OUR VISION

SCORA’s vision is to contribute towards a society where harmony in the diversity of individuals coming from various backgrounds in terms of sexuality, gender identity and sexual and reproductive health and rights is encouraged equally and without discrimination.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to encourage members of society, particularly young adults, to broaden their knowledge and skills in sexual and reproductive health and rights. We strive to provide members with the tools for advocacy within the local community in a respectful manner, free from prejudice. We wish to increase the exposure of typically taboo topics, and for medical students, to raise awareness on how an individual’s sexual and reproductive health identity has links to their healthcare barriers and needs. Our goal is to fulfil SCORA’s vision through active workshops, campaigns and collaborations with other standing committees of AMSAHK as well as local external organisations.

Projects

Sagami Condom Making Workshop

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Sagami is a Japanese condom manufacturer and its Hong Kong representatives collaborated with SCORA and SCOME to hold the Condom Making Workshop twice – once in HKU and once in CUHK.

Before the workshop, we asked participants to fill in a pre-evaluation form to gauge their knowledge on condoms and STDs. During the workshop, instructors from Sagami Hong Kong first delivered a brief talk, debunking common myths about condom usage students may have about the size, usage and storage of condoms. Then, they educated students about the importance of condoms in preventing unwanted pregnancies and STDs. After that, participants were taught how to make their own latex condom using a technique developed 100 years ago, by dipping a mould in latex then drying it. Students had to be careful during the drying process, rotating the moulds around a heater and ensuring the latex did not touch the heater and break.

Participants were also taught the differences between latex and polyurethane condoms, as well as silicon and water-based lubricants. Instructors taught students how to assess the quality of condoms using the stretching-and-rubbing technique. Our team and instructors regularly asked students if they had any questions, with a designated Q&A session at the end of the workshop. Participants were asked to fill out a post-evaluation feedback form to see if they were more confident about their knowledge of condoms and STDs after completing the workshop.

Period Pressure: Menstruation and Menopause

This is our first time collaborating with Free Periods Hong Kong, which is a charity that provides menstrual products, education, and emotional support to those experiencing menstruation-related challenges.

Firstly, we invited Dr. Julia Macedo Rosa, an assistant lecturer at CUHK, to give a talk about the role of menstruation and menopause in women’s health. She also answered participants' questions. Afterwards, we hosted a weight-bearing session led by Mila Dresner (CUHK 2030) which involved stretching exercises, a leg workout, and the fitness game ‘Just Dance’. This session was aimed to educate our participants on exercises that could help one manage menopause-induced osteoporosis. Next, Zoe Chan, the co-founder of Free Periods HK, hosted a reusable pad-making workshop. She provided participants with cloth strips, needle and thread, and other materials and instructed participants to sow their own pad. She also shared about period poverty in Hong Kong. Free Periods HK gifted each participant a set of their Be My Buddy Buddy conversation parts. Lastly, participants played a Kahoot created by us to recap what they learned in this event.

Eros Empowered: Embracing Sex Positivity and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

We collaborated with Midnight Blue, a non-governmental organization in August 2006. It has been dedicated to establishing a mutual support network for male and transgender sex workers over the years. The organization's mission is to affirm that sex work is work, protect the rights of male sex workers, and promote gender/sexual equality. Its members include gender/sexuality researchers, sex workers, labor organization workers, and other individuals concerned with issues related to sex work and the rights of sexual minorities.

Firstly, to begin the workshop we had an introduction and ice-breaking activity inspired by Jubilee on YouTube to explore perspectives on sex work and STDs. For example, we displayed the prompt ‘If my friend revealed that they worked as a sex worker part-time, I would have to reconsider our friendship’ and participants would demonstrate how strongly they agree or disagree with this statement. We discussed our opinions and reasons. Then, we had an introductory presentation to introduce Midnight Blue on male sex work and related challenges. We warmly welcomed our male sex worker who we then conducted a panel discussion to debunk sexual myths and shared lived experiences. Then, they opened a question session where participants could freely ask questions about sex work. To end our workshop, we presented on stigma in the medical workplace and its impact on marginalized groups.