Written by Edwin Chung
Organised by Edwin Chung, Jones Chung, Dicky Kwok, Fan Tang, Mandy Tse, Priscilla Tsang (Group Leader) and Cicely Wong
The carnival was held in H.K.S.K.H. Lok Man Alice Kwok Integrated Service Centre on 31 May 2014. The aim of this activity was to enhance the communication between the elderly and teenagers through playing a number of games at different game stalls, letting them recall the life of old Hong Kong. In the activity, we arranged a break time for them to sit together, have some hot tea and snacks and chat and share with each other.
In the eyes of the younger generation, the elderly were always stereotyped as slow and old-fashioned. We were worried when we first knew that we had to organise activities for older adults as they would not be responsive. However, we found that the elderly were intellectually alert and energetic after the activity. When the elderly realised that we were not good at doing towel exercise, they taught us the skills to the exercise. This changed our perceptions — they were a lot quicker and more energetic than us.
During the graduation ceremony, the elderly thanked us for organising activities for them which gave them a memorable and nice summer. We felt a little guilty when they told me that because before we used to stereotype them as old-fashioned and always serious. We can’t believe that they enjoyed the activities so much.