AWISH by two expatriates to make a contribution to Hong Kong society has given a group of children in the Tsuen Wan squatter area their first opportunity to speak English to native English speakers.
Volunteering as English teachers, Ms Ming Chen and Ms Linda Chang visit the Tsuen Wan Squatter area every Tuesday evening to hold English classes for the children there.
The two American-born-Chinese, both raised and educated in the US, hope to contribute ''a little more, instead of just working as executives here in Hong Kong''.
''We found our Hong Kong life too narrow, living in the Mid-levels, going to work, going back home, and doing exactly the same the next day,'' explained Ms Chen, a business development analyst. ''So Linda and I decided to do some social service.'' They approached the Hong Kong Squatter Evangelistic Fellowship (HKSEF) which helped them find children interested in learning English and also provided them with venues to hold the classes.
''We managed to find around 15 children who wanted to attend such classes,'' said Ms Sheena Ng, executive secretary of the HKSEF. ''The children in this area are mainly legal immigrants from mainland China whose parents work in nearby factories.
''They are rather passive in terms of seeking help, but we hope that by providing such classes, more and more children will approach us.'' The English class students range from seven to 18 years. Some of them had to repeat a year to adapt to the education system in Hong Kong.
