After completing the final touch up a heart-shaped painting was finished by a group of children and guests at the 'Spring Art for Love' opening ceremony in Hong Kong Tuesday.

 

Organized by the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA), Caltex Hong Kong Limited and the Hong Kong Institute of Aesthetic Education (HKIAE) the 'Spring Art for Love' is a fundraising event not only delivering a message of love through art but also helping raise funds for the community's needy children.

 

Director of BGCA, Justina Leung, said children from low-income parents were often deprived of opportunities for success due to limited resources from within 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 they can have more opportunities for and exposure to learning," Leung said.

 

Organized by BGCA and sponsored by Caltex Hong Kong the Caltex Project Chance was launched in 2005 to assist children from low-income families to break through the poverty barrier  by enhancing their self-esteem, emotional strength, confidence and resilience 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 had been very fruitful as it had 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 they felt happy to join the activities of the program which helped a lot in improving their studies and interpersonal skills. They're making a thank you card at the 'Spring Art for Love' event for those who've given them great support in the program.

 

As introduced by the organizers local artists will provide ideas and guidance for members of the  public to undertake a series of art 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 for those around them. She said, "Through Spring Art for Love we expect parents and children can create their artwork together and let children learn how to treasure the things they have and how to express and share love."

 

The event will be held on February 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.

 

Youngsters living in better conditions are encouraged to express their care for those children in need during the giving seasons such as spending the money given at Chinese New Year to join the event.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2006)