HONG KONG, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The elderly population of Hong Kong aged 65 or above accounted for 15.1% of the total population by the end of last year, and the percentage is expected to reach 19% by 2021. With an aging population, the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly has become a social concern.
Noah's Ark Hong Kong promotes love and harmony in the community and shows care to the disadvantaged. It strives to create a platform to contribute to society. In view of the social situation, Noah's Ark launched the Noah's Ark Little Doctor -- Elderly Care Program, under which children recruited as voluntary ambassadors interact with the elderly in various activities, thus fostering inter-generational integration and social harmony.
Noah's Ark held an opening ceremony for this meaningful program on March 1, and invited SHKP Executive Director Mr. Adam Kwok, Executive Council Convener Mr. Lam Woon-kwong, and Elderly Commission Member Mr. Timothy Ma to be the officiating guests and share the importance of elderly care. As the first activity of the program, Mr. Adam Kwok and a team of Little Doctors distributed "fortune bags" to over a hundred elderly people and their families during the ceremony and treated them to a "Poon Choi" banquet to celebrate the Spring Festival together.
To highlight the importance of children's participation in the program, the ceremony started with a Chinese drum show performed by a group of youngsters. To get the program going, SHKP Executive Director Mr. Adam Kwok and other officiating guests, together with four Little Doctors, stuck rainbow footprints on a giant agreement letter as a symbol of the promises to step out into the community to bring happiness and warmth to the elderly. Led by Mr. Adam Kwok, the first group of Little Doctors, dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, pledged to respect the elderly, care for people in need, foster inter-generational integration, and realize the spirit of Noah's Ark.
Initiated by Mr. Adam Kwok and organized by Noah's Ark Hong Kong, Noah's Ark Little Doctor -- Elderly Care Program recruits children as voluntary ambassadors to make regular visits to residential care homes for the aged and participate in elderly care activities organized by Noah's Ark to bring happiness and warmth to the elderly. It is hoped that through these interactions, children can better understand the lives and emotions of the elderly and develop positive values, thus achieving inter-generational integration. The program targets to recruit 300 Little Doctors this year and benefit more than 5,000 elderly people.
"The elderly are a part of our society and should be respected and cared. I hope to bring happiness to them through this meaningful program," said Mr. Kwok, while also pointing out that apart from visiting the elderly community centers and the old people's homes, the Little Doctor volunteer team could also participate in activities organized for the elderly by Noah's Ark, including guided tours for the elderly, planting and photo taking activities and cooking. The Little Doctor Program is different from other programs as it is more flexible with diverse interactive elements.
Elderly Commission Member Mr. Timothy Ma said; "The program does not only allow the elderly to feel the care of the community and reduce loneliness, but also fosters their physical and psychological well-being by encouraging them to participate in outside activities and stay connected with the community."
In fact, not only does the program benefit the elderly, but also the children. It helps to develop their integrity and positive values and teaches them to share, treasure life and be active. It also helps children to develop positive thinking and the ability to judge, nurturing them into Little Doctors with positive energy.
Ms. Lee Shui-ling, winner of The Second Hong Kong Volunteer Award, joined the Little Doctor Program with her child, and said; "The program provides valuable opportunities for us to spend time together on something meaningful. It allows parents to know more about the character and potential of their kids and it strengthens parental relationships."
Moreover, the program helps to promote social harmony, as its core concept is to foster inter-generational integration through encouraging the elderly and young people to understand and appreciate each other and develop a positive attitude towards life. Executive Council Convener Mr. Lam Woon-kwong said; "Inter-generational integration creates favorable conditions for the promotion of civic education and the sustainable development of an aging society. Inter-generational interactions and mutual care and acceptation are beneficial to society."
| Benefits of the Noah's Ark Little Doctor -- Elderly Care Program |
||||
| The Elderly |
Children |
Family |
Society |
|
| 1. |
Feel the care of the community |
Learn to accept and get along with the elderly |
Provides valuable opportunities for parents and kids to spend time together on something meaningful |
Foster inter-generational integration through encouraging the elderly and young people to understand and appreciate each other |
| 2. |
Reduce loneliness |
Develop a sense of responsibility |
Allows parents to know more about the character and potential of their kids |
Favorable to the promotion of civic education |
| 3. |
Stay connected with the community |
Learn to put themselves in other peoples' shoes |
Improves inter-generational relationships in the family |
Favorable to the sustainable development of an aging society |
| 4. |
Develop an optimistic attitude |
Develop positive values |
Strengthens parental relationships |
Fosters inter-generational interactions and mutual care and acceptation |
Apart from the Spring Festival celebration activity for the elderly held on March 1, the Little Doctor volunteer team will also participate in various charitable activities for the elderly this year, which include the "Green Revolution" charitable program to be held at Noah's Ark between June and October, under which 5,000 elderly people will be invited to enjoy various interesting experiences to help them achieve healthy living.
Noah's Ark also plans to organize "Grandparents' Day" in August, during which Little Doctors will interact with the elderly through various games and interactive experiences to promote a spirit of respect for the elderly.
During the summer and Christmas vacations, Little Doctors will also pay visits to a number of old people's homes to talk and listen to the elderly people. Large-scale enrolment will start in mid-March and Hong Kong residents aged one to six are welcome to join the program for free. Noah's Ark will distribute enrolment forms to schools and churches, while interested parents and children can also download the application form from Noah's Ark's website or enroll at the customer service counter at Noah's Ark.
About Noah's Ark Hong Kong
Noah's Ark Hong Kong is the world's first replica built to Biblical specifications. It is on Ma Wan Island with beautiful views of the Tsing Ma Bridge and Rambler Channel. It is a destination for entertainment, education and conservation with a wide range of facilities and activities such as the Ark Garden, Ark Expo, Treasure House, Ark Life Education House and the new Solar Tower. It promotes love, harmony and positive values in the community and offers visitors a whole new experience.
