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JUN 2020

[Fulfill A Wish] Volunteers helping a visually impaired elder to organize a book sharing session for his wife

2020-06-06

【Fulfill A Wish】Volunteers helping a visually impaired elder to organize a book sharing session for his wife

When we meet visually impaired people walking towards obstacles on the street, we would naturally step forward and help them but it might disturb their path. The way to lead these people is to stretch out our arms and let them to catch us, so that they can easily follow us. In this way, our arm becomes an impression in the eyes of the visually impaired. Elder Mei names herself and her husband's arms as "Hairy Gourd" and "Eggplant".

One of the main projects of the annual HOPE worldwide Elderly Day is to fulfill the wishes for some elders. This year, a visually impaired uncle hopes to organize a new book sharing session for his wife in order to encourage her talent in writing.

Elder Mei and her husband, Uncle Cai, are both born blind. Due to physical imperfections, her childhood was not easy. However, she was able to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Humanities while she was at the age of 40 with her hard work. Mei loves to read and she has a broad range of favorite books. Being encouraged by her husband and the influence of her friends, her first book named "Hairy Gourd and Rolls" is recently published.

The volunteers of HOPE worldwide visited "Hairy Gourd" and "Eggplant" a couple of times to discuss the details for organizing the new book sharing session. Through these contacts, the volunteers start to understand the world of the visually impaired people. They are not living in the dark or even dullness that we, the healthy people, always imagine. Mei whose pen name is Coffee, shared how she read books without embossed editions, how the visually impaired people "watched" football games, and her electronic-game experience at the new book sharing session.

The warmhearted volunteers specially prepared a batch of embossed invitation cards for this sharing session to let both "Hairy Gourd" and "Eggplant" to invite friends to participate.

Though his wife was the protagonist in the new book sharing session, Uncle Cai took a seat in front row and listened carefully to every guest’s sharing of his wife. Among them were not only friends, but also social workers, pastors and volunteers. Mei specially thanked her husband’s support who also provided the precious information to inspire her to write a book. Uncle Cai's joyfulness was fully revealed when taking the photos.

More than 700 elders have been the beneficiaries of HOPE worldwide’s "Fulfill A Wish" program, which aims to create delightful memories for the elders in their later years. Please contact HOPE worldwide for sponsoring this program or if you want to take part in it.

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FEB 2020

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JAN 2020

Thanks a Million for the Volunteers for Seniors Day 2020!

Volunteers for Seniors Day 2020 (watch video)

Give and You Will be Given (watch video)

2020-01-08

This was what volunteer Peggy Choi learned from her experience at the Volunteers for Seniors Day last year.

For the video with English subtitles, click HERE.

A difficult volunteer assignment

For that event, Peggy and her group were “assigned” to help Grandpa To organize a personal painting exhibition.

Eighty year-old Grandpa To picked up his first paint brush when he retired at age 65 and has accumulated many paintings over the years. He’s always had the desire to share them with the world. But being an old man with limited resources, not knowing many people, and having to take care of his sick wife, he kept the wish tucked away in his heart.

One day, he mentioned his wish to the social worker at the elderly centre. The social worker referred him to us and our “Walk the Extra Mile” programme.

“When we first got the assignment, none of us had any idea what to do. Who has ever staged a painting exhibition before? But when we saw his paintings, we felt we had to somehow make it happen.”

Reaching for some supernatural power

As a Christian, Peggy decided to pray and to ask God for miracles.

Thus began her wondrous journey of faith through this volunteer assignment.

Through the friend of a friend, Peggy became acquainted with the owner of an art centre. To her surprise, she offered to let them use her centre for free.

Then, as the word spread through her network of friends of what she was trying to do, people started to contact Peggy on their own.

“Some of them were experienced artists. They helped me figure out what needed to be done. They taught me how to properly frame a painting. They showed me where to buy inexpensive frames. They kept me on a timeline so the exhibition could be staged as planned.”

Even though someone had helped her design an invitation card, Peggy was worried that the printing cost would be prohibitive.

Again, the art centre owner came to the rescue. She let Peggy use her equipment to print the invitation cards.

What’s more, after seeing Grandpa To’s paintings, the owner decided to make more room to expand the exhibition from 20 paintings to 40. She even donated $1,000 to help defray costs.

Everything fell into place

On opening day, many of Grandpa To’s friends and family came. Going the extra mile, Peggy collected good wishes from all the guests and made a booklet for him. Grandpa To was moved to tears. A man of few words, he simply said, “We have a wonderful community.”

For Peggy it was an unforgettable experience. “At first, I couldn’t imagine pulling this off, given my limited abilities and resources. In the end, I learned that if I have the heart to give and serve, things will somehow all come together. I also gained so much more than I gave.”

More wishes to be fulfilled

HOPE worldwide will hold the 24^th Volunteers for Seniors Day on Sunday, January 12, 2020. Close to 3,000 volunteers have already signed up to serve more than 1,000 elderly people across Hong Kong, sharing love and care with their acts of kindness.

Donate today to support HOPE worldwide's service for the elderly