan... please do get in touch!

If you are not in Hong Kong, and think this would be something you’d like to do in your community, we’d be equally delighted to help you arrange it.

Warm regards,
Chris

Ridealist - the “go to” crew for non-profit video.

A Sustainable Ridealist

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:17:00 +0000

(updated March 3rd)
Where we are now, and where we hope to go.

We are currently working on a 7-part series investigating poverty in Hong Kong through the eyes of photographers who document the issue. Six have already been filmed and edited, and are now in the process of being subtitled in English and Chinese.

The entire series will be released in mid-March at a gala evening hosted by The WYNG Foundation.

An earlier series “Poverty In the Midst of Plenty” can be seen on several platforms, but is currently grouped together as the latest videos on the opening page of Engage Media.

In the meantime, we plan to release a “teaser” by March 5 or 6 for The Other Hundred - a global photography project organised by The Gift Foundation.

A longer-term project we’ve been engaged on is a 25-minute feature for The Boys and Girls Club of Hong Kong, documenting their year-long mentoring programme -- The Blues and Greens. We’ve been filming since late last year, and will continue putting the story together over the next several months. We expect to “have it in the can” and begin post-production in October or November.

As a part-time, voluntary production team, you would be forgiven for thinking we had our hands full.

You’d be right, of course. But you’d also be wrong.

We are committed to establishing Ridealist as the “go to” crew for non-profit, cause and awareness video production. On a full-time basis. This is what we love to do.

While we are remain totally committed to our promise to provide voluntary, pro-bono services to those grassroots organisations who simply do not have a budget for the kind of work we do, we have to be realistic. If Ridealist is going to be sustainable, it has to be funded in one way or another.

So if you are or know of a good cause out there, one that deserves the Ridealist treatment, if you can help sponsor the project, then we’d be delighted to hear from you.

What we can earn from being a freelance social enterprise working on non-profit related projects, we can re-invest back into the community through short videos on a pro-bono basis for so many deserving causes.

Chris and Shirley.

P.S.: Also please don’t forget our Children’s Art Project - ChildofUganda - Awesome images of rural Uganda through the eyes of a child. Six-hundred children, four schools and orphanages, and dozens of volunteers made this project possible. The purchase of one painting will provide 10 meals for these talented children. So far we’ve achieved 960 meals, but we can do so much better, can’t we? Really, can’t we?

You can also visit us on GoodnessTV
Our website The Ridealist
And follow us on twitter @chrisgelken

Last call for the Shorty Awards!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 17:16:00 +0000

Today is the last day to vote in the Shorty Awards.

In the #charity section, there are dozens of very worthy causes that deserve your vote, perhaps you should vote for them all!

But we’d particularly like you to vote for us!

You can vote here: http://shortyawards.com/chrisgelken

However, some folks have expressed frustration with the site, and say their votes are not going through. If that happens, then just cut and paste:

I nominate @chrisgelken for a @shortyawards in #charity because... Then U have 40 characters to say why!

Paste it into your regular twitter comment box and send.. It will show up! Unless your avatar (picture) is an egg... apparently the Shorties don’t accept eggs.

Ridealist Productions is a free service to small, grassroots non-profits and community groups. We help NPOs get their message across - dealing with subjects such as violence against women, child abuse, poverty, inequality, human rights, the environment. More than 30 videos and more than a quarter of a million views in the past year alone.

And we do this pro-bono. Your vote could help us not only draw attention to the causes we represent, but also possible sponsorship in order to keep our service completely free to those who cannot afford to pay.

Please do vote.

Thank you.

Ridealist and the Shorty Award for #charity

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:20:00 +0000

Nominate Chris Gelken for a social media award in the Shorty Awards

Since 2009 Shirley and I have spent many of our weekends, days off, and even vacations producing videos for small, less well-known non-profits and community groups.

We’ve covered so many topics: Poverty, Inequality, Human Rights, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Sex-Trafficking, Water, Disease, Animal Rights, Art for Children, Sustainable Agriculture, Desertification, Fundraising, Volunteerism.

We’ve worked with groups in China, Hong Kong, the UK, Korea, Kenya, Uganda... in the past year alone our videos have been viewed a quarter of a million times on platforms like GoodnessTV, GoodTube, YouTube and Vimeo.

In addition, many of them have also been embedded on the websites of the groups we’ve worked with, they’ve been shown on digital television in taxis throughout Hong Kong, broadcast on television networks such as Arirang International, used at numerous fundraisers, and even screened at United Nations events such as the UNCCD meeting in Buenos Aires two years ago.

So how many people have we reached? How many people have we touched? How many lives have we made a contribution, however minor, to changing? I honestly can’t say.

But I can say this with some confidence: Not enough. Not nearly enough.

What we have achieved so far has been done on a volunteer, pro-bono basis. In our spare time. Covering all our own costs.

Now imagine.

What could we achieve if we were honoured with a Shorty Award?

The recognition would immediately throw a spotlight on the causes we support.

Why? Of course people would want to know: Who is Ridealist? What to they do? And that would lead them directly to the causes, the non-profits and the community groups we support through our videos.

That is why your support and your vote is so important.

You are not voting for Chris and Shirley, you are not even voting for Ridealist - you are voting to raise awareness of the causes and issues that are important to you, that are important to us.

We have received some queries from our friends who have been having problems voting, but before we go there, one thing we’d like to mention.

We are not the only group in this “competition”. While we would love your support, why not take a minute to browse through the other great organisations who are doing wonderful work out there.

If you think they deserve your vote more than we do, then please go ahead and vote for them. There are so many groups and organisations that deserve to benefit from this award, but if you decide it should be us, here is a short “tutorial” on how to vote:

Go to the voting page for the #charity category: http://shortyawards.com/chrisgelken

And you will see this box, ensure the "I nominate" box includes our twitter address @chrisgelken and the award box is set at Charity.

Voting is now open!

Nominate your favorites in social media. The ceremony will take place in New York on April 8, 2013. Watch video highlights from previous Shorty Awards andget your tickets here.

Questions about voting?
Shorty Voting

I nominate for a Shorty Award in

Vote with a tweet. Votes must have a reason after "because..." or they won't count!

Follow @NewYorkLife & @shortyawards Get e-mail updates

Complete the sentence in the box provided: I nominate @chrisgelken for a Shorty Award in #charity because.... (use your own words here)

And then click on the red box, “Tweet your Vote”

If your computer system isn’t set up to recognise and work seamlessly with all your social networks you may be asked to verify which social media client you wish to use - click on twitter - and you are done!

Whoever you vote for, please do vote.

Chris and Shirley

Empowering children through art.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Hi, thank you for stopping by!

We’ve received a few emails and messages suggesting that making purchases or a donation on our new Hands of Action website for the children’s art project is a little too complicated or confusing. We’re working on simplifying it, but in the meantime:

Step 1. Go to homepage.

Step 2. Click on the icon “Drawings" in the black bar at the top of the page - there you will find a drop down menu - “Prices and Info” and “Drawings”.

Step 3. Click on “Prices and Info” for a brief background.

Step 4. Click on “Drawings” and a mosiac of drawings will appear. As you “mouse over” each one they will change colour and a yellow spot will appear in the middle. Double click and a full page version of the image will appear.

Step 5. Above and underneath each image you will see a “Buy Now” button, which allows you to pay by PayPal or credit card.

Step 6. If you are purchasing just one image, enter the print number in the description box, and then put the figure “8” (representing 8 HK Dollars) in the item box. If you are buying multiples, you can do this individually for each print, or just once by entering all the reference numbers and a multiple of 8. (8 Hong Kong dollars is a little over US$1 or about 60 euro cents).

Step 7. If you would also like to make a contribution to the programs of Hands of Action, obviously we welcome your generosity. Just add that to the figure for the print(s) you wish to purchase.

This is a great initiative for the children, getting them engaged and giving them a sense of “empowerment” that they too have a role to play in improving their own future, and that of their community.

Once again we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that this project is entirely run by volunteers, there are no overheads, so everything you donate goes to the children.

In addition, for every print purchased or donation made before December 31st, Shirley and I will also donate HK$1.

These children have opened their hearts to us through their art, let’s open ours.

Thank you!

Season’s Greetings from Chris & Shirley

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 08:48:00 +0000

Source: vimeo.com via Chris on Pinterest

A Christmas Gift of Life - For a dollar.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:54:00 +0000

We have recently relaunched the Hands of Action Children’s Art Project with a brand new website packed with new pictures and information about the projects of HOA in Eastern Uganda.

As a special launch promotion, we are offering all of these charming images at just US$1 - that’s right, just one dollar each. And unlike many other fundraisers at this time of year, we guarantee that with the exception of PayPal and bank charges - every cent goes to programmes supporting the children. We are all volunteers so there’s no administrative overhead.

Please note, the PayPal account on the site is hosted in Hong Kong, so payments must be made in HKDollars - that will be HKD8 for each print.

Where the money goes:

For example: US$100 will feed more than 45 orphans for a month - that’s just over two dollars each.

Another US$100 would buy enough mosquito nets to save up to 24 young lives every year.

The other terms and conditions regarding re-use of the images apply, but until the end of the month, you can buy
these amazing images of Ugandan life through the eyes of a child for just a dollar.

Please visit the website ChildOfUganda.com - choose your pictures, pay a dollar, and we’ll get a high quality digital reproduction back to you by email within 48 hours.

You can use as a screensaver on your computer or mobile device, or print to a high quality for a framed picture in your home or office.

These images are totally unique, and were hand painted by children who wish to take an active part in the creation of their own future.

All orders received by us between midnight Wednesday 19th December 2012 and 31st December 2012 - will qualify for this discount.

Together, let’s give these children the promise of a fantastic New Year.

Thank you.

GoodnessTv - Domestic Violence - Wendy’s Story

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:33:00 +0000

GoodnessTv - Domestic Violence - Wendy’s Story

People Trafficking - Hong Kong again fails to meet minimum standards.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:47:00 +0000

Reproduced here are segments of the reports released from 2007 to 2012 by the U.S. Department of State on the Trafficking in Persons.

In 2007 and 2008 Hong Kong was described as "complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Since 2009, it has not. Why not? And what are the minimum standards? Given the seriousness of the crime, shouldn't we be judging countries on whether they fully comply with the maximum standards for the elimination of trafficking rather than the minimum?

2012 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The HKSAR Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government made no discernible progress over previous years in law enforcement efforts against sex trafficking or forced labor; it secured six sex trafficking convictions and no forced labor convictions. The government identified 12 trafficking victims during the reporting period, and while it trained law enforcement on investigating trafficking, the continued lack of a single, comprehensive law to prohibit all forms of trafficking and protect victims impeded results.

2011 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is a destination and transit territory for men and women from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, subjected to forced prostitution and possibly forced labor. Women from Hong Kong have also been subjected to forced prostitution in Canada. Some migrants are lured to Hong Kong by criminal syndicates or acquaintances with promises of financial rewards and deceived about the nature of the prospective work.

The Government of Hong Kong does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

2010 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is a destination and transit territory for men and women from mainland China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, some of whom are subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically conditions of domestic servitude and forced prostitution. Some migrants are lured by criminal syndicates or acquaintances with promises of financial rewards and deceived about the nature of their future jobs. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, these migrants are forced into prostitution to repay money owed for their passage to Hong Kong.

The Government of Hong Kong does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

2009 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is a destination and transit territory for men and women from mainland China, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Hong Kong is primarily a transit point for illegal migrants, some of whom are subject to conditions of debt bondage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor. Hong Kong is also a destination for women from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia who travel to Hong Kong voluntarily for legal employment in restaurants, bars, and hotels, but upon arrival are coerced into prostitution under conditions of debt bondage.

The Government of Hong Kong does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

2008 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is a destination and transit territory for men and women trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Hong Kong is primarily a transit point for illegal migrants, some of whom are subject to conditions of debt bondage, sexual exploitation, and forced labor. To a lesser extent, Hong Kong is a destination for women from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia who travel to Hong Kong voluntarily for legal employment in restaurants, bars, and hotels, but upon arrival are coerced into prostitution under conditions of debt bondage.

The Government of Hong Kong fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China is a transit and destination territory for men and women trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. Hong Kong is primarily a transit point for illegal migrants, some of whom are subject to conditions of debt bondage, sexual exploitation, and forced labor.

The Government of Hong Kong fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

What happened to your sense of justice?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:18:00 +0000

This is the story of a brave man, a Somali journalist,

who risked everything to help a couple he had never met.

He wasn’t seeking a reward. For him, the safety and well-being of the couple were paramount.

That was the goal.

But his efforts came at an unexpectedly high cost,

one he is still paying more than four years after the events described below.

And now he needs your help.

In August 2008 photojournalists Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan were reporting

on refugees escaping factional fighting in the Mogadishu area of Somalia.

On August 23rd, just a few days after their arrival, they were kidnapped by gunmen

as they were driving from their hotel to a refugee camp.

Within hours, news of their disappearance was appearing on the wires.

Friends of Amanda and Nigel, many of them journalists, began calling on their contacts

in Somalia to see if they had any information.

One man stepped forward, a video-journalist who worked for the same network Amanda had

previously been associated with.

You can read more about him here in an article published in the Edmonton Journal

under the banner headline ’True hero’ in Lindhout case goes unrecognized, by Suzanne Wilton,

Calgary Herald; Canwest News Service.

The piece was written a little over a week after Amanda and Nigel had been freed from their

15 months in captivity.

It was reproduced in several other publications across Canada.

Wilton had written an earlier piece that appeared in theCalgary Herald that contained more background.

Other news services, such as UPI, were also picking up on the story. 'Journalists want recognition for savior’ it wrote.

The Star: Somali journalist describes rush to rescue Lindhout

The Globe and Mail: Amanda Lindhout comes home

The Ottawa Sun: Lindhout intermediary paid for talks

And not just the Canadian media, Australia too.

'Light shed on Brennan’s capture' was the headline in the NewsMail of the 8th December 2009.

There are many, many more.

You would be forgiven for thinking that Lindhout and Brennan would forever consider themselves

in this man’s debt and would move heaven and earth to find some way to repay his kindness.

Furthermore, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that grateful Australian and Canadian governments

would have rewarded his “selfless heroism” with some sort of acknowledgement.

But you’d be wrong.

Nigel and Amanda moved on. The international media lost interest.

Ottawa and Canberra have effectively ‘thrown him under a bus’

in an effort to distance themselves from their own largely ineffective efforts at the beginning of the hostage drama.

Even the esteemed Committee to Protect Journalists,

who were once at the forefront of trying to get recognition or acknowledgement for this man,

have now washed their hands of the affair.

To quote a recent email from CPJ: “He hasn’t been a working journalist now for three years,

so he falls outside our mandate”.

He’s been forgotten.

By the West at least. But not by the men in masks who still terrorise him and his family.

Preventing him from working and earning a living.

He’s still there, in Mogadishu. Living in poverty and fear.

His gear has been stolen, cameras, phones, laptop.

He is now unable to support his family. His children are hungry.

All because he did the decent, some say heroic, thing.

He isn’t seeking publicity. He isn’t seeking to discredit the narratives

that Amanda and Nigel have built around themselves since their release.

Above all, he isn’t seeking to embarrass the governments of Canada

and Australia.

What can you do?

Demand an inquiry. Demand justice, Get this man and his family
help they so desperately need and justly deserve.

Amanda Lindhout, Nigel Brennan & Ahmed

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:11:00 +0000

This is an open letter to all Australians, Canadians and people of conscience.

Please do not let this story go away.

I have known Amanda Lindhout for a very long time. We haven’t actually met face-to-face, but we’ve had a long association.

I have never met Nigel Brennan. He, nor any members of his family, have made any attempt to contact me

or acknowledge the role played by Ahmed.

At the time Amanda and I established communication she was working with PressTV as a correspondent in Baghdad. Difficult times. She would often call me - or I her - and have lengthy conversations about her problems in that war-torn city.

We’d also spend extended time on MSN or some other social network chatting about how dangerous things were for her.

We became quite close. Amanda was being treated abysmally by the management of PressTV. She was being threatened by her bureau chief, which at one point led to the management sending an email to the bureau chief (which I still have) stating: You are not allowed to kill our correspondent.

I kid you not.

It was an awful situation.

When she quit and started working as a freelance for organisations such as France24 and CTV, I was happy for her.

She moved on, and began working on other projects.

I was communicating with her on Facebook the day before she was taken hostage.

The rest - the 15 months captivity and her subsequent release you you can research on the Internet.

I am in awe of her courage to venture back to East Africa, and as someone who is closely involved with the NGO and charitable sector myself,

her success in raising awareness and helping those in need is nothing short of heroic. Plaudits, kudos.

But I am troubled. Deeply troubled.

This enquiry in Australia might provide some interesting - but lengthy - reading.

7 - Senate SSL Site

Several thousand words long, it makes absolutely no reference to the part played by Ahmed and his efforts to make

the first proof of life call.

There is something extraordinary happening here too.

Not mentioned in the report are claims by by Lorinda Stewart that she was in contact with the kidnappers

basically from day one.

http://www.more.ca/relationships/family-and-friends/my-daughter-was-kidnapped-in-somalia/a/34717

Her alleged communication with a character called “Adan” or “Adam” might have been useful to Ahmed. Might have saved is life. Or got him killed.

But this was never passed on to us. Why? The alleged first proof of life with Amanda apparently happened

before the one arranged by Ahmed. We were not told. Why?

Because they never happened? Because these are all figments of fertile imaginations hoping to score a decent part

in the HBO movie “The Heroes Who Saved Amanda and Nigel”?

I am troubled. And I am angry.

I received an email from Ahmed yesterday accusing me of also being among those who have abandoned him.

After his usefulness was at an end, the Australian and Canadian governments have made every effort to abrogate ther responsibilities

with totally unsubstantiated suggestions that Ahmed was somehow complicit in the kidnapping.

Well not even suggestions. More like hints. “Do we really know who this guy is?” Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

I find this absurd.

They also suggested that while he might have been a “good guy” to begin with, he was “turned” by the kidnappers

with promises of sharing the loot. So he was complicit.

My first reaction is to consider this an insulting and deliberately misleading “red herring”.

I was there. So was my wife. Almost 24 hours a day on the computer, on the phone,

maintaining links, serving tea and coffee to the AFP and RCMP sitting in our living room.

But I am also realistic. Ahmed has spent his entire life in a country without law, order, morals...

So maybe he was “turned”. Faced with abject poverty, a sick father (who later died), half a dozen hungry kids,

and Westerners who - to be frank - have never kept a bloody promise in their life. Who wouldn’t be tempted?

However, multiple requests for any evidence of Ahmed’s complicity have been ignored.

In the absence of evidence, he is also being denied the benefit of the doubt.

After all, Amanda and Nigel are home and safe.

It is so convenient to dismiss Ahmed as just another very dodgy opportunist trying to blag his way into some cash and a cushy life in Australia or Canada.

Easy to forget him.

But I won’t. And until anyone can prove he isn’t everything he claims to be, everything I know him to be

from the long nights in Beijing, the pushing, the cajoling, the lies and the bullshit of the RCMP and AFP,

I won’t let Amanda and Nigel forget him either.

One Dollar. 10,000 shares.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Let’s be honest. The Hands of Action Documentary Fundraiser is going down like a lead balloon. If we were on Twitter we’d say #fail

Okay the total looks scary... 10,000 dollars, but when you think about how much you blew last weekend on that party - then perhaps as few as 20 or 30 of you could collectively come up with that sort of cash. It really isn’t that much if you share it out a little.

A typical Ugandan village by Henry Wamono

(You can buy this picture on a T-shirt, poster, framed painting -

on Zazzle)

However, if we do not reach at least half the target by mid-October, we’ll have to abandon the project. That would be a real pity. We need to get the tickets and do all the pre-production. And just to make sure there’s no confusion here, Ridealist is doing this for free. The donations are entirely production costs, not salary.

If that does happen, we will contact the donors directly and ask how they want their money disbursed.

The funds could go into existing programmes at the project site in Bukibukolo, or if the donor would prefer, they will be returned, no questions asked.

Children of Bukibukolo. Photo by Mukhobeh Moses Khaukha

But for those that decide to leave their donation in the pot, then I guess we could consider that the whole project would not be a total wash-out. Even if we didn’t achieve our ultimate goal.

Your 25 bucks would buy a baby goat for the breeding programme, or some new desks and teaching materials for the school! Made and purchased locally.

Your 10 bucks will be a welcome contribution to the feeding programme for the 160-odd orphans cared for by the HOA team in Bukibukolo. With cereal, grain and vegetables grown and purchased locally.

Photo by Mukhobeh Moses Khaukha

Your 5 bucks will buy locally made shirts, shorts and dresses for the kids - supporting the local economy, employing people, creating jobs, a sustainable community.

In terms of the current fundraiser, where we are failing - and by that, I mean where I am failing, is my inability to get the message across that the team on the ground in Uganda are absolutely not looking for hand-outs, they’ve been there before and it doesn’t work.

This is not a charitable donation. It is an investment in the future of a community.

They don’t want nice old ladies in Wisconsin collecting old clothes, or some eager do-gooder in the north of England sending out boxes of second hand shoes. That just creates dependency and poverty. It puts local shops and craftsmen out of business. Actually, it makes the situation worse.

Hands of Action want the ability to source the clothes and shoes locally, supporting the local economy. And paying for it with money they’ve earned through their own labour.

These folks are not looking for a hand-out.

But like so many of us at some point in our lives, they are just looking for a hand-up.

Ultimately the Hands of Action team want to be seen as the model, the template, of how a properly run community-based group can chart their own future.

And you can help.

Share this, and if it reaches 10,000 people who all donate a single dollar, now wouldn’t that be something?

And that is what our documentary would show.

If we get there, of course.

Win a Ridealist Souvenir

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:31:00 +0000

It’s simple. It’s free. It’s for a good cause.

And you’ll be doing your daily good deed to raise awareness on a number of issues that are important to communities around the world, without even leaving your chair!

Visit the Ridealist video channel on GoodnessTV

In the top left are two sets of figures: Number of visitors and Videos watched.

When you see “visitors” hit 15,000 exactly - take a screenshot and tweet it - and put @chrisgelken and @TheRidealist in your tweet.

When you see “videos watched” hit 55,000 exactly - do the same thing, take a screenshot and tweet it.

If you follow us, you can also (but not only!) send us a DM. Either way, we’ll pick it up.

We’ll contact you and get your prize to you asap!

Right, easy peasy!

Okay, so the prize is more of a token really, but one we’ll be sure you will be proud to have!

A Ridealist Trucker Hat

We guarantee it will be a talking point! It will be unique!

If you think the numbers need a nudge to get you closer to your goal - then browse through the videos, and tweet, or share on your Facebook the ones you like best.

The more views and visitors, the closer you get to your unique Ridealist hat! And you will be helping to spread important messages for the community. A double whammy.

Apart from the production costs and what PayPal takes out, all - ALL - the remaining funds go to support programs of Hands of Action in Uganda.

In the meantime, if you’d like to take a look at some of the other products illustrated with drawings from the children, visit our shop on Zazzle.

Ridealist down, but far from out!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:17:00 +0000

The official Ridealist website - www.ridealist.com - is now offline. It was on a platform hosted by Apple which has now ceased operations.

We are working on designing a new website and will be sure to let everyone know when it goes live.

In the meantime, keep up to date here, on our blog, and by visiting:

GoodnessTV
http://www.goodnesstv.org/en/profil/Ridealist/?v=49927&vc=&vp=1

Almost 35,000 individual views of Ridealist videos on this amazing, well presented platform. Highly recommended to non-profits and community groups who want to get their message to a wider audience.

GoodTube
http://www.goodtube.org/Home.aspx

While it lacks some of the refinements of GoodnessTV, it is a very effective platform and one of its best features is allowing well performing videos to remain in the public eye. For example, the opening page shows the best performing videos of all time, and Ridealist has six out of the top nine! (Check out page two and three!)

With 33,121 individual views of Ridealist videos over the past five months (at the time of writing), GoodTube has been a great asset to us, and to the non-profits we represent.

That’s an average of 6,600 views a month, or more than 235 views each and every day.

Both sites combined, we estimate between 400 to 500 individual views a day on Ridealist videos. With your help, we could do so much better!

We encourage you to visit these sites, not only to view Ridealist videos, but the awesome work being done by other filmmakers on behalf of great causes around the globe.

You might also want to visit:
http://www.shirleyhanying.com/#!home/mainPage

This is Shirley’s new personal homepage. It features up to date information on what Shirley is doing, plus links to her latest full length documentary - When The Last Tree Dies - plus some of Ridealist’s current awareness videos.

Till next time,
Chris & Shirley

A bit of awesomeness. The heart of volunteers.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Shirley and I have been working with Moses in Uganda for a few years now.

He’s a terrific guy. Really, he is quite awesome.

To be honest, he has his own problems. His son, Joshua, had to be treated for a serious and possibly life-threatening heart condition last year. Moses himself, often struggles with bouts of malaria.

You can see him here in this short video Ridealist produced to promote a sustainable goat farming project Moses initiated.

At this point, we’d like to sing the praises of Marcia Bujold who did such a magnificent job on the animation. Pro-bono, volunteer, free - from the deep goodness of her huge heart.

(And who is also now deeply involved in another pro-bono, volunteer animation project we convinced her to take on for a Hong Kong-based shelter and counseling centre for victims of domestic violence - or to paraphrase Laurel and Hardy, Marcia might say: Hmm, another fine project you have gotten me into Chris and Shirley!)

But just watch the credits, so many other volunteers came together, offered their services, their time, their effort, to make the video possible.

In collaboration with Moses, Marcia and other volunteers also gave their time to create a HOA blog, and the Rainbow Beads project.

Another volunteer, Jenn Anderson organizes fundraising activities to feed the 180 orphans that Moses has taken under his roof.

We didn’t mention that? The orphans? Well there’s a school, an orphanage, sustainable farming, a clinic...

Ridealist then came up with the idea of getting the children to paint some pictures of their village, environment, life etc.. and we would put them online and sell/auction them. We also set up a shop, where you could get these images printed on everything from tee-shirts to bags, hats etc.

Sadly, despite hundreds of compliments praising the talent of the youngsters, the Hands of Action Children’s Art Project didn’t take off as well as we had hoped.

And we at Ridealist take responsibility for that. Our design abilities for something that is actually quite complex, were not up to the task. This is what we came up with - Hands of Action Children’s Art Project - We overcomplicated it, we did just about everything wrong.

But.... and here’s the good news... a professional webpage and internet marketing company in Holland has volunteered to do a complete redesign. Yes, volunteered. Pro-bono. Free.

Don M. Ouwens and his team from Cross Capto are brainstorming it, and are determined to make it fly.

After looking through their portfolio of work, we can only say that the HOA Children’s Art Project is going to rock... and rock huge!

And that, is our little bit of awesomeness for today!

HOA is just one small part of a global network of volunteers who are working to make this world a better place for all of us to live. Moses and the local community in Bukibukolo are not looking for charity, they are not looking for handouts. They work very hard, and the children have ambitions just like any other child.

This is not charity, this is investment in the future.

And who knows, the child you help today, could be the doctor who saves you tomorrow.

Warm regards, and bless all of your efforts,

Chris and Shirley
Hong Kong
25 June 2012

We are not in competition - Small NPOs need to collaborate, not compete.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 18:38:00 +0000

Most of the people we follow on twitter - and those that follow us - are in some way involved in the non-profit, charity, awareness sector.

We - and our friends in the twitterverse, cover a range of subjects.

Human trafficking, slavery, child abuse, domestic violence, the environment, animals, sustainability, human rights, volunteerism... we’ve covered them all at Ridealist.

Some of our most prolific RT’ers, and those that share our posts on Facebook or LinkedIn, do not have so many followers. Around the 1,500 mark for most of them. And they also do not follow that many people either.

The ones that never, or hardly ever RT are the LIONS (LinkedIn Online Networkers) or those that follow 50,000 people on twitter. Seriously, how can you do that?

Ridealist (@TheRidealist) and the crew that run it (@chrisgelken) would obviously love to have 50,000 followers, but could we seriously follow 50,000 other tweeters? Not a chance.

We already miss so much really good and important stuff that we’d like to share and RT, and besides, we’d never get any work done.

We are happy to keep it “village sized” - we can follow what you are doing, and you can follow (and hopefully RT) what we are doing.

But we do follow some of the bigger names in the twitterverse - it is always good to see what they are doing and how they are doing it. Intelligence gathering!

But the bigger they get, the less willing they are to cooperate. To share, to RT, to encourage. And this is kind of sad.

We are not in competition.

Our goals are the same, so if we do it, or if you do it, what does it matter? It gets done.

Here’s something I posted last year... And I still stand by every word..

Why we need to stick together!

Blessings,
Chris & Shirley

Sai Kung to Siem Reap - Project Futures Global Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:56:00 +0000

(If the video above loads too slowly - go to http://www.goodnesstv.org/en/profil/Ridealist/?v=48612&vc=&vp=1 - the following links are there too.)

Sai Kung to Siem Reap - Project Futures Global Challenge

In February 2012, Sue Beer and Alison Price embarked on a grueling 500km, 11-day cycle challenge through Cambodia to help stop sexual slavery in SE Asia.

According to the U.N., trafficking is a $32 billion annual industry that ensnares about 2.5 million people around the world at any given time. Girls as young as three years old are sold for as little as US$50. Pimps are sewing them up again so they can be sold as "virgins”.

This is Sue and Alison's drive to do what they're doing. They will cycle over undulating terrain from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap to help put an end to slavery, and rescue and heal its survivors for the Somaly Mam Foundation.

To support Sue & Alison, visit:

http://www.crowdrise.com/FUTURESGLOBALRIDECAMBODIA/fundraiser/SueBeer

http://www.crowdrise.com/FUTURESGLOBALRIDECAMBODIA/fundraiser/ALISONPRICE

The deadline for donations is almost upon us, so please pay these links a visit and donate what you can. It is so easy to donate, and even a few dollars will help enormously! Thank you.

Domestic Violence - A Policeman’s Perspective - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:49:00 +0000

The Abusers

First in a series of interviews with Totti Karpela, a 20-year veteran of the National Police of Finland and the Helsinki Police Department. Totti has extensive first-hand experience in dealing with domestic violence, both as a police officer and later as a consultant and trainer. Totti is now the CEO of Peace of Mind Threat Management Company, the largest crisis communications and crime prevention company in Finland with offices in Helsinki and Hong Kong. For more information please visit http://www.mielenrauha.com/index & http://www.peaceofmind.hk/index

The Power Of One - You.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Gelken) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:57:00 +0000

One life.

Save one child, and you have effectively changed the lives of every person that child comes into contact with in his or her lifetime.

And in a big or a small way, you have changed the lives of everyone connected with the people that child has touched.

Imagine that.

You.

Have changed their world.

You might not see it, you might not experience it personally, and for sure, you probably won’t get any medals for it.

But in your heart, when you look at yourself in the mirror, you will know.

Blessings.

Chris & Shirley

Ridealist

It’s worth a try

Gizzajob.

Pediatric Cancer Research/Resources

BC/AD

Ridealist - Social Enterprise Video Productions

Ridealist - The "go to” crew for non-profit video

Hands of Action Children’s Art Auction

A Sustainable Ridealist

Last call for the Shorty Awards!

Ridealist and the Shorty Award for #charity

Voting is now open!

Nominate your favorites in social media. The ceremony will take place in New York on April 8, 2013. Watch video highlights from previous Shorty Awards andget your tickets here.

Questions about voting?Shorty Voting

Empowering children through art.

Season’s Greetings from Chris & Shirley

A Christmas Gift of Life - For a dollar.

GoodnessTv - Domestic Violence - Wendy’s Story

People Trafficking - Hong Kong again fails to meet minimum standards.

What happened to your sense of justice?

Amanda Lindhout, Nigel Brennan & Ahmed

One Dollar. 10,000 shares.

Win a Ridealist Souvenir

Ridealist down, but far from out!

A bit of awesomeness. The heart of volunteers.

We are not in competition - Small NPOs need to collaborate, not compete.

Sai Kung to Siem Reap - Project Futures Global Challenge

Domestic Violence - A Policeman’s Perspective - Part 1

The Power Of One - You.

Questions about voting?
Shorty Voting