凝聚愛心力量　攜手改寫命運
國際培幼會「培您童行」慈善行者肩負重任
為中國寧夏隆德縣的孩子步出更光輝明天
Path to future success of ethnic minority children in China paved with the missionary footsteps of Hong Kong walkers at the Plan International Hong Kong Walk for Children

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新聞稿（即時發佈）                                                        　  2014年4月27日

凝聚愛心力量　攜手改寫命運
國際培幼會「培您童行」慈善行者肩負重任
為中國寧夏隆德縣的孩子步出更光輝明天

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/plan/2014/10/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/plan/2014/10/Plan_WFC_Post_Event_C_final.doc

今年，由國際培幼會主辦的第三屆「培您童行」步行籌款反應十分熱烈！獲得近千名市民的踴躍支持，活動在一眾國際培幼會大使的率領下，於4月27日假西九龍海濱長廊踏出愛心步伐，為中國寧夏自治區少數回族孩子建設更美好將來。

是日早上9時，國際培幼會（香港）董事局副主席袁文俊博士、國際培幼會（香港）行政總裁詹文利先生、國際培幼會大使包括著名藝人方力申先生、鄧麗欣小姐、歐倩怡小姐、著名導演及國際培幼會前受助人張堅庭先生、兩位「愛．女孩」大使劉馬露明女士及鄭麗莎小姐，以及接近一千名充滿愛心的參加者齊集於西九龍海濱長廊的大草地正式啟步，全力支持協會，齊齊為中國寧夏隆德縣的小朋友獻出愛心，改善他們的學前教育質素。

朝陽底下，一眾大小朋友同穿著名時裝設計品牌SUGARMAN全力贊助的限量版T-Shirt，攜手邁進愛心之旅，直至早上10時許抵達終點，整個行程充滿歡樂的氣氛。
隨着參加者完成步行路線，頒獎禮亦正式開始。大會首先安排了由激鼓樂社Ban’s Gig Drums帶領、鼓舞人心的鼓樂表演，其創辦人Ban哥哥亦是國際培幼會前受助人之一，緊接着是由戲劇英語教育中心的Blessing Voices兒童合唱團藉着歌聲，送上對偏遠地區兒童的真誠祝福。國際培幼會董事局副主席袁文俊博士亦於頒獎禮中分享：「『培您童行』步行籌款已來到第三屆，今天很高興見到很多舊朋友，當然也歡迎第一次參加的支持者。你們的付出，將可為中國寧夏山區兒童的教學環境，帶來長遠的改善。今年我們精心設計了全新體驗區，為『培您童行』加添更多創意和教育元素，藉着這些體驗活動，小朋友更可深切明白貧困地區的孩子所面對的生活困境. 希望大家也享受這個充滿意義的星期天，也期望在來年再見到大家！」

頒獎禮上，國際培幼會行政總裁詹文利先生向活動的金贊助、銅贊助，以及多個支持及贊助機構致謝，再致送感謝狀予國際培幼會大使方力申、鄧麗欣、歐倩怡和張堅庭，及兩位「愛．女孩」大使劉馬露明女士及鄭麗莎小姐，以感激他們無條件的支持。是日，11隊企業團隊一起競逐「最踴躍參與團隊獎」，最後由「培幼之友」以120位一直積極支持培幼會活動的前受助人及他們的家人朋友獲得，兩位國際培幼會大使方力申先生和鄧麗欣小姐一同頒發的獎狀予得獎團隊。其後，大會更邀請所有主禮嘉賓到台上合照留念，儀式在一片歡樂的氣氛中圓滿結束。

另一邊廂，眾多參加者步行後亦積極參與大會精心設計的體驗區活動。在龐大的貨櫃箱內，大小朋友一同以短小的鉛筆，在漆黑的環境下為遠方的貧苦兒童寫下心意卡，並掛在許願樹上。不少參加者亦透過「步行石卵徑」、「陡峭山坡體驗」、「擔水而行」及「照顧年幼弟妹」等各種挑戰，進一步瞭解在落後地區生活的難處，其間他們在石卵徑及斜坡上步行，提着沉重的水桶又或背負五公斤重的人形布偶，模仿貧苦兒童如何背着年幼的弟妹，為生計攀山涉水，走過迂迴崎嶇山路的情況。此外，現場還設有臉部彩繪、扭波波表演、小丑互動魔術表演、繽紛泡泡表演，以及多個精采的攤位和義賣活動等，節目多姿多采，活像一個愛心嘉年華。

是次活動意義非凡，除了讓家長和老師推行愛的教育，鼓勵孩子關心社會之外，今次所籌得的善款，亦將會為中國寧夏隆德縣的孩子帶來長遠的改變。在隆德縣，專業的幼兒教師嚴重缺乏，而教學的環境及設施亦相當惡劣。過去四年，國際培幼會已於當地協助興建六間幼兒學校，但學前教育服務仍然不足，令許多幼童逼不得已輟學維生。

今次協會將計劃進一步改善四所鄉鎮幼兒學校及四所社區兒童發展中心的設施，如提供教學用具、派發營養膳食予120名年齡介乎六個月至三歲的兒童、教育300名父母有關健康和衛生的知識，同時，安排20名教師探訪銀川的標準幼兒學校，並由專家從旁教授他們新知識及教學方法，讓更多幼兒有機會接受更優質的教育，順利銜接小學課程及提升將來升學的機會，避免將來重蹈父母貧困清苦的命運。

關於Plan國際培幼會「培您童行」步行籌款 
自2012年起，「培您童行」步行籌款成為國際培幼會的年度活動。今年，國際培幼會已於4月27日假西九龍海濱長廊舉辦第三屆「培您童行」步行籌款，與公眾人士及團體一同為中國寧夏自治區的孩子出一分力。有興趣的愛心人士，歡迎登入國際培幼會網站（www.plan.org.hk）瀏覽詳情。

關於Plan國際培幼會 
擁有77年歴史，國際培幼會是全球其中一個規模最大的國際兒童慈善機構。協會總部設於英國，為世界各地超過150萬名有需要的兒童及其家庭提供援助，並為約900萬名居於協會工作地區的人士提供各方面的支援服務。計劃主要集中在兒童的教育、健康、生活環境、生計及建立關係方面，希望能長遠地改善孩子們的生活質素，並幫助兒童在尊重他們權利及尊嚴的社會裡充分展現他們的潛能。

協會於50個發展中國家進行兒童發展計劃，服務遍及非洲、亞洲及美洲，並在全球21個國家及地區設立捐助辦事處。香港捐助辦事處於2009年7月成立，然而培幼會與香港的淵源可追溯至50年代，培幼會曾在這裡設立援助辦事處近15年。當時名為「Foster Parents Plan」的培幼會曾幫助近12,000名兒童及其家人，而大部分為來自中國大陸及鄰近地區的新移民。 
有關國際培幼會、其活動及公眾捐助方法，請瀏覽www.plan.org.hk。

發稿：Plan國際培幼會  　代行：一口田有限公司 
電話：3583 3100 　           傳真：3583 1331　　　　電郵：info@seedland.hk
有關傳媒查詢，請聯絡Mr. Robin Tang（3583 3233 或 robin@seedland.hk ）、Miss Heidi Lam（3583 3310或 heidi@seedland.hk ），或電郵至 plan@seedland.hk。
有關Plan國際培幼會的查詢，可致電Ms. Wendy Tsui（3405 5316）。

Press Release (For Immediate Release)                                 27th April 2014

Path to future success of ethnic minority children in China paved with the missionary footsteps of Hong Kong walkers at the Plan International Hong Kong Walk for Children

Photos: http://www.seedland.hk/press/plan/2014/10/
Press release: http://www.seedland.hk/press/plan/2014/10/Plan_WFC_Post_Event_E_final.doc

This year’s “Walk for Children” organised by Plan International Hong Kong has received tremendous responses from the community! With the support of nearly 1,000 enthusiastic participants, the Walk was officiated on 27th April 2014 at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade by Plan Ambassadors who took the very first steps to set the feet of ethnic minority children in Longde County, Ningxia Autonomous Region, China on the path to future success.

At 9am on 27th April 2014, Dr Royce Yuen, JP, Board Deputy Chairman, Plan International Hong Kong, Mr James Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong, Plan Ambassadors including renowned artistes Mr Alex Fong, Ms Stephy Tang and Ms Cindy Au, renowned film director and Ex-beneficiary of Plan Hong Kong, Mr Alfred Cheung, as well as two Plan “Because I am a Girl” Ambassadors Ms Christine Ma-Lau and Ms Lisa Cheng, gathered with the nearly 1,000 participants at West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade to kick off the Walk, through which they support the organisation’s educational programmes of improving the quality of pre-school education for children who study in an environment short of maintenance and materials in Ningxia, China.

As the light of dawn shed on the ground, the crowd, wearing the specially-designed T-shirts fully sponsored by SUGARMAN, headed off in good spirits onto the journey of love and enjoyed the refreshing atmosphere until they finally reached the destination’s end by 10:30 am. 

After all participants completed the route, the Award Presentation Ceremony then officially began. First came the passionate and inspirational drumming performance given by Ban’s Gig Drums to liven up the environment and Ban Leung, the founder of which is also an ex-beneficiary of Plan, then the children’s choir “Blessing Voices” from Dramatic English joined in to send love to underprivileged children living in faraway regions through their songs. Dr Royce Yuen, JP, Board Deputy Chairman, Plan International Hong Kong, said: “Stepping into the 3rd year of ‘Walk for Children’, I feel extremely delighted to see many of the familiar faces from past years as well as new participants this year. Your great effort today will directly help bringing ever-lasting improvements to the teaching environment in Ningxia Autonomous Region, China. This year, we have specially established the experiential zones to add to the meaning and creativity of the event. Through these activities, children will be able to learn how their counterparts in Ningxia cope with their daily challenges. I hope that everyone will enjoy this special Sunday and we look forward to seeing you again next year!”

At the closing ceremony, Mr James Murray first presented certificates of appreciation to Gold Sponsor, Bronze Sponsors, as well as to other supporting organisations and sponsors, and then presented a certificate of appreciation to Plan Ambassadors to thank them for their unconditional support. On that day, members of the public were joined by 11 corporate teams bidding for the Highest Team Participation award – in fact a group of Plan Hong Kong Ex-Beneficiaries “Friends of Plan” won the prize from the hands of Mr Alex Fong and Ms Stephy Tang with 120 members who have provided solid support for the NGOs activities. In the end, Plan also invited all of the officiating guests up to the stage for group photos, before the ceremony rounded up in great harmony.

On the other hand, many participants have already engaged themselves with the experiential activities specially designed by Plan. Inside the dark cargo container, adults and children wrote special wishes on cards using the stubby pencils provided and hung them on the Wishing Tree together. Other participants have also taken the challenges of activities such as “The Pebble Road”, “The Sloped Mountain Road”, “Carrying Buckets of Water” and “Taking Care of the Younger Siblings” in order to grasp a more concrete idea of the difficult lives of these poor children living in developing areas. During the activities, participants had to walk on the rocky, steep roads or carry heavy buckets or a 5 kilos puppet to experience travelling afar for a living while carrying their siblings. In addition, there was also entertainment such as face painting, performance by clowns and balloon making, with different booths for activities and charity sales rounding out the carnival with laughter.

The Walk is particularly meaningful not only because it has given parents and teachers a chance to educate their children about how to love and care for the world, but also because the funds raised by the Walk will be directly spent on bringing improvements to children and communities in rural Longde County. In Longde County, there are not enough professional preschool teachers and the teaching and learning environment is comparatively poor. While Plan has helped to build six public kindergartens during the past four years, the current preschool education services still cannot meet existing needs, causing an increasing amount of young children to drop out of school early in life.

Proceeds from the Walk will be used to improve the environment of four township-level kindergartens and four community child development networks, by providing education equipment and facilities, supplying nutrient-dense packets for 120 children aged between 6-36 months, conducting health education and training for 300 parents, and organising 20 teachers to visit the model kindergartens in Yinchuan City and learn new knowledge and teaching methods from external experts. As a whole, this will help them make the most of the next level of education and effectively save them from the cycles of poverty that has challenged their parents.

Supporting organisations of Plan International Hong Kong “Walk for Children” 2014

Gold Sponsor
Leighton-Gammon Joint Venture
Bronze Sponsors
Baker & McKenzie
KPMG

Official Tee Sponsor 
SUGARMAN
Photography Sponsors
mPowder
PASM

Sponsoring Organisations
a.jin
Bella Skin care Expert
D3 Gallery
Fung’s Kid
JEMS Learning House
Mother Care / Early Learning Centre
One Elite Children Group
Rosy Rain
Sense of Touch
Starbucks
VACA
Watsons Water

Media Sponsors
Yellow Bus EMAG
Yellow Bus Light Magazine

Acknowledgement
Baby Kingdom
City Bus / New Word First Bus Limited
Dragon Centre
My BB.com
The Star Ferry Company Limited
U Magazine

About Plan International Walk for Children
Begun in 2012, the Plan International Hong Kong “Walk for Children” is an annual event on the organisation’s calendar. . In 2014, the public has been invited to give their support to deprived children in Ningxia Region by participating in “Walk for Children” which was held in West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade on 27th April. Please visit Plan’s website (www.plan.org.hk) for more details.

About Plan International
With 77 years of history and headquartered in the UK, Plan International is one of the world’s leading development organisations focused specifically on children. Plan supports more than 1.5 million children and their families, and indirectly supports a further 9 million people living in sponsored communities. Programmes focus on making real, positive, and lasting improvements to quality of life in the areas of education, health, environment and livelihood, as well as helping children realise their full potential within societies that respect their rights and dignity.
Plan works in 50 developing nations across Africa, Asia and the Americas, and it operates fundraising offices in 21 countries. The Hong Kong fundraising office of Plan International opened in July 2009. However, Plan’s relationship with Hong Kong reaches much farther back, to the 1950s, when it operated a field office in the territory for some 15 years. During that time, and under the name “Foster Parents Plan”, it helped nearly 12,000 children and their families, mostly new migrants from the Mainland and around the region. More information on Plan International Hong Kong, including details on how to make a difference, can be found at www.plan.org.hk.

Released by: Seedland International Limited
On behalf of Plan International Hong Kong
Media enquiries: 
Tel: 3583 3100     Fax: 3583 1331     E-mail: plan@seedland.hk
Contact persons: Miss Heidi Lam (3583-3310) or Mr. Robin Tang (3583-3233)
Contact person of Plan International Hong Kong: Ms Wendy Tsui, Director, Marketing & Communications (3405 5316)

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