Page 24 - 170 Varsity ebook

22 / Our Community

are made with love and affection,
that is the difference between
bought cakes (and homemade
cakes),” Fernandes says.

“Most of these children don’t
eat nourishing food, and they may
never taste a well-made cake again.
But at least they have something to
remember,” he adds.

“For the gifts, no toy promoting
violence, sex or racism is allowed.
This is the only guideline. Apart
from that, I always let them (the
team leader) take over the parties,”
the founder says.
ar
Edw
Edward Fernandes with a picture of his late wife Marilou Edora.
d Fernandes with a picture o
a.
e Marilou Edor
f his late wif
One of the team leaders, Eve Lo,
“It’s very sad — I can’t do anything about is responsible for contacting social
it, what we can do is just spread a little workers, gathering volunteers, and
birthday happiness to the children” leading parties.
“Many of those kids live under
the official poverty line, accord- very sad — I can’t do anything tension, struggling in poverty and
ing to the latest Hong Kong Pov- about it, what we can do is just family problems. What I wish is
erty Situation Report published spread a little birthday happiness that they walk away knowing that
by the government in 2020. Cal- to the children,” the founder says. there are good spirits in society,
culated at half of the city’s median He adds, “but it doesn’t mean and there are strangers who care
monthly income, the poverty line we for them,” the 67-year-old woman
stands at HK$4,400 for one person give up, we carry on.” says.
and HK$20,400 for a four-person The organisation now has about
household. 200 volunteers organising birthday Lo was deeply touched by the
parties for grassroots children, or- spirit of the organisation and
Among one million of children phans, ethnic minorities and chil- joined one and a half year ago.
in Hong Kong, 274,900 of them dren with down syndrome and
live under the poverty line. autism. “I got to know the organisation
from a news article in the South
Fernandes vows he will con- Volunteers host birthday parties China Morning Post, and then
tinue his service to spread joy to three to four times monthly. They immediately decided to apply for
needy children. decorate a venue, design games, volunteer work. I’m not promising
prepare gifts, food and even bake to change the world, but I’m hap-
“Even in a wealthy place like cakes for birthday boys and girls. py that I gave a little happiness to
Hong Kong, there are 30,000 chil- someone,’ she says.
dren living in cage homes. It’s Homemade cakes and nourish-
laughable — it’s not laughable, it’s ing food are the must have. “They The group is working with oth-