The Oxfam Rice Event 2025 is slated to take place this weekend, marking the campaign’s 14th year in Macau and this time garnering the support of over 1,100 volunteers.
Themed “Fight Climate Change, Empower Smallholder Farmers”, a kick-off ceremony for Oxfam’s annual flagship event was held at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre yesterday afternoon.
A total of 15 rice booths will be set up across Macau for the two-day event, during which rice bags and gifts will be sold to raise funds to help smallholder farmers* and impoverished communities “adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods”, according to an Oxfam statement provided yesterday.
Partnering with Medialink Animation International Limited, this year’s rice bags and gifts, which include tote bags and luggage tags, have designs featuring classic British book series “Mr. Men and Little Miss”.
Meanwhile, speaking in a separate interview with the Post after yesterday’s ceremony, Michael Wong Ho-ming, director of fundraising and communications at Oxfam Hong Kong, said that the number of volunteers this year marks “a record-breaking number” for them, being happy with the support from Macau and marking an “encouraging increase”.
Wong said that there were around 800 people who signed up for last year’s event, raising around 600,000 patacas, a record that they hope to break this year.
Oxfam is very grateful to everyone who is helping with the event, whether buying or helping sell Oxfam rice as what they are doing is for the rest of the world, for people affected by climate change, according to Wong. “You are taking a big step in helping alleviate their difficulties and the poverty situation that they are in”.
Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by key supporters and guests. Also in attendance was Oxfam in Macau Vice Chair of the Board of Directors José Álvares, who noted in his speech that Oxfam has been supporting smallholder farms globally to not only empower them to combat the escalating poverty caused by climate change, but help them find sustainable ways to address the problems arising from it.
Álvares added that Oxfam has projects in the mainland, across Asia and East Africa, helping them with modern techniques to combat these problems.
The Oxfam Rice Event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in eight locations, with more details available on https://www.oxfam.org.hk/en/join-our-events/oxfam-rice-event-2025-macau
*AI chatbot Poe defines smallholder farmers as “individuals or families who manage small plots of land, typically less than two hectares (0.02 m2). They primarily rely on family labour and often grow a variety of crops for both subsistence and sale. These farmers play a crucial role in local and global food systems, contributing significantly to food security and economic development, especially in developing countries. They often face challenges such as limited access to resources, markets, and technology”.
Michael Wong Ho-ming, director of fundraising and communications at Oxfam Hong Kong (second row, first from left), Oxfam in Macau Vice Chair of the Board of Director José Álvares (second row, fifth from left) pose with key supporters, representatives and guests after yesterday’s Oxfam Rice Event 2025 kick-off ceremony at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
Rice bags featuring “Mr. Men and Little Miss” designs are displayed on a table at yesterday’s kick off ceremony. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
