Inspired by a child's tragic wish for two purple birthday cakes, Hong Kong children are joining a global campaign to provide education for the underprivileged.
Kindergarten children from schools in the city are taking part in Purple Cake Day, set up by New Zealander Emily Sanson-Rejouis in memory of her husband and two daughters, who died in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where she worked for the United Nations.
Sanson-Rejouis chose purple cakes because that is what her daughter Zenzie wanted for her fourth birthday - an occasion she would not live to see.
'The childish delight on her face when asking for two purple cakes,' she said. 'It struck me as being so free-spirited.'
All 10 of the Woodland Pre-Schools and the City Kids Hong Kong Preschool Playgroup Association have participated for the first time. Nine of the 10 Woodland pre-schools have jointly raised HK$128,690, with the Repulse Bay Montessori Pre-School still to hold their Purple Cake Day tomorrow.
The money raised by children in Hong Kong and 12 countries, including Australia, Britain and the United States, will go towards building a school in poverty-stricken Nepal. As such, many of the participating schools used a Nepal theme during their activities.