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Elizabeth Cheung

Actress-director Sylvia Chang Ai-chia and star doctor Tony Mok Shu-kam have a new understanding of happiness after a recent trip to Myanmar with charity World Vision.
During their seven-day trip last month, they visited Einme, a township about four hours' drive from Yangon, and visited four villages where World Vision has medical, water and education projects.
"I feel that there is hope … happiness can be that simple, and I now embrace this belief after the trip and hope Hong Kong will be better," Chang said.
Mok was surprised by the developing country's people.
"I thought that with a military government, the country would be very poor because of extreme social polarisation," he said. "I expected lots of hungry faces … but I saw happy faces instead. It wasn't as bad as we thought."
The doctor recalled villagers welcoming the team with flags and dancing for them as they walked past a paddy field.
"We don't deserve this kind of welcome," Mok and Chang said.
Both were grateful for the "luxurious" trip, where they had hot water for their showers and abundant food at each meal.
"I had to shower with cold water at my first World Vision trip in Burundi [in Central Africa]," Mok said.
"We don't need lots of luxury in life … Getting back to the basics is a good reflection for Hongkongers. Are we living for a nice car or a glamorous house?"
Chang added: "We saw more smiling faces there than here in Hong Kong."
For Chang, the most touching moment during the trip was when she met the children sponsored by Hong Kong donors.
"It was so wonderful to see 200 children sponsored by Hong Kong people standing together," said Chang, who sponsors a seven-year-old girl in Myanmar.
Harvesting crops with the villagers was the most memorable part of the trip for Mok.
"It is symbolic of how we harvest the outcome of development projects in our local communities," he said. "What a joy to know that we have contributed a bit to improving the livelihood of the villagers there."
Chang, a lifelong World Vision volunteer, said the impact of donations was tremendous.
"It's not just for the child, but also for the family and community. The help is more than merely bringing a child back to school," she said.
World Vision began projects in Myanmar in 1985. Child malnourishment and access to clean water remain fundamental problems in the country.
 


Stars go back to basics with World Vision in small Myanmar town

Actress-director Sylvia Chang and celebrity doctor Tony Mok visited Einme, Myanmar, with World Vision last month. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Hong Kong

Celebrities learn to find joy in the simple things after World Vision trip


Actress-director Sylvia Chang Ai-chia and star doctor Tony Mok Shu-kam have a new understanding of happiness after a recent trip to Myanmar with charity World Vision.


Stars go back to basics with World Vision in small Myanmar town

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Celebrities learn to find joy in the simple things after World Vision trip

Celebrities learn to find joy in the simple things after World Vision trip