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Annemarie Evans

EACH YEAR THE STUDENTS of Shung Tak Catholic English College raise money for Operation Santa Claus, the charity campaign jointly organised by RTHK and the South China Morning Post.

For the past 11 years, the students have sung, played instruments and organised fairs to bring in the money for a campaign that for the past three years has helped 12 beneficiaries each year.

Yet there is a special reason why students feel close to the subject this year. One of the 12 beneficiaries is the Children's Heart Foundation and the students want the nearly $40,000 they have raised to go to that organisation in memory of their schoolmate, Form Two student Alexandra Lam, 13, who died of heart complications earlier this month.

Form Six student Chris Ng Chi-fan, 18, visited Alexandra in hospital. 'The whole school is really sad,' he said. 'She suffered from a heart disease and gradually couldn't attend school. She was popular with both us - the students - and the teachers. She's really going to be missed.'

Nicholas Wan Siu-hang, 17, also a Form Six student, said: 'She was in the same class as my sister.'

A choir from the school will  today take part in a 'You can be Santa' afternoon at Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay, organised by Hysan Development. But there have been many other activities.

Nicholas is deputy head prefect and English Society chairman. 'For our [fund-raising] campaign this year, which involved Forms One to Seven, we set up 53 stalls during lunchtimes and evenings. Most of the stalls sold food and drink, others sold accessories and souvenirs.'

There was also the singing contest. In the semi-finals, Chris sang a Chinese pop song Silence is Golden, made popular by Nicholas Tse Ting-fung. Twenty singers are left for the finals later this month.

'Yes I did practise singing in the bathroom,' Chris admitted. 'The flat's too small for me to practise anywhere else as I live with two brothers and my parents.'

For the semi-finals each audience member paid a $3 entrance fee and at least $1,000 was raised at the first concert. A further entrance fee will be charged for the finals.

Shung Tak, in Yuen Long, is just one of 30 schools involved in fund-raising activities for Operation Santa Claus this year, and among that number are 14 local schools.

Several schools, including the Hong Kong International School, are also taking part in the food drive for the People's Food Bank of St James' Settlement, one of the 12 beneficiaries and a charity that provides emergency food relief for those in need.

'This is the first year that we have also secured the participation of a tertiary education institute, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,' said Natalie Chan, project director of Operation Santa Claus. 'The children helping to raise funds for OSC ranged from four-years-olds to university students in their early 20s. It's really heartening to see these youngsters think up creative ideas and give their time to help the less fortunate in our community.'

One of  the local schools is Kowloon Technical School in Cheung Sha Wan where brass and wind players plus young artists have offered their talents to raise money and provide entertainment.

Gloria Wong, one of the teachers involved in helping with the  fundraising, praised the efforts of the students. 'Shamshuipo is a pretty poor area. So fundraising is very hard here. Our student association has raised $1,000 and they have really tried their best. But where the children really feel they can help is by volunteering, by taking part they can do something good for the community and that's really important for them.

'To give you an example, after one of my students graduated, he was selling recycled paper. It's as bad as that in this area at times. But these kids are showing they can give back to the community.'

A number of the students have signed up as volunteers today  to accompany and assist the children and adults from the 12 beneficiary charities who are being treated to a day out at Ocean Park.

'Many of those volunteers are in the Community Services Club at the school. They do voluntary work, give blood donations, do flag selling, dress casual day and visit an old folk's home,' said Ms Wong.

Tenno Chan Kit, 19, Gary Lui Kam-man, 18, and Derek Lo Sio-wa, 18, are involved for the second year in setting up an 'Art from the Heart' painting session for primary schoolchildren.

Along with Tiffany Wong Pak-wai, 17,  chairman of the school's arts club, they are designing huge stencils that each group of primary school children can paint their favourite colours on and also add their own designs.

'Last year we did a dragon of Shamshuipo,' said Derek. 'I enjoyed working together with my school friends on a big project.'

Tiffany said: 'This year we'll be combining  Christmas traditions and Chinese New Year for the design. We would like to donate the money for new arrivals from China.'

One of the  beneficiaries is the St Christopher's Home charity, which, as one of its services, helps  new arrivals in Hong Kong from the mainland to adapt to school life here by teaching them English and improving their computer skills.

From 3.30pm to 4pm the Kowloon Technical School wind band will be playing a session of Christmas songs  including their own rendition of Jingle Bell Rock.

And finally, there is no age you have to be before you can start fundraising. The six-year-olds at Yew Chung International School did a sing-a-thon of Christmas carols and  raised money through that. They then sold a VCD of their efforts to their parents, bringing in $25,000 for Operation Santa Claus.

'They did a wonderful job,' said headmistress Julie Foster.



HELPING HANDS FOR SANTA