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Cindy Sui

The deadly inferno that raged through a housing estate in Hong Kong last month has prompted youngsters at charity Kids4Kids to spring into action to help children affected by the blaze.
Last month’s fire swept through seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight blocks, raging for about 43 hours and claiming 161 lives.
While the group was already planning a Christmas toy collection, it has stepped up the drive and aims to give a new toy to every child affected by the tragedy.
Founded in 2008, the charity’s mission is to promote the “three Cs” – creativity, character and community.
It has been inspiring creativity among young people to help them become better problem solvers, developing their character to encourage resilience in the face of adversity and motivating them to make a positive impact on their community.
Arsam Saberi, who moved to the city at the age of 13, credited Kids4Kids with helping him become more confident and comfortable interacting with other children.
“Communities are strong because they stand together. So when one region is affected, all of us need to stand together to help each other out,” Saberi, now 16, said.
“It might seem like a really small toy for us, but for a little kid who nearly lost their parents and lost all of their toys, or even suffered from the fire, injuries or whatnot … giving back to them and telling them you’re not alone [is the right thing to do].”
The charity hopes to foster a spirit of giving back and support to help under-resourced children have the opportunity to be successful and become positive changemakers.
It is one of 13 local charities that were awarded funding by Hong Kong’s annual fundraising drive Operation Santa Claus (OSC) this year.

Last year marked the start of three years of funding provided by Morgan Stanley through OSC to enable about 3,000 secondary school students, including those from ethnic minority communities, in Hong Kong’s least affluent districts to take part in Kids4Kids’ programmes.
Through workshops and volunteer activities, teenagers also learn social, life and leadership skills. They are matched with mentors, including local professionals in various fields, who expose them to different careers.
Students who present well-thought-out entrepreneurial ideas at the annual Youth Summit will also receive HK$3,000 (US$385.7) to HK$5,000 in seed money to launch their businesses.
Kids4Kids said it believed that young people, regardless of their socioeconomic background, could create positive change if they were equipped with the skills to do so and given access to relationships that well-off kids had through their families.
“We believe kids can transform and change the world for the better … and that comes with equal opportunity,” said Matt Coulson, the charity’s executive director.
Over the years, Kids4Kids has helped about 43,500 direct beneficiaries who are primary and secondary school students, and taken on more than 31,000 volunteers, including Janet Tse, a corporate trainer who described the charity as impactful.
“At Kids4Kids, we can see the concrete change,” Tse said.
Teenagers volunteering with Kids4Kids have helped clear rubbish from beaches and have worked with an NGO that helps deaf children.
Coulson said that assessments showed they had increased problem-solving skills, resilience and willingness to help others.
“I’m really proud of them, how they’ve become selfless and put other people first,” he said.

The charity is also reaching out to Tai Po primary schools to offer its four-week writing, drawing and talking-therapy programme for children affected by the fire.
A volunteer psychologist will assess the children’s work and inform the school’s social worker if any child needs extra attention.
OSC, jointly established by the Post and public broadcaster RTHK in 1988, has raised around HK$396 million for over 365 charity projects and helped more than 100,000 people throughout the years.
In addition to its annual fundraising drive, it is leading an emergency appeal to meet the specific needs of residents affected by the inferno.
All proceeds will support this year’s 13 OSC-funded charity projects and community partners involved in the fire relief efforts in Tai Po.
Click here to learn more about how to donate to OSC.


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Kids4Kids aims to foster creativity, build character, and inspire kids to bring about positive change in their community. Photo: Handout

Kids4Kids executive director Matt Coulson (centre), student member Arsam Saberi (left) and volunteer Janet Tse say the charity empowers young people to help their community. Photo: Cindy Sui

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News

Hong Kong

Society

Kids4Kids also strives to promote ‘three Cs’ – creativity, character and community – to help children become future changemakers


Kids4Kids also strives to promote ‘three Cs’ – creativity, character and community – to help children become future changemakers.


Operation Santa Claus

RTHK

Morgan Stanley

Charity vows to give every Hong Kong fire-affected child a new toy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kids4Kids also strives to promote ‘three Cs’ – creativity, character and community – to help children become future changemakers

Kids4Kids also strives to promote ‘three Cs’ – creativity, character and community – to help children become future changemakers