OneSky Hikers – thank you so very much

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By Jenny Bowen, OneSky Founder & CEO

At OneSky we often talk about changing young lives, “one child at a time”.

It’s an absolutely accurate statement. In order to reach young children at a very young age, you have to be able to build a relationship with them. That can only be achieved individually between the caregiver and the child.

It’s at the heart of everything we do. It is, in essence, the OneSky Approach, that focuses on human beings and relies on skilled and loving human interaction between children and those who care for them.

Likewise in order to make this happen, we need to reach out to friends. We need to explain what we do and hope you are as inspired by our work as we are.

It’s YOUR support that enables us to give child after child a future. Together we can provide a start in life that can never be taken away.

And that support grows, “one friend at a time”. We’ve seen it played out over recent months ahead of the hike. It’s been a hard year for Hong Kong, it was easy to briefly imagine that our own cause could be overlooked.

But hiker after hiker signed up. Whole groups joined the cause. Then on Sunday, there you all were – over 400 friends of all ages, enjoying a beautiful day in the sunshine. Each of you wanting to play your part in helping young and vulnerable children throughout Asia.

Step by step through Hong Kong’s beautiful trails you were there for us. Our OneSky family.

Hong Kong is set to play a major role in OneSky’s future. We are excited that the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development will open in Sham Shui Po next year. There will be a Family Centre and an Early Learning Hub offering high-quality care for children at risk. These children will be Hong Kong’s future. We will also train trainers from across the region and build educational resources that will benefit thousands more children.

None of this happens by accident. It takes vision and long term commitments from amazing staff. Most importantly, it takes people who believe in what we do.

Thank you for believing. Together we can achieve so much more.

One Hike for OneSky THIS Sunday!

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TEN Things you need to know before you set off

We are promised a beautiful day. Middle twenties centigrade, low humidity and the sun shining – it’s going to be a fantastic event.
Here’s what you need to know…

1. Please wear your OneSky t-shirt.

2. Bring your own container and drinks – there is a refill station but not until the finishing line on Shatin Pass Road.

3. Please respect the environment and try and keep any waste to a minimum, dispose of trash responsibility, there will be bins at the finish line.

4. You will also find a First Aid station at the finish line.

5. Participants are responsible for their own belongings – please don’t bring valuables!

6. Know your transportation details in advance and please arrive ON TIME!

7. Please be aware that parking is not available at the starting and finishing points of the trails. Please use public transport.

8. If you’d like to share pictures from the hike on social media – please use the hashtag #OneSkyHike

9. Don’t worry! As long as you keep your wits about you, you can’t get lost. There will be around 40 experienced marshals along both the 7.7 km and 10.5 km trails.

10. Most important of all. Have fun and please, take a moment to remember the children your efforts will help. You are improving young lives. Thank you so very much.

Links:

Hike Information
FAQ
Trails
What you are helping OneSky do.

Why I Love The OneSky Hike – It Teaches My Kids Compassion!

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The year’s One Hike for OneSky on November 10, will be Bill Quarless’s fifth, he explains what makes it such an important event for him.

“We love supporting OneSky and the great work the organisation does. We are very happy to play our small part to support the critical work that OneSky does nurturing and caring for the most vulnerable children.

“I especially like the charity hike because I do it with my family and my entire company. My young children understand why we are doing this and I use the event as an opportunity to teach them compassion and giving. My staff are also always eager to participate and give back as a team. We have a friendly fundraising competition with the winner getting a prize and the company matching all the funds raised.”

“I’m usually pretty slow – thanks to the five and six-year-old but generally we all finish as a team. That’s one of the good things about the walk – there are different options that suit all fitness levels. But whatever option you choose, the finish line is an accomplishment – even more so knowing that you’ve achieved something worthwhile as a group. It’s a great day and a fantastic cause.” 

Bill Quarless is the President & CEO of Impact Products.

 

Join us on Sunday, 10 November 2019, for our 9th Annual OneSky Charity Hike

at the beautiful MacLehose Trail in Hong Kong.

 

One Hike for OneSky – SIGN UP TODAY!

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Join us on Sunday, 10 November 2019, for our 9th Annual OneSky Charity Hike at the beautiful MacLehose Trail in Hong Kong.

Since 2011, One Hike for OneSky has raised crucial funds, making it possible to train hundreds of caregivers in best practices for providing essential nurturing care, impacting tens of thousands of left-behind children.

SIGN UP TODAY. 

Proceeds of this year’s hike will go towards building a better future for the disadvantaged children of Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. With your support and in collaboration with a caring community, OneSky is putting to work lessons learned during 20 years of early intervention to benefit young children at risk, and create the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development.

Three different trails (of 3.8 km, 7.7 km and 10.5 km) are geared to different skill levels. So, whether a beginner or an advanced hiker, there is something for everyone. Don’t miss this special day!

Event time: 10:30am – 2:30pm 　

Since 2011, the OneSky Charity Hike has raised over HK$8 million through generous individuals and corporate sponsors, and the number of hikers is growing every year!

The funds raised at the hike make it possible for us to train caregivers in our time-tested OneSky Approach across China and Vietnam, as well as support the P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development in Hong Kong. Your participation will also provide help for the young, at-risk children we serve. Enjoy a day to remember AND change lives!

Enrollment

Enrollment for all trails: Participation Fee + Minimum Fundraising Amount

Each enrolled participant will receive an activity pack on a first-come-first-served basis, including a T-shirt and a souvenir, and an official OneSky e-Certificate of Appreciation and a medal at the end of the hike.

Early-bird deadline: 20 September 2019 (Friday)

Standard registration deadline: 25 October 2019 (Friday)

Minimum fundraising deadline: 1 November 2019 (Friday)

Spots available: 600 participants

Please visit One Hike for OneSky 2019 to sign up or email hike@onesky.org for more details!

SAVE THE DATE: The OneSky Hong Kong Charity Hike

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OneSky’s Hong Kong Charity Hike will take place this year on Sunday, November 10, 2019.

The hike has become an unmissable annual event since first taking place in 2011. Walkers can choose one of three beautiful routes of varying difficulty (3.8 km, 7.7 km and 10.5 km) through Hong Kong’s beautiful trails.

Enter as an individual, as a family or with a team.

All the money you raise will help vulnerable young children across Asia. For the first time, this includes Hong Kong with the opening of the P.C. Lee OneSky Global Center for Early Childhood Development later this year.

Keep watching this website and OneSky’s Hong Kong Facebook page for details of how to register and get ready for the race. In the meantime, TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW and make sure you SAVE THE DATE!

You can enjoy a day to remember AND change lives. Your participation means OneSky can help children who vitally need our support. Find out more about OneSky’s work here.

If you have any questions or would like to be a corporate sponsor, please email hike@onesky.org

 

 

 

An Evening Filled With Bright Stars for OneSky’s Annual Gala

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“Hong Kong for All Children” – that was the theme of OneSky’s 2019 gala.

The event marked a major milestone year for the NGO, as it prepares to open the P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.

CEO and Founder Jenny Bowen gave a keynote address welcoming friends and guests, thanking them for their continued support and generosity. Speaking from her heart, she shared stories of young children whose lives have been transformed to date through OneSky programs in China, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

The OneSky Hong Kong Gala combines an evening of entertainment with the goal of raising vital funds to deliver support to young children across all OneSky’s programs.

This landmark year, OneSky brings its mission to Hong Kong to help the city’s “hidden children”, growing up in low-income communities and living in the shadows of the city’s skyline. OneSky is working closely with government and key stakeholders in sharing best practice on Early Learning Childhood Development, and establishing a centre to support children and their families, through a local Community Drop-in Centre.

In providing facilities to train caregivers across programs in the Asia Pacific region, OneSky’s vision is to reach thousands more children through the Centre – including those closest to home, in Hong Kong.

Chloe Taylor, Chief Engagement Officer for OneSky, said:

“It’s an inspirational cause and a fantastic event. We get to enjoy an evening with familiar faces and friends of OneSky and have the opportunity to tell OneSky’s story to new friends who, we hope, will want to get more involved. This event is all about the children.”

Chloe also paid tribute to the many people who came together to make the event happen.

She added:

“The event is the culmination of so much hard work and generosity. OneSky is blessed to have so many good friends”.

An incredible variety of prizes were on offer for live and silent auctions, generously donated by a number of key sponsors.

Guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment emceed by journalist and international broadcaster Karen Koh (pictured below). She was joined by dancer and OneSky Alumni, Wei Dongwen (pictured above top).

Dongwen is an accomplished professional dancer and choreographer and was raised in Hefei City Children’s Welfare Institute, in China, where she benefitted from OneSky’s Little Sisters program. Born with severe hearing and speaking impairments she relies on vibrations from music to dance.

 

PHOTOS: Meet the children who’ll be our future

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For the past two years, Richard Bowen has been taking photos across Asia. His aim wasn’t only to capture the vulnerability of disadvantaged children, but also the hope.

Called “Meet the Future”, Richard’s photos are set to be exhibited at the Rotunda in Exchange Square in Central Hong Kong from May 14 – May 21. Richard is a former cinematographer who later established children’s charity OneSky with his wife Jenny Bowen.

To mark the occasion we’ve asked Richard to choose a handful of his images and explain why he chose them.


“This photo is of a Vietnamese factory worker proudly showing off her daughter in their tiny living quarters. Unlike China’s left-behind children, Vietnamese usually take their children with them when they migrate to the big city. Yet they often don’t have the time or resources to provide for their children’s care during long work days.

“I was deeply touched by how this mom gives all she can and has such high hopes for her child, despite their many obstacles.”

“This photo was taken in a village outside Dhaka, Bangladesh. Big Brother looks after his little brother most days while his parents work in the fields. Sibling care is so common throughout rural Asia, and the bond is usually strong and touching, but, it’s easy to forget this arrangement potentially deprives both children of the stimulation and care they need to develop fully. The big spot on this baby’s forehead is a mark painted on for good luck – it’s common among many Bangladeshi infants.”

“This photo was taken inside a ‘ger’ or ‘yurt’ in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Like many Mongolian children I photographed, this boy spends his days locked inside watching TV while his parents work. His parents are unable to earn enough for any sort childcare. I was shaken by how dazed and vacant this child was, spending his days with no stimulation as if he was in a prison.“

“This girl was ‘left behind’ by her parents in a poor Chinese village. Her grandma was busy with the harvest and I watched her playing alone in a yard full of corn. I was amazed by her inventiveness. She was clearly so bright. It seemed to me that her potential was unlimited so long as her development wasn’t stalled by her circumstances.”

OneSky is about to open a new centre in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district this summer. The P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development will support local families and children providing Early Learning facilities and a Community Drop in Centre, impacting the lives of over 3,500 Hong Kong children every year.

 The centre will also be a hub for training and advocacy work across Asia – putting Hong Kong at the forefront of efforts to provide assistance to very young vulnerable children.

The exhibition is free and open to all.

Hong Kong Photo Exhibition – Meet the Future

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May 14 to 21, 2019. Rotunda, 1 Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong.

These vulnerable children are our future and we can start to shape it by giving them the help they need – that’s the theme behind an upcoming Hong Kong photo exhibition.

Called “Meet the Future”, the pictures are by Richard Bowen. The former Hollywood cinematographer has spent the last 20 years working with his wife Jenny, setting up and establishing children’s charity OneSky. OneSky focuses on the early years of very vulnerable children – in particular, helping those without parents or whose contact with parents is limited.

OneSky is about to open a new centre in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district this summer. The P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development will support local families and children providing Early Learning facilities and a Community Drop in Centre, impacting the lives of over 3,500 Hong Kong children every year.

Richard explained:

“I felt it was important, as the centre begins its work, to go beyond the statistics that move us to act and start ‘meeting’ the kids and seeing for ourselves the worlds they’re growing up in.

“In addition to serving disadvantaged children in Sham Shui Po, the centre will also be a training and advocacy hub that will allow us to impact the lives of disadvantaged children all over Asia. While OneSky’s work can be scaled up to meet this huge need, transformations only happen one child at a time and so that’s how OneSky works. Portraits of individual children was the obvious photographic project.”

Precious yet vulnerable

The colour photographs, taken by Richard over the past two years, show the spirit of precious, yet vulnerable, children in China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Bangladesh.

Richard adds:

“Neglect, abandonment and extreme poverty are, of course, central to the story of many of these children’s lives. But I constantly met loving parents and caregivers forced to fully focus on the daily struggle to survive. Having seen OneSky working in similar environments, I know that there is so much that can be done, either directly with the children or indirectly through their parents, to ensure these children have the chance to reach their potential. These children are the future of our world – we cannot afford to write them off. ”

The exhibition is free and open to all.

How a Hong Kong architect is building a future for vulnerable children

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Despite decades of growth, architect Vicky Chan believes Hong Kong is more divided than ever. Now, with a design for OneSky, he’s trying to help close the gap between rich and poor.

In autumn 2018, OneSky announced plans to build the OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development (OSGC) in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district, within walking distance of government-subsidised housing estates and subdivided flats.

The architect charged with making that center a reality is Vicky Chan, founder of Avoid Obvious Architects. His design needed to maximise space for more than 160 of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable children, while also making OSCG a world-class hub for early education, nurture and caregiver training.

“The aim is for everyone to learn from each other within the space,” says Vicky. “The building actually has its own influence on the interaction between children, caregivers and parents. The design allows sunlight to penetrate deep into the building. But that same transparency also supports the differing needs of teachers, parents and children.”

New arrivals to Hong Kong suffer a poverty rate of some 30 percent, compared to around 15 percent for existing residents. For many newcomers, without extended family and often unable to speak the local languages, it can be a lonely existence.

“OneSky wanted a children’s centre that is also a community center,” explains Vicky. OneSky will offer family skills training, but introducing recent arrivals to a new community is just as important. “We needed a flexible building”.

OneSky believes the right start can ensure children reach their full potential. A child who develops, learns to form relationships and has a sense of self-worth can eventually give back to a community. On a grand scale, OneSky believes an investment in our forgotten children could even save our world.

But how can a building in Hong Kong turnaround the lives of children?

“In Hong Kong we see luxury towers directly next to subdivided flats,” says Vicky. “We are becoming more and more divided along financial, housing and racial lines. This city was a melting pot whose strength was its willingness to adapt, but we’re slowly losing that.

“I think a centre offering quality care and education to children from vulnerable situations helps Hong Kong. It can also be a part of how this city remains relevant and sustainable at a global level.

“The sense of purpose and pride is keeping my team focussed,” he says. “We want to make a difference with OneSky.”

The OneSky Global Center for Early Childhood Development is due to open in July 2019.

This Hong Kong singer said no to wedding gifts – she wanted donations to help children instead

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When singer and internet star Robynn was planning her dream wedding with her future husband Jonathan they were determined to share their love with those less fortunate.

So they turned to OneSky.

OneSky helps bring love to the world’s most vulnerable children. By training communities and caregivers to provide nurturing responsive care, OneSky shows children that their lives matter, helping them meet their full potential.

For children – love, laughing, learning and having fun – can be the difference between natural happy progress and delayed development.

With this in mind, Robynn and Jonathan requested that instead of wedding gifts, guests could instead donate to OneSky, via the Two Presents platform. Their incredible gesture raised HK$14,482.

Could you follow Robynn’s lead and share your special day with OneSky? Find out how.

Robynn is half of Canto-pop duo Robynn & Kendy who first came to prominence with a huge internet following before being signed by Universal Music.

“For this amazing couple to share their love and good fortune with young children born with so very little, speaks volumes about them, said OneSky Director of Development Susanna Lee. “And what could be more perfect – celebrating their own bond by helping provide the loving care that so many children still need. We can’t thank them both enough. They are an inspiration”.

OneSky is scheduled to open its Global Centre for Early Childhood Development in Hong Kong later this year. The centre will be a world-class hub for quality early education and nurture and caregiver training.

It will also provide science-based early nurturing and education in an inclusive, multicultural setting for 166 local children aged up to six, each year. The 16,000 square feet space is located in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district, within walking distance of government-subsidized housing estates and subdivided flats.

OneSky sends best wishes to Robynn and Jonathan and our gratitude for their wonderfully generous wedding gift!