Hong Kong Youth Serve Senior Citizens Throughout the City in a Unique Two-Day Regional Activity

Group photo after the briefing session

More than 200 young men and young women teamed up with their parents and youth leaders to provide a helping hand as well as a listening ear to scores of elderly residents of the greater Hong Kong area on August 28th and 29th, in a major regional service project. The project encompassed all four stakes in Hong Kong and was seen as a highlight for the youth in these stakes, according to Elder Sam Wong, Area Seventy responsible for Hong Kong. The project was co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Association and “良田之友社”.

The project consisted of assembling several hundred gift packages for distribution to the elderly, single residents of the city, and then visiting the homes of these individuals and carrying out a thorough and detailed cleaning of their apartments. In addition, the young people and their parents sat and visited with the residents, who live alone and typically have few, if any, visitors to their homes. Many of these senior citizens are very lonely, and eagerly welcomed the opportunity to have a conversation with the young women and young men following the cleaning activity.

On Friday evening, August 28th, around 200 youth, parents and leaders met at the Asia Area Headquarters of the Church on Hong Kong Island and were given instruction on techniques of cleaning as well as tips on how to interact with single elderly people. Parents were invited to attend this training with their youth since they would be the ones accompanying them on the visits to the homes and providing guidance and assistance. After this instruction, the young men and young women were issued the well-known yellow “Helping Hands” vests and proceeded to assemble the gift packs which would be distributed to those who would be visited. Elder Sam Wong as well as President Chung Lap Choi, first counselor in the Tolo Harbour Stake Presidency and chairman of the activity’s multi-stake planning committee, also spoke to the youth and encouraged them in their efforts to serve the Hong Kong community. In addition, representatives of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Association spoke to the assembled group and expressed appreciation to them for their willingness to serve.

On the following morning, Saturday, August 29th, the youth and their parents spread out across the large metropolitan area that comprises Hong Kong, including Kowloon and the New Territories and even some of the outlying islands and remote areas. They found in home after home not only the opportunity to both provide the cleaning service that they had been prepared to do, but also to spend time listening to and sharing in conversation with these wonderful single elderly people. The youth gained first-hand knowledge of how important it is to serve one-on-one and to give of their time and attention to someone whom they had never met, but who appreciates their service. In fact, some of the elderly even declined the cleaning service but very much appreciated the chance to have some time with a visitor whom they could talk to and share their feelings and thoughts. The youth then departed, leaving the gift package and in many cases a much happier senior citizen, due to the efforts of Latter-day Saint young men and young women in the Hong Kong community. The project has benefitted both the elderly who were visited and served, and also the youth of the four stakes and their parents, who had the opportunity to spend a day together serving with one another and reaching out to those in need, building testimonies and family togetherness.

President Cheng Ching Wan (Tolo Harbour Stake) presents a souvenir to the representative

of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Association

Youth and their parents are working hard in cleaning the home of the senior citizens who live alone

Group photos are provided by Tolo Harbor Stake. Others are provided by participants.

August 2009