Eight-year-old David will give bankers a taste of detention - to benefit a good cause
The 20 bankers who signed up for the International Care Ministries fund-raiser taking place this Friday probably never had to spend time in detention when they were at school. The group, however, will be whisked away from their usual relaxing evening to be coached by an eight-year-old child, for a good cause.
The charity has already received pledges totalling US$90,000 to support its programme of building learning centres for poor and underprivileged children in the Philippines.
'My initial thought was an idea related to schools - because of the cause - and that's when the idea of detention came up,' said Julie Turner, executive director of the charity's Hong Kong branch. 'It's really a tongue-in-cheek thing. Many of the bankers don't have time to train for a charity run, or such, but they can spare one hour to help.'
Turner said the curriculum for the bankers' detention was 'top secret', but she gave the participants a rough idea of what to expect. 'There will be desks set up, lines to write, a quiz and games to play. Lessons will be taught by David Paul, a student from the city of Bacolod who is benefiting from the programme.'
The charity began its preschool programme in 2005 to prepare children for entry into the Philippine public school system. In the past five years, more than 5,000 children have graduated with its help.
The event starts at 5.30pm at Classified restaurant in Exchange Square.
