After offering the final touch up, a heart-shaped painting was
finished by a bunch of children and guests at the Spring Art for
Love kick-off ceremony here Tuesday.
Co-organized by the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong
Kong (BGCA), Caltex Hong Kong Limited and Hong Kong Institute of
Aesthetic Education (HKIAE), the Spring Art for Love is a
fundraising event not only delivers the love message through art,
but it will also help to generate fund for the needy children in
the community.
Director of BGCA Justina Leung said that children from
low-income families are often deprived of opportunities for success
due to limited resources from their families.
According to figures from the Hong Kong Council of Social
Service, in 2002, about 17.1 percent or 190,000 children under 15
years of age in Hong Kong came from low-income families; by 2003,
this figure had increased to over 260,000 children living under
severe economic restrictions.
Research shows that these conditions have a major negative
impact on children's learning capabilities and social
development.
"Caltex Project Chance aims at creating a better environment for
these children to learn so that they can have more opportunities
and exposures for learning," Leung said.
Organized by BGCA and sponsored by Caltex Hong Kong, Caltex
Project Chance was launched in 2005 to assist children from
low-income families in Hong Kong to break through the barrier of
poverty by enhancing their self-esteem, emotional strength,
confidence and resiliency in dealing with daily hardships.
Through a series of early intervention initiatives, the scheme
focuses on creating a richer learning, health and cultural
environment for these children so that they can have similar
opportunities to their better-off counterparts.
Leung told the reporter that the Caltex program has been very
fruitful as it has helped needy children to build confidence and a
positive attitude towards life. And as an ongoing community support
program, every year Caltex Project Chance provides support to about
100 children aged between 6 and 9 living in harsh economic
conditions, she added.
Beneficiaries of the program primary school students Ah Yi and
Ah Yum said that they feel happy to join the activities in the
program which helped a lot in improving their studies and
interpersonal skills. They will make a thank you card at the Spring
Art for Love event for those who have given them great support in
the program.
As introduced by the organizers, local artists will provide
ideas and guidance for participating public to undertake a series
of art making activities based on the idea of spreading love and
care at Spring Art for Love.
Board Member of HKIAE Cheung Wai Ching encouraged children to
care those around them. She said, "Through Spring Art for Love, we
expect parents and children could create their artwork together and
let the children to learn how to treasure the things they have and
how to express and share love."
The event will be held on Feb. 25 next year at the Hong Kong
Cultural Center Piazza. All donations will go to Caltex Project
Chance to benefit children from low-income families in Hong
Kong.
Children living in better conditions are encouraged to express
their caring to those children in needs during the seasons of
giving, such as spending the money from red pockets in Chinese New
Year to join the event.
(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2006)