Paul Visited Former Sponsor in the USA Four Times to Express Gratefulness
Not long ago, Mr. Anthony Wong, the Hong Kong Film Awards Best Male Leading Actor reconnected with his two half-brothers overseas via an internet search. He exclaimed, “Amazing, impossible and miraculous”. In a niche of Hong Kong has another story of a former sponsored child, our current Financial Secretary, Mr. Paul Chan. He also tastes this exhilarating experience of connecting with “foreign relatives”.
In the stagnant economy in the 50s, people had to make ends meet with scarce resources. Having a lodge with daily meals was considered fortunate. Paul spent his childhood in the wood-hut squatter in Tai Hang Sai, Kowloon. With the help of Plan International, Mr. Bruce Brown from the USA became his sponsor providing a few US dollars per month. “It was a tremendous help to me and my family.” Paul can no longer hold his feelings back remembering those days.
An Impoverished Child Showered with the Blessing of Sponsorship
On top of financial assistance, Paul and Bruce wrote back and forth to ask about each other every month. Time has washed off little details form memories, but Paul treasures having his first watch bought with Bruce’s sponsorship. “It is a pity that it was lost along with my home in a fire.”
A social worker from Plan International suggested Paul’s father to place him in a different learning environment offered in another school. “I am grateful to my committed teachers and helpful classmates.” Paul began to advance academically all the way to attain a Master’s degree in Business Management from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Paul came from an underprivileged family. It was for the kindness of his sponsor through Plan International that his livelihood and study environment improved.
Warm “Family” Time in Visits to The Sponsor
Paul’s family was allotted a government-subsidized flat and their livelihood was improved; therefore, the sponsorship stopped. Along with the retreatment of Plan International in 1973, Paul lost contacts with Bruce. Although the sponsorship only lasted for two years, he rekindles Bruce’s gracious act deep in his heart.
As Plan International re-established office in Hong Kong in 2009, Paul was able to reconnect with Bruce at once through the organisation. He took his wife and a daughter with him to visit Bruce in Washington D. C. in 2010. “It was a memorable scene that a couple in their 80s received us with my nameplate at the airport.” Paul smiled at it, “Bruce and his wife were anxious because they were not sure if I could understand English.”
Paul re-connected with Bruce in 2009 through Plan International. He visited him in Washington D. C. with his wife and daughter for the first time in 2010.
Sponsors’ Decision to Support Despite Own Financial Burdens
Paul and his family stayed with Bruce for 3 days. Meals, chats, sight-seeing made this short stay a blissful time. Paul recounted, “Bruce learned from the newspaper that a few American dollars were a significant help for a child. Shouldering a family of four, and not being very rich themselves, he and his wife still went ahead with child sponsorship. I was their first sponsored child. Until when I visited them, they were continuing this philanthropic act.”
This visit deepened ties between the two families. Paul visited Bruce again in 2013, 2015 and 2017 albeit hefty workload, sometimes with his children, too. They catch up taking chances of Bruce’s visits to Hong Kong. It always feels like family reunions. “My daughter also visited Bruce when she pursued studies in the States, while Bruce and I do FaceTime communication all the time. Other than that, he shares with me when he got news about Hong Kong.”
Ain’t No Small Matters
Because someone once extended a helping hand to support Paul during his growth, and with his own perseverance, Paul is now serving society in various roles. Paul has taken after this benevolent spirit to sponsor five children for eight years already. “This is instinctual as I am inspired by how every bit of help and concerns counts a great deal to children living in harsh environments.”
Paul sponsors five children from developing countries through Plan International. This is a photo of him writing them well-wish cards for the Chinese New Year.
Paul actively participates in activities by the Plan International despite his demanding schedule.
Paul makes time for “meaningful small things” from hectic schedules. “I was on a taxi ride one day. From my conversation with the driver, I knew about his son’s difficulties looking for a summer job. I gave him my name card and offered that his son may contact me as I was working in an accounting firm…Having been helped by quite some kindhearted people, I understand small acts can impact greatly on the needy.” Paul shared a serious thought, “just as if having a friend in trouble and distress. Even if material help is impossible, genuine care may pull him back from the verge of irreversible outcomes.”
He quoted Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do something with great love! Nothing is too small. We have plenty of opportunities to help and engage people.”
Paul and other former sponsored children at Plan International activities.
*Over the years, Plan International has been committed to promoting children’s rights around the world. Our development projects and donation models have evolved over time. This story is part of our history and evolution and does not reflect our current development projects and donation models.
