Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) supports different charities and encourages its staff to do volunteer work for the community. The SHKP Volunteer Team is five years old and has 1,200 members. The volunteers perform various forms of community service to help build a harmonious society.

Praise from management

SHKP Vice Chairman and Managing Director Raymond Kwok is head of the Volunteer Team. He encourages members with the slogan ABC: where A is for alliance within the team, B is for building homes with heart and C is for commitment to the community.

Mr Kwok attends the annual team recognition day to praise the volunteers' enthusiasm and hard work. He also encourages team members to bring their families along in volunteer work.

Helping hands

The team helped with renovations to the Christian Family Service Centre last year, sprucing up the room occupied by the centre's residents. Team leader Michelle Leung described what the rooms were like before the repairs: "Many had peeling plaster, loose electrical wires and leaking pipes. Our volunteers were able to use their construction expertise, plastering and painting wall, re-wiring the circuitry, fixing the pipes and more."

The residents' views were sought on room design, which made them feel involved. The volunteers also taught the residents basic repair maintenance so that they could take care of their homes in future. Some residents will receive training next year so that they can help others with repairs and contribute to the community.

Making friends

Squad leader Mak Hing Cheong said that the residents were a little shy at first, but eventually opened up and said what the wanted for their homes, such as colour schemes and decorations. Some residents even helped with the work.

Another squad leader Ng Siu Kuen remembered the house warming. A volunteer showed how to make Chinese dumplings and some residents thanked the volunteers with tea and a magic show. They also exchanged souvenirs with messages of thanks. Ms Ng said: "The loving words written on the souvenirs summed up our friendship over the past few months. The shyness in the beginning has given way to friendship, fun and laughter."

Helping seniors move

The volunteers will be helping 250 seniors from So Uk and Ngau Tau Kok Lower estates move to new homes to make way for redevelopment. The volunteers previously helped seniors living in Shek Kip Mei Estate move in a similar exercise. The volunteers will help the seniors pick and inspect their new flats, do basic decorating and cleaning and make sure that residents are settled and comfortable in their new homes.