Hong Kong parents teaching the value of charity deserve applause

I am writing in response to the article, “Mother and child volunteers in Hong Kong show how city’s needy can be served” (May 13).

These days, most children in Hong Kong are taken by their parents to join many after-school tutorial classes or other extracurricular activities. These can perhaps help children get enrolled in a famous school, but do they really make them happy? I think not. Their life becomes a boring and meaningless round of going from one class to another. Hobby activities then become a means to an end, instead of joyful for their own sake.

I believe childhood is a time to enjoy one’s life before having to face the busy schedule of higher study and careers. And when children are able to do more meaningful things, it not only creates good memories that will last them their entire lives but also helps them to learn important social and human values.

Therefore, I applaud the parents who wanted to have their children learn to help others, especially the needy, by taking part in a charity food drive. It is really important to be able to give something back to the wider community, and this is also good education for children.

Chloe Kwok, Kwai Chung