Installing a bedside light, adding anti-slip strips, fixing broken louvre windows, replacing a door lock. These may seem like minor household repairs, but for the elderly living alone, they can make a world of difference.
Philip Wai, a CUHK MBA alumnus and retired corporate executive, has turned “Repairs Givers” into a mission of service. Leading a team of volunteers aged 50 and above, he brings practical repair support and heartfelt care to elderly residents in their homes. His journey as a silver entrepreneur also illustrates another dimension of knowledge transfer.
“The last ten years have been the most rewarding time of my life,” Philip says.
In this issue of CUbicZine, we speak with Philip about how, as a member of the “young old” generation, he has translated a customer-centric mindset from the business world into a force for social innovation, creating a meaningful and fulfilling second chapter in life. His story is also a vivid reflection of the vision shared by CUHK and its Knowledge Transfer Office: connecting knowledge, experience, and passion to bring innovation into communities and create lasting impact with humanity at its core.
Advising NGOs, Discovering the Power of Helping Others
Philip followed what many would consider a successful career path. After earning his MBA from CUHK, supporting a family, and building a career that eventually led him to an executive position at a listed company, he retired in his fifties and began asking himself what came next. He became interested in the idea of creating a platform where retirees could support one another and started exploring different possibilities. He joined active-ageing programmes, attended entrepreneurship talks, and volunteered as part of an operations consultancy team that advised non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
After visiting more than a dozen NGOs, Philip began to notice recurring challenges. Different levels of an organisation often held different interpretations of its mission, and projects frequently fell short of expectations during implementation. Yet what moved him most was the sincere desire of many founders to help others. Their passion left a deep impression on him and later became valuable inspiration on his own entrepreneurial journey.
A Small Repair Gap with Big Potential
In 2008, Philip took part in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s 50+ Startup Project, where he teamed up with participants from diverse professional backgrounds. The team developed a paid companionship service for older adults, which later evolved into the social enterprise CoCreative Partners. However, the market was not yet ready. Despite pilot collaborations with social service organisations, the team eventually realised that a service with no paying customers would be difficult to sustain.
The turning point came unexpectedly. One day, while struggling with the seemingly simple task of replacing a fluorescent kitchen light, Philip realised that many people ageing alone faced similar household challenges every day. The insight led the team in a new direction. Working with organisations serving older people, they began testing home repair services and quickly discovered a simple but important truth. Many elderly residents spent most of their time alone. A home visit from someone willing to help and listen meant just as much as the repair itself.
In 2020, “Repairs Givers” was officially launched. The programme provides free home maintenance services for seniors living alone and elderly couples while also creating a platform for mutual support among retirees. Each home visit is carried out by two volunteers aged 50 or above. One takes care of the repair work, while the other spends time chatting with residents and sharing home safety advice.
The programme was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, highlighting the unique value of these “small” repairs. Most professional contractors are reluctant to take on minor jobs, while many ageing residents, trying to save money, simply put up with faulty light bulbs, loose handrails, or sharp furniture corners. What may seem like an inconvenience can easily become a serious safety risk. The initiative also illustrates that knowledge transfer is about more than commercialising research. Through social innovation and creative service models, even small changes can bring significant improvements to people’s lives.
The programme has also created meaningful opportunities for retired individuals eager to put their practical skills to good use. All volunteers receive standardised training in both repair techniques and communication skills. Philip jokes that “young old” volunteers often relate easily to elderly residents. In many cases, listening with empathy matters even more than technical expertise.
A thoughtful service concept and a well-defined beneficiary group may provide the starting point. But it is a sound and sustainable operating model that ultimately underpins an organisation’s long-term growth and impact.
Turning Good Intentions into a Sustainable Service
The CoCreative Partners team has thoughtfully applied business principles to its social mission. Staying true to lean startup practices, the venture operates without an office or full-time staff. Over six years, the programme has completed more than 2,500 service visits, benefiting around 3,800 older adults. About 60% of cases are referred through social service organisations.
To cope with growing demand and the substantial administrative workload involved, the team standardised processes and introduced digital tools, including online application forms with photo uploads, service guidelines, and training modules.
This year, the team took a proactive approach by setting up community service booths at housing estates and local welfare centres. Residents can choose from four common services on the spot: bed rails, grab bars, electronic doorbells, or light bulb replacement, with immediate installation available. Volunteers also conduct basic home safety inspections during visits. If they uncover additional repair needs or potential safety hazards, they remain committed to helping, following up with further repairs and improvements as needed.
From “I” to “We”
The founding team came from a wide range of professional backgrounds, with many having held senior management positions where they were accustomed to making decisions and directing others. Entering the world of social entrepreneurship required a shift in mindset. They learned to keep an open mind, embrace new perspectives, and continue learning along the way. Regular meetings became an important platform for sharing updates, reviewing progress and addressing challenges. Whenever differences of opinion arose, the team’s tried-and-tested approach was to return to their common purpose, allowing them to find alignment and move forward together.
Philip has noticed a subtle but profound shift among the founding members. Over the years, the language of “I” has naturally given way to the spirit of “we”.
The same philosophy extends to volunteer management. The team maintains an active network of more than one hundred “young old” volunteers. Philip believes caring for participants is more important than managing them. The team focuses on genuine relationships and open communication, making an effort to understand each participant’s expectations and needs.
“Money would never be the main motivation,” Philip explains. Many retirees are searching for purpose in the next stage of life. Being able to help others with their own hands, and experiencing the fulfilment that comes from being needed, means far more to them than money ever could.
Over time, these values have shaped the venture’s direction. Rather than focusing on profitability, CoCreative Partners prioritises building a committed network of long-term partners aged 50 and above. In 2022, the organisation successfully transitioned from a self-sustaining social enterprise into a registered charity, allowing it to dedicate even more resources to fostering human connections and community support.
Looking back, Philip believes people over 50 have unique advantages as entrepreneurs. Decades of management experience and extensive professional networks enable them to turn ideas into reality and build partnerships that create unexpected opportunities.
His social innovation journey has also remained closely connected to CUHK’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. He has collaborated with an age-tech social enterprise founded by an alumnus to promote services for the elderly residents, and in recent years has been invited back to campus to share his experience in creating social impact.
Looking ahead, Philip hopes to spread the “Repairs Givers” model across more communities and establish it as a regular volunteer service within local organisations. The team is actively providing training and support to social service organisations, and has even attracted volunteer groups from Macau eager to learn from their experience.
“Some things are worth doing quietly and steadily, over the long run,” Philip reflects.
For him, “Repairs Givers” is far more than a home maintenance service. It is a platform for sharing knowledge, building relationships, and strengthening mutual support. Its success rests on the collective efforts of volunteers, social service organisations, and community partners. Through cross-sector collaboration, each partner brings its unique strengths to improve the lives of older adults living alone, ensuring that care reaches deeper into the community and creates lasting impact.
Edit by: SO Yu Hing and Elok Wong@CUHK Knowledge Transfer Office
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