Author: deestnixon
2021-22 ECH Award Ceremony – Ms. Jade Kwan presented theme song with our youth
Ms. Jade Kwan not only volunteered to teach our children singing, she also attended ECH annual award ceremony as an award presenter and sang the 65th anniversary theme song – 《日出過山車》on stage together with the performing girls’ team as encouragement and experience building. Everyone was excited in the encore section. In the ceremony, children were awarded for their achievements in academic, character building, social interaction and living skills. Let us board on the 65th anniversary ECH “Grace Train” – the theme of the event and give thanks for the blessed journey of over 65 years.
Ms. Jade Kwan of Shining Life Limited presented awards to children and youth who participated in the shooting of the 65th anniversary theme song 《日出過山車》music video. We look forward to the premiere on Oct 22.
“I hope to extend my talent from God by volunteering to teach the children singing. These youngsters may pursue a career in music or singing. Through the process of recording the ECH 65th anniversary theme song in the studio and shooting the music video, they can build experience and get in touch with related works. I believe every child is gifted and can unleash talents”, said Jade. Jade even presented the ECH 65th anniversary theme song 《日出過山車》with the performing girls’ team at the ceremony.
The children handmade little planet of《日出過山車》 as appreciation of Jade‘s contribution. This gift depicts the ups and downs our children have gone through in life. Now they have boarded the ECH “Grace Train”. Thank Jade for brightening their lives. The illuminated planet represents part of the theme song lyrics, that the sunrise casts away dark nights and hope is in sight.
Primary and secondary school children and youth sang in worship and unleashed different musical talents.
Thanks to Rotary Club of Kowloon Tong for their long term support to ECH in nurturing children and for presenting the Overall Performance Awards to the winning children. William, the president of the Rotary Club of Kowloon Tong was awarded special souvenir handmade by the children.
On that night, masters of the ceremony included two children. This gave them the opportunities to learn. Guests were invited to visit the primary school boy’s dormitory. The boys introduced their lifestyles and displayed their neat wardrobes at this Home. Good habits can be trained at a young age.
Children DIY potted gifts for the guests. Joe, the social work supervisor explained the meaning of this gift. It signifies that the children can lie on stable green grasses, their pains could be healed, their lives could be improved and they can rediscover themselves in the process of receiving our services. Pain from the past will no longer be their obstacles. They can move forward happily, thanks to supporters’ help.
ECH Micro-film “Battle against Covid-19”
During the peak of the 5th wave pandemic, ECH children need to be quarantined on-site. All staff was united to safeguard the children’s home and to cut off the spread of virus. Thankful that we could win this tough battle. This large-scale “Battle against Covid-19” involving everyone in this Home was documented in a micro-film. It re-lives the heart-bounding scenes and the touching moments when our staff advanced to take care of the children wave after wave.
Caseworkers invited children and youth to play different roles in the film, deepened their understanding of how our staff cooperated in the process of the fight and faced the unpredictable challenges together.
This micro-film was premiered in the 2021-22 ECH Award Ceremony, where guests and supporters shared the production results. The film director praised that the children could. bravely try, patiently learn and showed team spirit. After overcoming the tsunami-like pandemic, while looking back on the process, what everyone retains is a grateful heart.
Children and youth played the roles of the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and Caseworkers who were having an emergency meeting on the pandemic. She also played as a news reporter who interviewed ECH.
They played the roles of cleaner and food delivery staff dressed in personal protective equipment. She pretended to be a busy supporting staff distributing emergency supplies.
The invisible virus also participated in the scene of infecting the children’s home, while she acted as Superintendent asking for help calmly.
This special scene with the children’s interaction, represents that time goes back when the virus first struck the children’s home. They need to face the unknown development during the pandemic. After the 5th wave pandemic, what remains is our grateful hearts.
《A Relative with No Blood Relations》– “Elder Sister” Joanne
About 20 years ago at an ECH volunteer activity, a few strangers were connected and developed family-like relationships, spanning over the years and across different regions. An “Elder Sister” nurtured four young boys’ growth with blessings from heart to heart.
Become a Volunteer with Boundless Love
ears ago, Joanne was a member of EFCC – Woot Chuen Church. Dedicated to becoming a volunteer and serving the community, she is full of love. In the past, she trained her own puppies to become dog doctors. They had been serving elderly homes and hospitals for over 8-10 years. In 2003, after a charity walk organized by Evangel Children’s Home, Joanne took the initiative to offer volunteer services to the children. The social worker at the time (now the social work supervisor) – Joe arranged two pairs of little brothers under the age of 10 (including Ah Yin and Ah Wai) be mentored by Joanne and implemented an “Elder Sister Plan”. Out of expectation, this arrangement connected these few strangers and created family-like and boundless care thereafter.
In the 2003 ECH charity walk, Joanne participated with her beloved dogs.
Life Nurturing and Selfless Companionship
Joanne has a bright personality which makes her appropriate to be a caregiver of boys. She hopes to accompany these children with the love of Christ and influence these little lives with her life experience. At that time, Joanne worked in a commercial firm. She brought snacks to the children’s home and chit chat with the little brothers at her spare time. At the beginning, she did find it hard to look for some common topics to kick-start a conversation. Nevertheless, she accompanied and listened patiently and carefully. Gradually she opened up the little brothers’ inner world, sharing their sorrow and joy. She will not forget the time she was invited to be a boy’s guardian and met his teacher at school. Joanne found these kids kind-hearted. Occasionally, she applied to take them out for a movie, or go hiking and stretch their body and mind. All these were wonderful experiences to the little brothers
A Relative with No Blood Relations
After these little brothers left the children’s home at the age of 18, Joanne continued to communicate with the four boys who became young men and exchanged greetings. Seeing that they were not self-reliant right away, she devoted herself and bought suitable home appliances for them. Even at one of the boys’ life event – the wedding day, she was asked to be formal witness of the wedding. This showed that even though they have no blood relationship, they shared the same family-like relationship. What comforted her most was watching them grow up and becoming loving and responsible adults. Some got married and even gave birth to the next generation, inheriting the love of Christ.
Boundless Care Brought up Doctoral Student
In recent years, Joanne emigrated overseas. Thanks to the internet, their communication never stopped at her fingertips. One of the big boys, “Ah Wai” is now a doctoral candidate in nutritional studies at a Taiwan University. All these achievements did not happen by chance. Great thanks to the irrigation from all aspects with love so that little saplings can grow into big trees and benefit the community.
This kind of invisible relationship does not require too much verbal communication. Companionship with heart brings out the most sincere dedication and care.
Few years ago, Joanne originally planned to meet “Ah Wai” in Taiwan, but the two unexpectedly met at the Hong Kong airport.
Joanne visited HK and made a special trip to reunite with members of ECH.
From left to right: Ms. Law (Superintendent), Joanne, Joe (Social Work Supervisor) and Calvin (Deputy Superintendent)
