Providing Underprivileged Children a Chance to Play
The Typhoons’ association with SoCO (Society for Community Organization) will continue again this coming season. The program introduces the sport of ice hockey to kids that do not have the means to play. Through corporate and private sponsorship and fundraising activities such as our annual Skate-A-Thon, we are able to offer this opportunity to children to play the game and interact with other children. We are proud to host a programme which allows these children to take part in an environment that promotes personal development, self-confidence, goal-setting, and teamwork.
This year, Mr. Lawrence Ho and his company Melco were our title sponsors for the SoCo programme. Without their support, it would have been difficult to maintain or further develop this worthwhile programme.
This coming year, our SoCo program will have 20 girls and boys playing hockey on teams in the league, with all registrations fees, equipment, and expenses covered by the club. In November of 2008, we held our first open skating session at Dragon Centre Skyrink for over 40 kids from the SoCO organization. From this and other subsequent sessions, 7 children were chosen to get private coaching and enter the Atom/Minisquirt division of our league at The Rink at Elements.
According to statistics released last year, 30% of Hong Kong children are living below the poverty line. Some young children even need to pick up cardboard on the streets to sell in order to earn a living. Not only do a startling amount of children go through their childhoods without much chance for advancement and opportunity, they also must forego extra-curricular activities due to financial issues. Very few of these children have the opportunity to play team sports and be a part of something as unique in Hong Kong as ice hockey. Sponsorship from our title sponsor, Melco, as well as our team sponsors and all those who donate to our programme, provide these children with a special opportunity.
Three years ago, the Typhoons approached SoCO and offered to provide training and sponsorship to underprivileged children to play ice hockey. These children come from low income or CSSA or single parent families. The programme has helped to boost their self-confidence and widen their vision. On behalf of the underprivileged children, SoCO would like to express our heartfelt thank to Typhoon’s great and continuous support to the underprivileged children for ice hockey training. You did make a difference for these underprivileged children.
About SoCO
SoCO is a registered charity which was found in 1972 to serve the underprivileged in Hong Kong. SoCO helps the underprivileged children on two levels. On the level of policy advocacy, SoCO reviews respective government policies and organizes the affected children to fight for their rights. Some examples of this are the call for 15 years of free education, shorter waiting times for public rental housing, as well as other children’s subsidies. SoCO also mobilizes the general public to provide direct services in their daily lives through a Child Mentorship Scheme, Community Learning Centres and a Poverty Relief Fund. This group’s mission: “work hand in hand, and shoulder to shoulder to build a caring, equal and just society and to make all members of the human family equal”.
SoCO