Audit volunteers fostered inter-generation harmony through elderly service

On the afternoon of 8 June (Saturday) this year, around a dozen volunteers from the Audit Commission (Audit), including its staff and their family members, joined hands with members of the Hong Kong Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied (PHAB) Association to bring fun and warmth to nearly 30 members of the Stanley Shek O Neighbourhood Elderly Centre through inter-generation games and activities.

The participants gathered at the Stanley Community Hall, where the event took off to a melodious start with an instrument recital by young volunteers of Audit.  The Audit volunteer team put in a lot of thoughts and efforts in offering a combination of both active and relaxed interactive sessions to the elderly, including a game session, in which the senior participants demonstrated their vigor and energy, and a sharing session, where the volunteers and the elderly shared their recent happy moments, empowering one another with positivity.  Another highlight of the event was a tour around Stanley guided by the elderly participants.  It was the seniors’ turn to play host as they led the volunteers on a walk along the streets and alleys of Stanley to learn about the history and development of the neighbourhood.  It was indeed a Saturday afternoon well spent.

An Audit volunteer opined that the generation-spanning voluntary service event encouraged exchanges among the elderly, middle-aged, youngsters and children.  It came as an opportunity for the senior members of the society to build self-worth, and at the same time, for the young to benefit from the seniors’ valuable life experience, and hence would cultivate virtues of honouring and caring for the elderly, and foster harmony and mutual respect among generations.

The event also fitted into the policy framework of “active ageing” advocated by the World Health Organization, which upheld that the senior population should be ensured a healthy and safe old age and be encouraged to take an active part in the society in different ways.  On top of providing the elderly with a “sense of security” – making them feel secure with their basic necessities taken care of – we should make effort in nurturing their “sense of belonging” to both their families and the society, as well as their “sense of worthiness” by encouraging personal enrichment and contribution to the community.  Audit would, as always, continue to support voluntary services for the elderly and encourage colleagues to care for the seniors around them.  Hand in hand, we would pass along the spirit of mutual help and build a community of harmony and integration.

The seniors enjoyed themselves in the game session,
which was a fun challenge to both the mind and the body.

In the sharing session, a senior participant wished everyone around good health and happiness.

Audit staff took their children to the voluntary service event. Through music, the young volunteers
made an instant connection with the elderly and set a happy tone for the day.

The event served its purpose of promoting cross-generation interaction and
enhancing understanding and care between the old and the young.

From the guided tour led by the elderly participants, Audit volunteers – both our colleagues
and their children – learned a lot about the history and architecture of Stanley.

The Audit volunteer team and members of both the Hong Kong PHAB Association and
the Stanley Shek O Neighbourhood Elderly Centre posed for a photo.