Spurred by coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong student publishes photo book to raise funds for Indian children’s home

Student Aman Lakhwani wanted to find a way to give back amid the ongoing pandemic

HK$100 of the proceeds from each copy of the book are donated to the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, which houses 65 children, and is a school to some 700

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Student Aman Lakhwani created a photo book to raise money for an Indian school and orphanage. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 9:30am, 3 Oct 2020Updated: 9:30am, 3 Oct 2020

When Clifton Shipway, the deputy director of Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission – a school and orphanage in the foothills of the Himalayas – checked his email, he was surprised to see a message from a 17-year-old student in Hong Kong.

It probably came as an even bigger surprise to find that as part of his final project for his school, student Aman Lakhwani was creating a photo book of landscapes titled Hong Kong: A Place to Discover, and donating all the profits from its sale to the organisation in India.

“Due to the coronavirus, I knew a lot of places were in need of help. I wanted to give my profits to a place which was really affected by the pandemic,” said the Hong Kong-born student, who goes to Kellett School.

Students work on an assignment at the Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, a school and orphanage India. Photo: Handout

His parents are of Indian descent, and his aunt and uncle live in India, and recommended the NGO, which is home to 65 children and a school to around 700. Founded in 1948 by Shipway’s grandfather, Maxton Davis Strong, the organisation has been running for more than 70 years. Shipway, born in Australia, moved to India when he was 18 years old and has been there for the past 17 years.

As with many NGOs around the world, donations to the organisation were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected more than 34 million people and left more than 1 million dead around the world. India is one of the countries that has been particularly affected, with more than 6.3 million cases of coronavirus and 98,000 fatalities.

“It’s certainly been a struggle,” admits Shipway.