As a beneficiary of last year's Operation Santa Claus, the Rainbow Project is back with new facilities, new staff and returning families. For the last six months, the mother has been happily returning with her child for the therapy he urgently needs.

"He used to not speak at all, and was constantly throwing tantrums," she said. "Now [after the therapy], he gets less frustrated because he can express himself much more easily."

Keith Lee, the director of the Rainbow Project, believes that despite the progress there is still much to be done. Lee sees the group helping more children and becoming a well-established school for autistic kids.

Ever since funding came through Operation Santa - the annual fundraiser organised by the and RTHK - the Rainbow Project has seen a rise in enrolments.

"We have a great programme and a great service, and we want people to come here," Lee said. "We also want to provide transport subsidies to families who can't afford to visit us."

Lee said sharp drops in enrolment occurred in 2009 when the Rainbow Project's collaboration with the Hong Kong Academy ended. "When we were cooperating with the academy, the parents of our pupils could at least say their child went to a normal administrative school. Our numbers dropped from almost 30 to only five this year. We almost shut the school down in 2012."

Lee attributed the sharp drop to an inconvenient location in Sai Ying Pun, and to prejudice.

"The social stigma is still very strong. [Parents] won't send their kids to a special school if they don't have to. … However people are realising the need to help their kids if they suffer from developmental disorders."

Another mother had been taking her six-year-old daughter Sasa to the Rainbow Project since she was diagnosed with autism at three. Sasa used to be trapped in her own world and did not speak, so she was surprised to see her progress. Sasa now runs around the therapy room, laughing and giggling, teasing instructors.

"Thanks to the people here, Sasa can now talk," the mother said. "This project really changed my child's life for the better."

Rainbow will be one of 20 projects to benefit from this year's Operation Santa, which was launched yesterday.

How the 20 charities will use your donations

Subsidise occupational and speech therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder who might otherwise miss the opportunity to attain the skills needed to live relatively independently. Beneficiaries: 30 families

Provide one-on-one professional speech therapy to children from lower-income families who face a long wait for government support and do not have the means to get private therapy. Beneficiaries: 30 children

Mobilise volunteers to clean up and repair homes for needy people living in substandard housing, including container huts in squatter areas, subdivided flats and pigsty houses. Beneficiaries: 50 families

Establishing a specialised neonatal care unit (NCU) with proper equipment and offering urgent financial help provided to families in underdeveloped areas of Yunnan province , where many families struggle to find or afford care for sick newborns. Beneficiaries: 600 newborns each year; 40 families

Provide support and a family-like environment for abandoned children at the Shuifu Sowers Children's Home in Shuifu county, Yunnan. Beneficiaries: 56 children

Work to help children whose parents are in prison or have been executed on the mainland, who often suffer severe trauma, by publishing training materials for child protection, and equipping staff with the skills to train caregivers. Beneficiaries: 145 children

Organise workshops for children, youths, caregivers and elderly people with dementia to interact through toys, as play can provide effective stimulation for dementia patients. Beneficiaries: 180 dementia patients, children and youths

Employ and train adults with intellectual disabilities to deliver fruit boxes to the office pantries of participating companies. The programme will also help promote interaction and communication between mentally disabled people and the public. Beneficiaries: 50-100 adults with intellectual disabilities

Provide four sets of electrical feeding devices for pupils with severe physical disabilities. The equipment will help the pupils to eat by themselves, with therapists on hand to assist at mealtimes if necessary. Beneficiaries: four disabled pupils

Help psychiatric patients express their feelings and create personal journals through photography and contemporary mixed media, such as creative writing, calligraphy, comics, painting and illustration. Artworks will be selected for an exhibition. Beneficiaries: 240 patients, caregivers and hospital staff

Buy a new truck to collect old furniture and unwanted goods for resale after restoration. The profits will support Remar's rehabilitation service for drug and alcohol addicts. Beneficiaries: More than 60 recovering addicts

Set up a legal clinic to provide victims of sexual assault with legal knowledge. Public awareness will be raised through talks, exhibitions and research. Beneficiaries: 7,745 people

Raise awareness of migrant workers' rights and educate them on employment rights, family planning, pregnancy and health. The programme aims to protect migrant workers from unlawful dismissal due to pregnancy and provide support. Beneficiaries: 1,140 workshop attendees

Collect surplus food from schools and donate it to needy people. The programme will also raise awareness of the problems of food waste and poverty. Beneficiaries: To provide up to 250 meals per day

Educate and counsel people with diabetes, their caregivers and those at risk. A diabetes helpline, education programme and guidelines will be given to enable proper self-care and enhanced quality of life. Beneficiaries: 2,000 patients and their caregivers

Maggie's Mind-Body Relaxation Programme helps cancer patients cope effectively through relaxation practices. Effective stress management is critical to improving their quality of life. Beneficiaries: 4,500 attendants

Provide self-management programmes for people with the symptoms of rheumatism, helping them get treatment and improve their quality of life. Hydrotherapy and physiotherapy will be provided. Beneficiaries: 1,688 patients and 288 family members

Offer music therapy for stroke survivors with aphasia to promote wellness, enhance self-confidence, improve speech abilities and encourage expression of feelings to improve quality of life. A stroke survivors' choir will be formed. Beneficiaries: 30 stroke survivors and 30 family members

Help young rheumatic patients procure medication, rehabilitation equipment, home care support and help with their emergency needs. Beneficiaries: 555 children and family members

Provide a reverse osmosis central water treatment system to improve healthcare facilities at Chan Wong Sau Wah Memorial Renal Dialysis Centre in Sham Shui Po. Beneficiaries: 70-80 patients per year

HOW YOU CAN GIVE

• Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com/donate

• Donate at an ATM or any branch of HSBC (account number 502-676299-001 for SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus)

• You can donate with a cheque payable to "SCMP Charities Ltd - Operation Santa Claus" and mail it to: Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, Tai Po, New Territories.

• Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you would like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt to the address above.

• Please call 26808159 or e-mail [email protected] with any inquiries, or visit us online at osc.scmp.com