THE children looked no different from their student visitors from Kowloon Wah Yan College and Maryknoll Convent School.
That was why the students were there - because these children need friends just as normal people do - even though they are profoundly deaf.
While enjoying their own summer holidays, the 40 students from the two schools decided to organise a social service project to both bring joy and develop the potential of some 25 seven to 15-year-old deaf children at the Suen Mei Speech and Hearing Centre.
The programme of activities began with an afternoon of games during which the children were introduced to the student volunteers in a fun atmosphere.
''We have organised other activities as well, such as beach cleaning, a visit to a fire rescue boat, a variety show in which the children will be performing themselves, and a visit to an elders' home,'' said sixth-former Lai Chun-Hung of Wah Yan College,president of the organising committee.
In order to help the children see they can serve the community instead of just being served, they will be given an opportunity to perform for the elderly.
''We want to help them build up their confidence and not let their disability block them from being socially active,'' Chun-hung said.