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Executive Director's Report
Dear HAC friends;
For HAC, 2009-2010 was a rewarding
year, and without doubt, also a synergic one. During the year,
we have widened the scope of services which, in addition to
our established and well-run services, additional services
catered for the psycho-social developments of children have
also been rendered. Further, we have enhanced our business
partnership programme and enlarged our network of partners.
A recount of material services we have rendered in the year
is set out below.
Representatives from Societe Generale
(right and left), Uncle Calvin (second to the left) and
Ms. May Wong, Executive Director, were the judges of Collage
and Puppet Show. |
(I) Consolidation of Storytelling and
Reading Services
Experienced gained by our frontline
staff members reveals that parents and their children can
benefit greatly from our storytelling and reading programmes.
In the year, we have applied evidence-based approaches in
our review of storytelling and reading services. We also adopted
various types of creative channels in promoting storytelling
services:
- A bi-lingual storytelling resource website (www.storytelling.org.hk),
the first of its kind in Hong Kong, has been set up to provide
readily accessible information concerning storytelling for
parents, and to provide storytelling training services to
professionals.
- Staff members of HAC co-hosted in the broadcasting of
a storytelling radio programme entitled "Beside Stories"
at RTHK on a regular basis since the first quarter of 2010.
- Published both the first and second editions of "Play
Through Hong Kong", and co-operated with got-itseminar.org
in the launching of the online thereof. Further, a new book
"Be a Cartoonist" (with kits) was also published to promote
harmonious family-children relationship.
- We invited famous puppet artists like Uncle Calvin (Mr.
Wong Hei), Harry Wong and Mr. Chan Hon Keung to teach our
children puppet making. Children could then integrate puppet
play into storytelling activities.
- Supported by the "Bring Me A Book Foundation" and "Mattel
Children Foundation", we set up reading corners for children
on Lamma Island and Diana Boyd Wilson Centres.
(II) Enhanced Business Capacity
Executive Director and the sunshine
children on Lamma Island. |
Our centres have been computerised
to improve efficiency and SMS communication modes have been
widely used to correspond with our service users. In addition,
with donations by the Lottery Fund, the Diana Boyd Wilson
Centre completed renovation and modernization works in May
2009. We received numerous positive feedbacks from service
users, who commented that the environment at the Centre is
more comfortable and cosy. To maintain close communication
with s stakeholders, which is of utmost importance for our
continuous improvement, we have set up a specific page in
the Facebook (reference search keyword: HAC) which in turn
is linked with several famous parenting websites (e.g. got-it-seminar.org,
go2event.com). Fuelled by over 50 times of media publicity
in local newspapers, magazines, radio and TV, our services
have been widely commended and they enjoyed increasing popularity.
For the coming year, we will, apart from revamping existing
websites, publish e-newsletters.
(III) Partnerships and Co-operations
Interviewed by RTHK. |
We value helping hands from corporate
partners and community leaders, which we believe can bring
greater and long-lasting benefits to children. We have been
fortunate recipients of wholehearted support from many keen
volunteers, corporations, community centres, other organizations
and schools. This year, we have co-operated with over 50 schools.
We also nominated 30 corporate partners for the Caring Company
Award. Among these caring enterprises, half of them have been
nominated by HAC for more than 5 consecutive years. On the
basis of mutual trust and long-lasting relationship built
between us and those caring enterprises, we share a common
vision, namely, to better serve the needy and under-privileged
children in Hong Kong!
Prominent Co-operative Programmes include:
- Funding innovative projects:
- Societe Generale supported "Little Links; Unlimited Dreams" and "Puppet Show";
- Disney Children Foundation's
"Be a Cartoonist!", and
- Mattel Children Foundation's
"Toys for Our Joys" projects and the Mattel Library
at Diana Boyd Wilson Centre.
- Giving children guidance and mentorship:
- PCCW escorted Sham Shui Po children to community visits;
NWSH volunteers mentoring the "Fairy Kiddo" for the past
4 years.
- Providing tangible supports to the underprivileged
families:
- The Clearwater Bay Country Club provided cash allowance
for 120 children;
- DHL gifted over 100 ergonomic school bags.
- From various companies we received over 1000 books
- Committing to community services, to name a few:
- Société Générale (SG),
NWS Holdings Ltd, Allen and Overy Seedland/Yellow Bus,
and DHL Hong Kong
Energetic children of Storyland. |
On behalf of HAC, I express sincere
gratitude and heart-felt thanks to our corporate and community
partners listed on the Acknowledgement Page (page 39-40),
the greatest possible appreciation to the devoted services
of our many volunteers, and last but not the least, to all
our donors for their generosity.
For the coming year, we are committed
to further promoting storytelling and reading services with
unfailing effort and enthusiasm. We look forward to your participation
in the coming "Story Carnival" in November 2010 and "Sharing
Forum for Storytellers" in April 2011. Once again, thanks
for your continuous support!
May Wong
Executive Director
March 2010
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