A Hong Kong charity’s vision to help needy and elderly with eye problems reintegrate into society
- Saint Barnabas Society and Home runs its Regain Crystal Clear Vision project, backed by fundraising drive Operation Santa Claus
- Charity takes an integrated approach, with beneficiaries getting material, emotional and spiritual support
The slopes and busy roads of Hong Kong’s Central and Western district can be especially precarious for Ho Kai-shing, 64, who is blind in his left eye and severely short-sighted in his right.
Ho was resigned to having to squint hard at price tags in the supermarket, always checking his surroundings before crossing the road and staying home at night due to his poor vision. He had accepted his condition as part of the ageing process, and left the issue untreated for years.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, his medical condition and living situation deteriorated. Due to his health, Ho had not been working and relied primarily on the government’s social welfare scheme, which was insufficient to cope with price increases, according to him.
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Just as all hope seemed lost, help for Ho came in the form of a referral to charity Saint Barnabas Society and Home three years ago.
“I was really scared of going out before, I couldn’t see the traffic lights clearly at all, there were fast cars and motorbikes, I couldn’t see them either, it was dangerous,” Ho recalled.
His fears were finally addressed when the charity introduced him to its project, Regain Crystal Clear Vision, aimed at helping elderly and homeless people restore vision through free eye examinations and surgeries if needed, allowing them to reintegrate into society.
“We have a crystal-clear vision to help people in need get back on their feet and work while they can also regain their self-confidence and dignity,” the charity’s senior minister and pastor Stephen Chan said.
Saint Barnabas Society and Home helped arrange multiple eye check-ups for Ho last year, and he was diagnosed with serious short-sightedness and cataracts. He underwent surgery in August last year.
With the help of the project, which is also one of 15 causes supported this year by fundraising drive Operation Santa Claus (OSC), jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK, Ho finally regained his sight.
“I was initially introduced to the charity not because of my eyes but NGOs referred me to come here to get food and other materials since I did not have money during the Covid pandemic. After that, I started coming here twice a day for two hot meals,” Ho said.
“Saint Barnabas Society and Home really helped to alleviate my financial burden.”
The charity strives to serve the poor and homeless in Western district on Hong Kong Island. Through spreading the message of the Bible, it gives material support to people and provides emotional and spiritual backing.
“We want to help [the elderly and homeless] understand the purpose of their lives and not lead an aimless life any more,” Chan said. “We try to help them in an integrated manner.”
Operation Santa Claus marks 35 years of supporting Hong Kong’s underprivileged
Chan said the love of God could spur the elderly to care for one another and create a sense of togetherness, eradicating feelings of loneliness and emptiness in those who might have fallen through the cracks in bustling cities such as Hong Kong.
Since 1988, OSC has raised HK$353 million (US$45 million) through 323 charitable projects. On the 35th anniversary of the drive this year, Saint Barnabas Society and Home hopes to help more people like Ho who cannot afford medical check-ups and eye surgeries to regain sight and get back into the workforce.
With OSC’s support, the charity can raise more awareness in the community and be recognised for its efforts.
