【Gifted and Caring】
Winter Warmth for the Homeless: Showcasing Humanistic Care
(Hong Kong - 23 December 2024) In December, winter days are filled with a strong festive atmosphere. As people carefully plan the celebrations for the Winter Solstice, Christmas, and New Year's Eve with loved ones, a gifted student has initiated a warmth-giving campaign to provide food and supplies to the homeless, adding a touch of warmth to this winter season.
Passionate gifted volunteers pose with PANG Cho Nam (first from the left in the front), the initiator and organizer of the outreach, and Cho Nam’s Master, Mr LEI Jih Sheng (first from the left at the back), before setting off
This event was initiated and organised by PANG Cho Nam, a gifted student from the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE), with the generous support from 10 equally passionate gifted peers. Accompanied by Cho Nam’s “Master” and staff from the HKAGE, they visited the homeless in Tung Chau Street Park, Sham Shui Po, in the afternoon of the Winter Solstice (21 December), offering care and support.
Cho Nam, an S5 student living in Sham Shui Po, has previously participated in community volunteer activities through his school service group, planting a strong aspiration of community service within him. After joining the Hong Kong Gifted Apprentice Programme (HKGAP), where he was paired with his Master, Mr LEI Jih Sheng, Community Organizer of the Society for Community Organization, Cho Nam found renewed motivation for this aspiration, allowing it to sprout and grow. 
Cho Nam was paired with his Master, Mr LEI Jih Sheng, Community Organizer of the Society for Community Organization, under the Hong Kong Gifted Apprentice Programme
Throughout the preparation, Mr LEI provided ongoing guidance to Cho Nam and led him into the community to help him understand the real situations faced by low-income families. This understanding was essential for planning this outreach activity that focused on mental health, which is as important for homeless individuals as it is for everyone else. As homeless people often have fewer opportunities for social interaction, they frequently face fear and anxiety in their daily lives. This event aimed to establish connections with the homeless through companionship, reassuring them that people care about them, thereby alleviating their negative emotions and injecting more positive energy into their lives.
For a caring and enthusiastic high school student with limited resources, securing donations posed a significant challenge. Adopting his Master's advice, Cho Nam joined a Sham Shui Po District volunteer programme, which helped resolve his supply sourcing problem. Next, Cho Nam needed to recruit volunteers for distribution. He reached out to his peers in HKGAP by actively promoting the event in class and ultimately received a positive response from his classmates, who joined him in the outreach.
At the introductory meeting, Cho Nam shared information about the social issue of homeless people and the communication techniques to use with homeless individuals
Gifted volunteers making heartfelt cards together for the homeless
With everything prepared, Cho Nam held an introductory meeting for his peers before their departure for the outreach. He shared with this group of inexperienced gifted young volunteers about the homeless in Hong Kong, and effective ways to interact and communicate with them. During the meeting, the volunteers also made heartfelt cards together to express their care for the homeless.
Gifted volunteers and a homeless individual
Gifted volunteers share a bowl of sweet soup with a homeless individual, engaging him in a warm chat to offer a moment of connection
Gifted volunteers pose for a photo with a homeless individual and his beloved pet. During their conversation, the volunteers learned that this individual chose to sleep in the park with his pet because he struggles to find affordable accommodation where cats are allowed.
This event not only brought care and warmth to the homeless but also provided gifted students with an opportunity to engage with society. On the day of the event, the volunteers distributed sweet soup, scarves, cold hats, and heartfelt cards. They paired up to have friendly conversations with homeless individuals from different backgrounds, listening to their stories. Through this experience, the students gained insight into the challenges faced by the homeless and realised that even small gestures of kindness can positively impact the community.
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Update Date：2024-12-24