IT was not until sixth-former Tong Yee-lai called on a home for the elderly that she realised what kind of life old people lead, and how much they need love and care.
For young people like Yee-lai who do not live with their grandparents, a visit to a home for the aged can be a revelation.
Yee-lai and 40 of her Christian Alliance College schoolmates, from Forms 2 to 6, recently spent a rewarding couple of hours at the Helping Hand Lok Fu Care Home and Housing for the Elderly. The visit was an extra-curricular activity held after the school exams.
''This was my first visit to such a home,'' said Yee-lai, who is vice-chairman of the school Community Youth Club.
''Most of today's children hardly ever meet old people. We don't know what they are like and we have a lot of wrong notions about them.'' After the exams Yee-lai and her friends usually play basketball and volleyball to relax.
''But we are tired of these games, and want to spend our time in a more meaningful way, like joining a volunteer service,'' said Yee-lai's classmate Kimberly Ko Wai.
