Plan International Encourages Public to Donate Pencils and Support Girls’ Education

To celebrate the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child on 11 Oct, Plan International Hong Kong holds the 6th Donate a Pencil Campaign from 11 Oct – 21 Oct. The public is invited to donate new pencils or purchase pencils on site (HK$20 per pack).

Venue: Maritime Square, Tsing Yi (11 – 14 Oct), City Walk 2, Tsuen Wan (11 – 15 Oct), PopCorn, Tseung Kwan O (13 – 17 Oct), TMT Plaza, Tuen Mun (17 –21 Oct)

Opening Hours: 11 am – 9 pm (11am – 7 pm for TMT Plaza)

The Opening Ceremony of the event was held successfully at City Walk 2 on 11 Oct. Prof. Royce Yuen, JP, Board Deputy Chairman of Plan International Hong Kong, Mr. Ralph Szeto, Board Member of Plan International Hong Kong, Dr. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong and other guests attended and presided over the ceremony by placing the pencil props into a light box. The “school door” on the lightbox then opened and showed a photo of girls studying in a classroom, signifying our support for girls’ education.

Prof. Royce Yuen (R4), JP, Board Deputy Chairman of Plan International Hong Kong, Mr. Ralph Szeto (L2), Board Member of Plan International Hong Kong, Dr. Kanie Siu (R1), Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong and other guests raised their right hands, signifying their support for girls’ education.

Prof. Royce Yuen expressed gratitude for the public’s support and participation in the event, “The support we received for the past five years was overwhelming. Over 230,000 pencils were collected and the funds raised were used to support our projects in developing countries to promote girls’ rights. I hope the public will continue to support Donate a Pencil Campaign so that more girls can receive education, a powerful tool to lessen their chances of becoming victims of child marriage.”

Plan International calls for public support for Donate a Pencil Campaign. By donating pencils, citizens help girls to stay in school.

“Poverty denies child brides their rights to make vital life choices, and they have to face the unbearable consequences.” Dr. Kanie Siu told the stories of three child brides she met during her recent visit to Cambodia. “Kom Blang wedded to a man who is 23 years older than her, and she was frequently beat and raped. Pa Lak married at 16, and lost her first born baby girl. To support the family, Sangorn had to quit school and get married.”

Earlier on, Dr. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong visited Sangorn, one of the child brides in Cambodia. She fought for her right to education but had to bow to pressure to get married at a young age.

Pencils collected this year will be sent to children in Cambodia and Hong Kong (via Silver Stationery Shop). The funds raised will be used to build a primary school and support our anti-child marriage project in Cambodia. To address the issue of child marriage and eventually put an end to it, Plan International sets up a Child Club which invites children and young people, teachers, police as well as village committees to regularly come together to discuss the impacts and solutions of dropping out and child marriage, and also to promote sexual and reproductive health education.

Pencils collected last year were sent to children in Vietnam.

The 6th Donate a Pencil Campaign would not have been successful without the generous support from Emperor Jewellery, Angel Tong (International) Holdings Limited, Beacon Group, ECCO Shoes, Faber-Castell, venue sponsors, media sponsors, and supporting organisations.