As the Chair of the Women's Well-Being Foundation, Anita is working to help women of all ages maintain good physical and mental health. She understands that throughout life, women go through many changes in their bodies, from puberty to fertility, family planning, menopause, and more. Anita recognizes that it can be difficult for women to access the right resources and support they need to navigate these changes. Her work aims to create a community that supports women throughout their entire journey, raising awareness and providing much-needed assistance.

Especially in Hong Kong, these topics and hardships are not openly discussed or given the attention they deserve. Anita's mission with the foundation is to foster a future where women feel comfortable opening up and have access to the information and support they require. These issues are at the core of our values and mission at JESSICA, and we are proud to support the launch of her foundation at our event. We eagerly anticipate working with Anita to bring her vision to life and create a positive future for women's well-being.

Written by: Jeremy Chapnick

Photos by: Phoebe Wong

Makeup and Hair: Karen Yiu @Makeupbees (Anita Huang)

Makeup: Lu (Jessica)

Hair: Herman Ho (Jessica)

JESSICA: Anita, could you share with us the story behind the inception of the Women's Well-Being Foundation? What personal experiences or gaps in healthcare drove you to establish this organization?

Anita: Well, the story behind the Women's Well-being Foundation is really personal for me. It all started when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age. My doctor advised me to freeze my embryos before starting chemotherapy, as the treatment could significantly impact my fertility. Thankfully, I was able to do that, and I'm now the proud mother of twins.

Going through that experience made me realize just how many women are struggling with reproductive health and fertility issues but don't have the support or resources they need. I was fortunate to have access to the best medical advice, but so many others don't even know that's an option or can't afford it. Back then, these topics weren't being openly discussed or given the attention they deserved, and sadly, that's still the case in many communities today. And it's not just fertility; there are so many other areas of women's health that are often overlooked or misunderstood, such as menopause. I was shocked to learn how little information and support is out there, even though it's something every woman will go through.

So I felt I had to do something about it. I wanted to create a platform where women could feel comfortable opening up about these issues and get the information and assistance they need - whether it's related to puberty, fertility, menopause, or anything in between.

JESSICA: You've chosen to officially launch the foundation at our event. What significance does this timing hold for you and the foundation? What are your hopes for this launch?

Anita: The timing of launching the Foundation at this event holds deep significance for me. The "Most Successful Women Award" presented by JESSICA is such a prestigious honor, and it aligns perfectly with the mission and values of the Foundation. You see, part of the reason I started the foundation was to challenge the way people usually think about what it means for women's success and wellness. So often, people only see "success" in terms of things like career achievements, money, or status.

But true well-being encompasses so much more than that. It's about empowering women holistically – their physical health, mental health, emotional needs, and even their spiritual side.

By launching the foundation at this event, we have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on a more expansive, inclusive vision of what it means for a woman to be truly successful and well. My hope is that this launch will help us reach a wider audience and get more support for our mission. I want people to leave this event feeling inspired and motivated to get involved, whether that means donating, volunteering, or simply spreading the word about the work we're doing in the Foundation.

JESSICA: The foundation's mission emphasizes empowering women through education and support. Looking towards the future, what are the main goals the foundation aims to achieve in the next five years? What challenges do you anticipate facing, and how do you plan to address them?

Anita: Looking ahead, the main goals for the Foundation over the next 5 years are to expand our educational programs and support services and to increase our reach and impact within the communities.

At the same time, we also aim to grow our direct support services – things like fertility counseling, support groups, health screenings, and financial assistance for medical treatments. Our vision is to create a true one-stop platform where women can access holistic support on women's health issues.

Of course, making all of this happen is going to have its challenges. Funding is always going to be a big one. We are going to work hard to secure the resources needed to scale our operations. To address these hurdles, we'll need to get savvier with our fundraising and marketing strategies. Building partnerships with different women's organizations will also be key.

It's going to take a lot of work, but I'm excited for the journey ahead.

JESSICA: Menopause is often underrepresented in discussions about women's health. Why has the foundation chosen to prioritize menopause, and what initiatives do you plan to undertake to address the challenges associated with it?

Anita: You raise a good point – menopause is often overlooked when it comes to women's health. The thing is, menopause affects more than half the population of women, but so many of them still feel like they have to just deal with it on their own, in silence. There's still a lot of stigma and misinformation out there, and that means a lot of women are struggling without the support they need. At the Women's Well-being Foundation, we want to change that by creating open dialogues and providing the support they need. We want to make sure women have access to the health information and comprehensive care that can help them through this major life transition.

To do that, we're developing all kinds of educational resources. And we're going to be working with healthcare providers to offer free seminars and support groups, so women can come together, share their experiences, and really support each other.

JESSICA: Leading such a significant initiative must be incredibly rewarding but also challenging. How has your journey with the Women's Well-being Foundation influenced your own views on leadership and women's health?

Anita: As a young organization, we constantly have to adapt and figure things out as we go. We have to overcome logistical and funding hurdles as we work to grow and expand our programs. This experience has really shaped the way I think about leadership in a big way. I've learned that it's not about coming in and telling people what to do. It's about being humble, listening closely to the women we're serving, and letting their voices and experiences guide us.

And my whole understanding of women's health has really broadened too. I've seen firsthand how limited the traditional views on women's wellness can be. It's not just about physical health or career success - it's about supporting women in all aspects of their lives, including their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

JESSICA: Finally, for our readers who are inspired by your work and wish to get involved or support the foundation, what are the best ways for them to do so?

Anita: We're always looking to partner with organizations that share our passion for advancing women's health and empowerment, whether that's collaborating on programming, aligning on advocacy efforts, or finding ways to share resources. When we all work together, it's the best way to create the big and lasting changes we want to see.

If your organization might be interested in exploring a partnership opportunity, I'd love to connect and learn more about your work and how we could potentially join forces. And of course, financial donations are also really helpful in allowing us to keep growing and reaching more women. Any contributions you could make would have a real impact on sustaining and expanding our work.

Interested in learning more? Check out their official website here: https://wwbhk.org/en/