Hundreds participate in World Vision’s Peace for Every Child Charity Walk Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma among participants

World Vision Hong Kong held the “Peace for Every Child Charity Walk” on 21 October in association with the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club. The event attracted around 760 participants to support Syrian refugees in need. Funds raised this year will provide food assistance and learning opportunities for Syrian families and children. Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li was also among the participants.

Mr. Ma attended the event with friends. After the walk, he also signed up to become a child sponsor. Mr. Ma said the event deserves great support and called on the public to show their support as well.

At this year’s event, multiple interactive activities were added to enhance the public’s understanding of the situation faced by refugees. Mini-drama shows by Acts Reform Workshop vividly presented issues that Syrian refugees faced in real life, such as day-to-day and psychological difficulties encountered by families after arriving at refugee camps, stress arising from the death of a loved one, etc. This presentation has allowed the audience to better understand and reflect on the situation. Other interactive activities include puppet shows, VR experience, an art exhibition and scenes of the homes of Syrian refugee families.

Irene Wong, Administrative Director of World Vision Hong Kong, said, “Every year, over one billion children around the world experience different forms of violence, including those that are caught in wars, forced to become child soldiers, and those that are forced into child labour and child marriage. These forms of violence create tremendous impact on the health and mind of children. And it should be our responsibility to put an end to this.”

Reaching almost its seventh year, the conflict in Syria has displaced tens of millions of people. About 3.7 million children under five have grown up knowing nothing but conflict.

Since 2011, World Vision has been offering assistance in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, such as providing learning opportunities and psychosocial support for children, constructing water facilities and latrines for refugees, and distributing household items. In 2016, World Vision has reached almost 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children (details).

Published on 21 Oct 2017