The Flying Winemaker supported Dine for Change, an intimate Hong Kong dining experience created to bring people together around an important social issue: the challenges faced by refugees and ethnic minorities. The evening combined food, conversation and community, giving guests an opportunity to hear directly from advocate and social worker Jeffrey Andrews.
When Wine Brings People Together for Change
With Christmas around the corner and the spirit of giving in mind, The Flying Winemaker was proud to support Dine for Change, an initiative organised by SparkRaise and LocalMotion.
Rather than simply being another dinner, the event created space for meaningful conversation around a topic that many guests knew little about: the refugee experience in Hong Kong.
The intimate dinner brought together 14 guests at Town Restaurant for an evening of food, conversation and learning, with Jeffrey Andrews sharing his personal journey and his work supporting refugees and ethnic minorities.
SparkRaise and LocalMotion partnered up to organise a fantastic dinner at Town Restaurant, with the Asian Wine Review sponsoring the wines.
Who Was Behind Dine for Change?
SparkRaise
SparkRaise is an online fundraising platform designed to help ideas, projects and causes connect with supportive communities. Its focus is on creating opportunities for people to raise funds, build networks and bring meaningful projects to life.
LocalMotion
LocalMotion connects nonprofits and social enterprises with individuals and companies willing to contribute their professional skills through volunteering.
Together, SparkRaise and LocalMotion created Dine for Change as a way to connect people over food while shining a light on social issues that deserve greater attention.
Jeffrey Andrews: A Voice for Refugees and Minorities
At the centre of the evening was Jeffrey Andrews, a Hong Kong-born social worker of Indian ethnicity and a strong advocate for refugees and ethnic minorities.
His own journey was far from conventional. After an early encounter with the law, Jeffrey turned his life around, eventually becoming Hong Kong's first minority registered social worker after completing four years of night school while working full-time.
For more than a decade, he has worked to improve the lives of ethnic minorities and refugees in Hong Kong, including through his work at the Chungking Mansion Refugee Center.
His story was a powerful reminder that social change often begins with simply listening.
Why Dine for Change Matters
One of the most striking parts of the evening was discovering just how little many people knew about Hong Kong's refugee situation.
At the time of the event in 2017, thousands of asylum seekers were waiting through a lengthy process for their cases to be resolved. During this period, refugees and asylum seekers faced significant restrictions and challenges around housing, food, work and access to support.
The Refugee Center at Chungking Mansions provides practical and educational support, including food and clothing, counselling, casework and referrals to partner organisations.
But the issue extends beyond basic needs.
Refugees and ethnic minorities can also face racism, prejudice and deeply rooted stereotypes.
Dine for Change helped turn an unfamiliar issue into a human conversation.
Please visit their Facebook page if you want to find more information or make a donation: https://www.facebook.com/refugeehk/?fref=mentions
More Than a Dinner
Held in a relaxed and intimate setting, the evening encouraged guests to ask questions, listen and better understand the realities facing refugees in Hong Kong.
For The Flying Winemaker, being part of the experience reinforced something we have always believed: wine and dining can create opportunities for people to connect, share stories and start conversations that matter.
Dine for Change was ultimately about more than what was served at the table.
It was about who was sitting around it, what they were learning, and what they might take away with them afterwards.
The Flying Winemaker and the Spirit of Community
The Flying Winemaker was proud to support an event that brought people together around an important cause.
Good food can start a conversation. A shared table can create connection. And sometimes, simply hearing someone's story can challenge the assumptions we carry with us.
That was the spirit of Dine for Change — and one that continues to make community-led experiences worth celebrating.
What was Dine for Change?
Dine for Change was an intimate dining initiative that used shared meals and conversation to raise awareness around social issues, including the challenges faced by refugees and ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
How was The Flying Winemaker involved?
The Flying Winemaker supported the Dine for Change event, helping bring guests together for an evening centred on food, conversation, community and refugee awareness.
Who is Jeffrey Andrews?
Jeffrey Andrews is a Hong Kong-born social worker and advocate for refugees and ethnic minorities. He has dedicated more than a decade to supporting marginalised communities in Hong Kong.
Why was Dine for Change important?
The event created an informal setting where guests could learn directly about the refugee experience, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by asylum seekers and minority communities.