Connecting people in a worldof need

JP Morgan partnership & fresh fish traders school

He is a Hong Kong legend. Poverty forced Leung Kee Cheong to drop out of school at 13 and left him with a passion to see quality education given to children in economic need.

Being poor is not a crime, he believes, but refusing to reverse it is. Heis proof of concept. After later qualifying as a teacher, he worked with Hong Kong’s Education Department and, in time, was offered the top job at an elite school. Instead, he took the principal role at theFresh Fish Traders’ School: one started by the Kowloon Fish Traders Association for their children. It is one of Hong Kong’s poorest schools and risked closure until Mr Leung took over.

Today, it thrives, primarily because of its principal and his understanding of his students’ needs. “Children love playing, eating and being loved,” he says.

He makes all three happen in his school. His education methods are fun, using creative lessons to help children grasp information and stay motivated. He ensures they have enough to eat through a food bank he has opened on site to help both the children and their families. His personal care is boundless. His goal is to know each one by name and to visit their families, where possible, to offer support. The door of his office is always open and, inside, students find toys, snacks and a listening ear.

So, when JP Morgan offered Crossroads computers, we immediately thought of this school. Wonderfully, the finance company added to their donation the money needed for computer refurbishment and the volunteer labour to undertake it. We gave both desktops and laptops to the school, glad to support Leung Kee Cheong in his mission to help create leaders for Hong Kong’s next generation.

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Vietnam: Computers for children

Vietnam_kids_on_the_floor At just 5 years old, Khang*, of Vietnam, had almost no way to ‘make it’ with the options life had left him.

Khang’s father had died in prison: a concept that, at 5, he could hardly understand. He and his mother lived on the streets where she, through prostitution, had tried to earn enough to take care of him. Eventually, though, she found life overwhelming and abandoned Khang.

The little boy ended up in the care of a charity that provides shelter for young ones in crisis. Crossroads shipped a container to the charity that runs Khang’s home, including goods like computers, school supplies and clothes. His ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ in the home are there because their parents, too, cannot take care of them. They may be drug addicts, homeless or simply too poor to manage another mouth to feed.

“We encourage these kids to dream big!” NGO staff member, Vietnam

Each one of the children’s backgrounds is a tragedy. Amazingly, though, their future has been redeemed. “We encourage these kids to dream big,” said one of the staff, perhaps because nobody else has told them they can.

Khang, now 15, wants to be an accountant and work for an international bank. Living on the streets with his mother, it’s unlikely he would ever have gone to school, or even survived. Today, though, Khang has every chance of achieving his dream!

The children receive a golden opportunity twice a week: computer classes, where they learn the sorts of skills that their wealthier schoolmates take for granted. The computers they use are laptops from the shipment we sent last year, as are the desks they sit at!

It’s a privilege to partner with NGOs like this one in Vietnam, who are actively working to fight poverty and change the futures of children in need.

*Name changed

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Microsoft Brings New Technology to Nepalese Communities

Nepalese_woman_cleaning_rise When Anu’s family fell on hard times, they were forced to pull her out of school. It was a harsh blow for this Nepalese village family, who knew the young girl had huge potential, but they simply couldn’t afford to pay her fees.

Hope finally came to town in the form of an NGO who opened an innovative kindergarten for impoverished families, and they employed Anu’s mother. It brought in enough extra income for Anu to re-enrol in school and finish a high quality education. Today, instead of expecting a lifetime of poverty, Anu has plans to study further and become a civil engineer.

Engagement strategist for Crossroads’ Global Hand, Eric, met Anu when he visited Nepal this year with a Microsoft representative. Microsoft Hong Kong has been designing a project for villages like Anu’s, building computer labs in schools where there are none.

Microsoft Nepal 2 The partnership with Microsoft was born when they organised a team day of landscaping and manual work at Crossroads’ site, but weren’t content simply to use their muscle for us! They wanted to use their core strengths but consulted Crossroads for guidance on NGOs who needed their help and how to go about it.

Crossroads worked closely with Microsoft to find partners in Nepal that desperately wanted computers and could use them strategically for the poor. Today, Microsoft is in the final stages of establishing two computer labs in poor communities, and would love to do more.

Can we help your company connect with NGOs that need your help? Email engagement@crossroads.org.hk to talk!

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Cameroon: Crossroads computers open new technology centre

Amina (below) was only 13 years old when she was raped and fell pregnant to her attacker. Her family rejected her and she had no way to support her child. Even finding clothes for the baby was beyond her.

Thankfully, an NGO met Amina and took her into their programmes. They found her a home, and gave her clothes for her and her baby, but they knew her most important need was for a way to fund her future.

“She could hardly read or write,” they said, “but now she is registered with our training centre and is learning how to sew.” With these skills, Amina has the chance to make a real life for herself and her child.

When the NGO that helped Amina requested a shipment from Crossroads, they told us that building a computer centre to serve the area’s children and vulnerable women like Amina was high on their list of priorities.

“Without some kind of training or job skills, many single mothers can’t support their families at all,” they said.”We also help keep orphans in school by sponsoring their education, helping them with uniforms, school supplies and so on.”

When Crossroads’ shipment arrived, even torrential tropical rains couldn’t hold back their eagerness to start using the goods immediately! “The heavy rains have disturbed our distribution, but we have started some programmes already,” they wrote.

“With the computers, we are running women and kids for our school,” they told us. “Many of the kids have never seen a computer before and they are so excited to work on them!”

Stationery, toys and school bags were also received with excitement (above), to distribute to children affected by HIV/Aids who frequently drop out of school because they can’t afford fees, supplies and uniforms!

We’re grateful to shipping company Maersk, who generously sponsored this shipment.

Want to sponsor an international shipment?

We have several international shipments ready to set sail and waiting for sponsors! Your company, club, organisation or family can make a shipment happen.

Email us at partnerships@crossroads.org.hk for a list of partnership opportunities.

Give Now!

Donate to a shipment like this one.

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Cameroon Snapshot

Population: 22.25 million

Capital: Yaoundé

Cameroon is in the west Central Africa region, with natural features including beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas.

Although the country as a whole has improved standards of literacy and healthcare, there is still a long way to go. Less than half of children go on to secondary education, and over 40% are involved in some kind of child labour. In rural areas, less than half the population has access to clean water and sanitation.

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