Mr Paul Chan Mo-Po, Financial Secretary Cum Plan’s Ex-Beneficiary 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 is holding the 5th “Because I am a Girl – Donate a Pencil” campaign from 10 Oct – 22 Oct. This year, the event lasts 13 days and is held in 4 locations in Hong Kong.

Date: 10 – 22 Oct 2017

Venue: Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill (10 – 15 Oct), Lee Theatre, Causeway Bay (12 – 16 Oct), Telford Plaza 1, Kowloon Bay (17 – 22 Oct), Mega Mall Zone D, Tai Po (20 –22 Oct)

Opening Hours: 11 am – 9 pm

The donations raised will be used to fund Plan International’s girls’ work in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the pencil collected will be sent to children in Vietnam and Hong Kong via Silver Stationery Shop. The public can also make pencil donations via Plan International Hong Kong’s website. For each online donation (HK$60: 3 sets of pencils with a greeting card), Emperor Jewellery will make a matching donation of HK$60. Each year, around 15 million girls worldwide are forced into early marriage – the equivalent of one every 2 seconds – due to poverty, gender inequality and entrenched traditions. Plan International calls on the public to take action to support girls’ education and fight for girls’ rights.

Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary cum Ex-beneficiary of Plan International Hong Kong was the officiating guest of the opening ceremony at Plaza Hollywood on 10 Oct. Joined by Prof. Royce Yuen, JP, Board Deputy Chairman of Plan International Hong Kong, Ms. June Leung, Board Member of Plan International Hong Kong, Ms. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong and other guests, Mr. Chan presided over the ceremony by rotating the pencil props on the light box to show a photo of children who are excited to receive pencils, symbolizing the power of education in  transforming girls’ lives and the commencement of the event.

Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po (Middle), Prof. Royce Yuen (R3), Ms. June Leung (L2), Ms. Kanie Siu (R1) and other guests presided over the ceremony.

Mr.  Paul Chan Mo-po delivered a speech at the ceremony, “I was once sponsored by a US man and with his help, I could go to school and my life was improved. In the hope of helping more children achieve a better life, I have been sponsoring 5 children through Plan International Hong Kong. A little contribution can already bring positive changes in others’ lives. Let’s help girls in developing countries by giving them a chance to receive education.”

Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary cum Plan International Hong Kong’s ex-beneficiary attended the opening ceremony at Plaza Hollywood. He encouraged the public to donate pencils and support girls’ education.

Prof. Royce Yuen also gave a welcoming speech. He expressed gratitude for the public’s support and participation in the event, “Education is one of the most effective ways to protect girls against early marriage. Each year of secondary education may reduce the likelihood of marrying as a child by 5%. Yet, over the world 130 million girls are out of school today. I hope the public will support this pencil donation event to promote girls’ education, lifting more girls out of poverty.”

Mr. Paul Chan Mo-po has been sponsoring 5 children through Plan International Hong Kong in the hope of helping more children achieve a better life.

A sponsor of 11 children, Ms. June Leung urged the public to support the event. “With our help to support children to receive education, they will have the power to change for the betterment of societies.”

Since the launch of this yearly event, over 200,000 pencils were sent to children in China, Cambodia, Ghana, Nepal and Northern Thailand. The funds raised have been used to support our education and empowerment projects for girls in developing countries.

Last year, over 32,000 pencils were collected and sent to children in Cambodia. They were delighted to receive pencils from Hong Kong.

The 5th “Because I am a Girl – Donate a Pencil” campaign would not have been successful without the generous support from Emperor Watch and Jewellery, Beacon Group Holdings Limited, Lamma Rainbow, Faber-Castell, Plaza Hollywood, Lee Theatre, Telford Plaza, Mega Mall and other organizations.