As the saying goes, ”Happiness is not inevitable”. Voluntary services give us the opportunity to reach out to children, teenagers, the elderly, the disabled and the general public and better understand their needs. We strongly believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Showing love and care to those in need and seeing their smiling faces are meaningful and invaluable to the volunteers. With the helping hands from the volunteers, one will never walk alone – even if the road ahead is challenging.

Over the years, CEDVT has diversified its volunteer services and organised activities with different charities across Hong Kong to support those in need. Through these events, we are able to see things from another person’s perspective, and learn to cherish things which may have seemed trivial in the past, but were indeed quite significant. From time to time, volunteers visit the elderly homes and give them impressive performances. The elderly enjoy the festive atmosphere, surrounded by love and blessings from one another. In addition, CEDVT provides logistic support at major fundraising activities, such as the Oxfam Trailwalker and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. CEDVT also helps the ethnic minorities to better integrate into society and assists a local university in an eye care programme for children. Being a volunteer is not only an incredible experience on its own but can also encourage family members and friends around to join and share the satisfaction from helping others.

In 2018, CEDVT worked with a charitable organisation, the Little Life Warrior Society (LLWS), at two events. The first event was “Walk for Love: Towards Life’s Rainbow”, a fundraising walkathon for child patients and the other was the “Customs and Excise Christmas Children’s Party”, in which “Little Warriors” were invited to be the guest singers. LLWS, comprises child patients and ex-patients, parents and medical staff, aims at improving the services provided to the child patients and their welfare. CEDVT gave them support and encouragement through different activities. The unyielding spirit of the “Little Warriors” reminds us to stay strong even in adverse circumstances. With the encouragement and support from the volunteers, the dawn will come no matter how dark the night is.

CEDVT received a certificate from the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law Chi-kong (seventh right) at the Awards Ceremony in appreciation of their support and participation in the “CUHK Jockey Club Children Eye Care Programme”.

CEDVT will continue to promote volunteerism and contribute to the community actively. We hope that more people will join the voluntary work and spread the spirit of love to those in need in our society. A volunteer once said, “Volunteers use their life experience to influence others. It is a blessing if you are able to help other people flourish.”