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Where? Headquarters - 3 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai

What? Established in 1936, BGCA is a charity with 26 centres in Hong Kong offering  social services to children, teenagers and their parents. The group's motto  is: 'Nurture the Young, Create the Future'.

How? Call 2527 9121 to apply. Services include helping new arrivals with their homework as well as holding special interest workshops or fun events for children. Committed young people who are fluent in English are welcome to develop educational programmes at the group's Small Group Homes to teach English.

There is no age limit for volunteers, and parents are encouraged to join their children in volunteer work.

The group is looking for volunteers for their flag-selling day on August 10. Interested young people aged 14 and older  can apply as individuals  or in groups until the end of next month.  Children under 14 can also lend the charity a hand  in the activity, accompanied by their     parents.

Teen volunteer: Kelly Wong Ka-hei, 17, is a fifth former at Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School. She has been doing volunteer work with BGCA for about three years.

'We visited an orphanage two years ago. We talked and played with the children and taught them how to make simple artworks.

The orphans behaved differently from other children. They were unwilling to talk and difficult to communicate with. They didn't like playing with other people. Maybe it was due to lack of love. They felt nobody would care about them because they were abandoned by their parents.

But when you become close to them, they tell you many things about their life. Most of them are unhappy because there are many restrictions in the orphanage and their social life is limited.

I also helped with an outing for mentally retarded children. I was responsible for looking after an autistic child who couldn't speak. She communicated with people through sign language.

I have won several awards for being an outstanding volunteer. But awards are not the most important thing. When you have the compassion to help people, it is satisfying enough to see them happy.

My life has changed a lot since doing volunteer work. In Form Two, I was quite emotional. But now I have learnt how to work with people.

You cannot always speak your mind. You must

also be flexible and do the right things at the right time.'



The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA)