LONDON, United Kingdom — In Hong Kong, a city with one of the most significant wealth disparities globally, many underprivileged individuals struggle to access essential goods, even as others seek ways to donate unwanted items. Crossroads Foundation’s GoodCity app has emerged as a tech-driven solution, bridging the gap between donors and those in poverty in Hong Kong. This innovative app streamlines the donation process and ensures that goods efficiently reach those in need.
The Borgen Project spoke with Steve Kenworthy, Head of IT and David Begbie, director and cofounder of Crossroads Foundation, to learn more about the impact of GoodCity and how technology is revolutionizing charitable giving to address poverty in Hong Kong.
The Birth of GoodCity
For more than 25 years, Crossroads Foundation has been distributing goods locally and globally before the launch of GoodCity. However, the logistics of matching donations with those in need presented significant challenges. “This project has been in our hearts for many years: an integrated system that can handle the full donation cycle: donation, processing and distribution so that we can multiply existing resources and reach. Crossroads’ tagline is ‘connecting people in a world of need’ and GoodCity is the expression of such through technology,” Steve Kenworthy told The Borgen Project in an interview.
With Hong Kong’s high smartphone penetration, Crossroads Foundation saw an opportunity to harness technology for donation matching. High population density and short distances made GoodCity a viable and efficient tech-driven solution compared to similar initiatives in other cities. The app enables donors to upload images of their items, receive approval and coordinate delivery to ensure the goods go where they are most needed.
The Impact of GoodCity on Underprivileged Communities
GoodCity has significantly improved access to essential goods for disadvantaged communities and those in poverty in Hong Kong. The app enables individual access to goods via two methods: social workers may book appointments for themselves or others to choose items from the Crossroads’ warehouse or they may browse through available options online and place orders online for delivery arranged by Crossroads’ staff.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person appointments accounted for roughly 70% of all transactions. However, during the pandemic, this shifted almost entirely to online orders. This flexibility allowed GoodCity to continue operations under new social distancing guidelines. At the same time, many other charitable services in Hong Kong could not continue and increased vulnerability was observed among the city’s most at-risk populations.
One recipient shared their gratitude with Crossroads Foundation upon receiving essential items: “Even though COVID pauses normal life for everyone, it doesn’t pause pressing needs for those struggling. In fact, it’s only getting worse. So many charities in Hong Kong have reduced or completely stopped their services that we have nowhere to go, but you (Crossroads) continued. Thank you!”
Furthermore, GoodCity, a tech-driven solution for wealth disparity, played a critical role in bridging the digital divide during the pandemic. Many students from low-income families lacked the proper devices necessary for remote learning, relying on smartphones to complete school work. Through partnerships with Microsoft and other donors, GoodCity distributed more than 600 computers to underprivileged students across Hong Kong, ensuring they would continue their education.
How Goodcity Works: A Seamless Donation Process
GoodCity simplifies the donation process, creating a seamless connection between donors and recipients. A compelling example of its impact is the story of the Chen family. After Mr. Chen died in 2007, Ms. Chen was left battling chronic thyroid disease and mental illness while her two daughters also suffered personal and financial hardships. Ms. Chen and her daughters were granted an Internal Housing Transfer flat from the Housing Department. However, they lacked the means to furnish their apartment.
At the same time, a donor named May was planning to move and wanted to donate her household items, so she turned to the GoodCity app. She uploaded images of her items and had them delivered to Crossroad by July 2016; a Siemens washing machine was among them. When Ms. Chen visited Crossroads with a “wishlist” of items for their new flat, a washing machine was on the list. Within three days of placing her request, GoodCity matched donated wares according to Chen’s family needs, including May’s machine as well as various other pieces of furniture. Upon learning how her donation had helped, May was touched, saying, “I’m so glad to know that our humble donations could help a family in need.”
“Perhaps what makes GoodCity unique is that it’s built not with millions of dollars, but with millions of small acts of kindness among neighbors,” Begbie told The Borgen Project.
Future Plans
Beyond its current operations, GoodCity is expanding its impact through the GoodCommunity Project, which has been operating for the last three years. The GoodCommunity Project aims to organize distribution days by installing pop-up kiosks where individuals can discover how to obtain necessary goods from Crossroads or receive immediate assistance.
Further technological advancements are also in the pipeline. Kenworthy shared Crossroads’ vision for further integration, stating, “We would also love to develop a fully integrated API that would allow us to link services with other stakeholders (relocation companies etc.) as the marketplace evolves or, going fully ‘app-less’ by merging directly with messaging platforms.” These innovations would further enhance GoodCity’s ability to connect people in a world of need and ensure that donations reach those who need them most.
A Tech-Driven Solution for a Humanitarian Cause
GoodCity exemplifies how technology can drive social good, revolutionizing charitable giving by making it more efficient and accessible. By leveraging mobile technology, the app removes barriers to donation and increases the reach of essential goods to vulnerable populations and those in poverty in Hong Kong. As economic inequality grows, initiatives like GoodCity provide a model for how digital solutions can transform philanthropy. The success of GoodCity demonstrates that even in a bustling metropolis like Hong Kong, small acts of kindness enabled by technology can create lasting change – one donation at a time.
– Viola Cuthbertson
Viola is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.
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