Page 12 - Sphere No.10 (Dec 2003)

S PHERE
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a variety of volunteer programmes, the
Group HR Department reasoned that it,
too, could be of service. Since there is
strength in numbers and great value in
sharing knowledge, not only would the
volunteers be able to work more effective-
ly as a cohesive team, but the Company
might be able to offer them meaningful
encouragement and support.
Franco Ning, Project and Administration
Manager at YICT, was among the first to
join the HWL Volunteer Team. The 36-
year-old was already a seasoned participant,
having started as a YMCA volunteer when
he was still at school.
“Staff from different business units of
HWL who had been volunteers or wanted
to become volunteers were all brought
together,” he recalls. “We were all excited
and delighted to see we were not alone in
our efforts.”
They came from the far corners of the
Company and were able to meet each other
and compare notes. Before long, the volun-
teers got organised and went into action.
Instead of working alone and in a vacu-
um, they have been able to work in unison,
bringing a little bit of comfort to those
who need and appreciate it the most.
Since its informal establishment two
years ago the HWL Volunteer Team has
dedicated hundreds of hours to helping
those in need.
The volunteers identify people – or
groups of people – in need of friendship
or assistance; then they do what they can
to help.
Target groups have included children of
new immigrants, the elderly, terminally ill
patients and their families, children with
cancer or other life-threatening illnesses,
rehabilitating patients, long-stay elderly
patients, home-alone elderly and physically
handicapped children.
The volunteers have also organised vari-
ous group activities, including sports events,
birthday parties, carnivals and outings.
WIN WIN
Although Franco Ning has a young family
and is kept very busy in his job, he never-
theless treasures the time he spends doing
volunteer work.
“I have learned so much,” he says. “My
perspective has become more positive and
I value what I have. It helps you realise that
happiness is not a matter of course; there
are no guarantees.”
Angela Chiu, an Estate Manager at
HutchisonWhampoa Properties, is another
“pioneer” volunteer.The mother of a five-
year-old daughter, she joined up in 2001.
Like Franco, she believes that her work as
a volunteer has had an extremely positive
effect on her own life.
“What I gain is far more than I give,” she
says.“I feel my life is more meaningful and
my vision has been broadened. I cannot
forget the time I visited a sick woman in
hospital who was about 90 years old.
I found her concern was only for her chil-
dren instead of herself, even though she was
very sick. She forgot her pain when she
talked about her family. I learned to value
my happiness after that and I want to bring
happiness to others.”
Angela’s enthusiasm inspired some of
her colleagues to also join the HWL
Volunteer Team, which has grown to over
300 members.
“As a result, I found that we can coor-
dinate and communicate better than
before as we have built up closer relation-
ships beyond our routine jobs,” she says.
“I understand my colleagues better and
our team spirit has improved.”
As pioneers, Angela and Franco have
seen significant changes over the past two
years. With strong support from the
C O M M U N I T Y