PRESS INVITE
Improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities by reducing suffering and providing opportunities
Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Elderly Inclusion: Dashain & Diwali Festival Gathering
Support the Marginalised and Neglected Population
On 24 October 2025, The Zubin Foundation warmly invites members of the media to attend our Annual Festival Gathering celebrating Dashain and Diwali with over 170 ethnically diverse elderly individuals and their families. This vibrant event is part of our ongoing commitment to combat social isolation among elderly members of Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse communities.
Edward To, Director of Social Welfare, HKSAR, will attend the event as the guest of honour.
This event is a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and cultural pride, and offers photo and interview opportunities with community leaders and elderly participants.
Details of the event:
Date: Friday 24 October 2025
Media Registration: Starts at 10.30 am (Tripod with camera will ONLY be allowed to set up before 10:15 am, please confirm your attendance in advance)
Media Entry Time: Before 10.15 am
Venue: Blue Ocean Restaurant (1/F, Ocean Building)
No. 80 Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Guest of Honour: Edward To, Director of Social Welfare, HKSAR
Guests:
• Aruna Gurung, Yau Ma Tei District Councillor
• Vivian Lam, District Social Welfare Officer
• Dr. Vicky Sze, Pro Bono Dentist
• Mr. Lam, Cantonese Language Teacher
• Dhan Kumari Thapa, representing elderly aged 80+ Programme:
10.45 am –
11 am Opening Speech and Remarks
• Speech by Ms. Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Speech by Mr. Edward To, Director of Social Welfare, HKSAR, 11 am –
11.20 am Award Presentation to PhotoVoice (Digital Photo-taking) Competition
11.20 am –
• 19 awards will be presented by Aruna Gurung and Vivian Lam to the ethnically diverse elderly who participated in the PhotoVoice competition.
11.30 am Group Photo (photo opportunities)
Ceremony: Diya lighting and say “Shubha Labh” – meaning blessing, wish you good fortune and prosperity.
A group photo with the Guest of Honour, Guests and Community Representative on the stage:
• Aruna Gurung, Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor
• Dhan Kumari Thapa, representative of the 80-year old elderly from the community*
• Edward To, Director of Social Welfare
• Mr Lam, Cantonese Teacher of the elderlies
• Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Vivian Lam, District Social Welfare Officer (Kowloon City / Yau Tsim Mong)
• Dr Vicky, Pro Bono Dentist
*Dhan Kumari Thapa (80-year-old, Nepalese) will come on stage on behalf of the elderly who are 80 years old or above to join the ceremony.
RSVP RSVP by 10 pm, Thursday 23 October 2025
For enquiries Matthew YU | Tel: 2540 9588 / +852 6084 9333 | Email: matthew@zubinfoundation.org
Appendix 1: Ceremony Agenda and Speakers
Welcome and Remarks
Improving the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities by reducing suffering and providing opportunities
• Welcome Remarks by Shalini Mahtani, MBE, MH, Founder & CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Opening Remarks by Edward To, Director of Social Welfare, HKSAR Award Presentation
Award Presentation to PhotoVoice (Digital Photo-taking) Competition 19 awards to be presented by:
• Aruna Gurung, Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor
• Vivian Lam, District Social Welfare Officer (Kowloon City / Yau Tsim Mong)
Group Photo and Ceremony
Ceremony: Diya lighting and say “Shubha Labh” – meaning blessing, wish good fortune and prosperity
A group photo with the Guest of Honour, Guests and Community Representative on the stage:
• Aruna Gurung, Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor
• Dhan Kumari Thapa, representative of the 80-year old elderly from the community*
• Edward To, Director of Social Welfare
• Mr Lam, Cantonese Teacher of the elderlies
• Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation
• Vivian Lam, District Social Welfare Officer (Kowloon City / Yau Tsim Mong)
• Dr Vicky, Pro Bono Dentist
*Dhan Kumari Thapa (80-year-old, Nepalese) will come on stage on behalf of the elderly who are 80 years old or above to join the ceremony.
Dance Performance from the Elderly
End of Official Ceremony Programme
Lunch (South Asian Food) and Open of Dance Floor
Appendix 2: About the Festival
• Dashain
Nepal’s most significant Hindu festival, celebrated over 15 days. It honours Goddess Durga’s victory over evil and emphasises family reunions, blessings from elders, and cultural traditions.
• Diwali
Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, marked by lighting lamps, sharing meals, and festive joy.
About The Zubin Foundation
The Zubin Foundation (registered charity in Hong Kong: IR 91/12344), named after Zubin Mahtani Gidumal, is an integrated service provider for Hong Kong's ethnically diverse communities. We improve the lives of Hong Kong's ethnically diverse individuals by reducing suffering and providing opportunities.
The Zubin Foundation 10 Years of Transforming Lives of Hong Kong’s Ethnically Diverse Individuals:
As we celebrate our tenth year, The Zubin Foundation is more determined than ever to improve the lives of Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse individuals. Over the past decade, we have transformed lives by reducing suffering and providing opportunities to Hong Kong’s ethnically diverse individuals. Our ten-year anniversary is a powerful reminder that poverty in our community continues to rise and there are thousands of individuals who are in need of support, whether women victims of domestic violence, elderly individuals living alone, or children facing mental health problems.
The Zubin Foundation relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its work. For more information, please visit: www.zubinfoundation.org