SHKP Quarterly

Through different types of volunteer work, the Team channels multiple efforts to show care for various segments of society 透過不同種類的義工服務，義工隊結合社會各界力量，一起發揮關愛精神 The Team’s volunteer work with various charity organizations happens all year round with them acting as co-organizer and service provider, seldom serving as sole organizer. Michelle says, “To each their own. Government depar tments and charit y organizations specialize in planning services, that’s why we are happy to be ‘supporters’ and contribute those services we do best. This collaborative spirit is ideal for volunteer work.” However, she emphasizes that they take a proactive approach when understanding the needs of the community as well as charity recipients so that they can provide the most suitable services. On every visit, Team members will find out if they are actually meeting recipients’ needs — such as the suitability of the gifts they distribute — and make adjustments in the future where necessary. Boosted by happiness, galvanizing volunteer commitments The Group offers three-year warranties on new flats in the belief that buyers’ trust is earned through the commitment of building long-term relationships. The SHKP Volunteer Team serves the community with the same conviction because volunteer work also takes a lot of time and effort to bear fruit. Michelle recalls, “The Team took part in a three-year mentorship programme organized by the Child Development Fund in which we partnered with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to provide companionship to children in Tin Shui Wai as part of their personal development. This programme only required the mentors and mentees to keep in contact, but we insisted on meeting up in person and taking part in different kinds of activities every month. This helped us nurture a deep friendship and mutual trust with the children.” She also remembers the experience of pairing up with a primary six boy to assist with his personal growth. Time flies and the little boy is now a year-three university student, but their friendship has endured. Michelle adds, “Volunteering promotes the notion of ‘life influencing life’, and provides the kind of satisfaction and happiness you can only get when giving is the greatest reward!” Michelle jokingly adds that the volunteer team’s “survival” and continuous growth over the past 15 years are purely the result of “happiness”. She says, “Recently we had a wall painting activity in a school for children with severe intellectual disabilities. I arrived just a little late but the teammates had all but finished the painting. I would have wanted to contribute more! Were we not happy, we would not have worked so hard and cherished every single opportunity.” Moreover, she thinks that the positive energy generated from volunteering cannot be ignored. “There was a time when the Team carried out some planting work at a nursing home for a more than 12,000-square-foot garden. On a later visit, we found that the garden was much more beautiful than before. It turned out that the seniors at the nursing home had done a great deal of the planting in the garden themselves. Things get better when volunteers and recipients make an effort together.” Putting words into action, passing on the spirit of volunteering Michelle is particularly impressed by SHKP colleagues who strove to breakthrough old boundaries for charity. She says, “Some volunteers were a bit introverted and did not know how to break the ice at first. But practice makes perfect. Through training and continuous practice, they became more calm and independent, and they even set themselves higher goals. I am so pleased to witness their growth!” A healthy team needs to have good succession planning. In addition to getting colleagues’ children involved in volunteer services, the SHKP Volunteer Team has also set up a “Sunshine Team” to provide a “second echelon” of volunteers. Colleagues’ children as well as young recipients are encouraged to join the Sunshine Team to promote the idea of “helping people help themselves” as well as passing on the mission of volunteering. Michelle adds, “Volunteering is not an activity but a spirit and a life attitude. No matter who you are, you can be a volunteer as long as you have the will to help others.” She singled out Nana Chan , the recipient she knew from the redevelopment project at the Shek Kip Mei Estate. Nana Chan was 81 years old at the time and the SHKP volunteers provided a basic refurbishment of her flat. Influenced by the Team, she has since joined us as a volunteer. Michelle continues, “Nana Chan is almost 100 years old this year. Besides visiting with us, every day she delivers meals from the Centre to her neighbour who has difficulty with mobility. As simple as her help is, Nana Chan cares for others with a passion. This is essentially the volunteering spirit of “helping people help others” that we hope to inspire and pass on.” The Team distributes festive gift bags across the community 義工隊每逢節日也會到社區派發福袋 21