力行植林慈善基金會

Reflection on the home visit

Case sharing :-

Aug 2014: My long awaited visit to Mei Zhou was soon to be realized and I was excited and ready for the 4-day epic journey.

Mei Zhou is perhaps better known as one of the poorest districts in the Guangdong Province, and it was for this primary reason why we were visiting Mei Xian County. We were here to provide educational funding to selected students (under a strict criteria guideline) from funds raised in Hong Kong by Green Action Charity Foundation. Due to the limitations of the local government, little is done to help the poor and handicapped – so this is where Green Action fits into the picture.

The arduous 7 hour coach ride from Hong Kong to Mei Xian was an experience not to be forgotten, perhaps not for some, but I definitely felt the toll it had on my lower back midway through the journey. I later learned that it would have taken a day to reach Mei Xian by coach 20 years ago before the new freeways were constructed, so I considered myself fortunate! I breathed a huge sigh of relief upon arriving at our hotel to which I was pleasantly surprised, the rooms were very modern with air conditioning, internet and cable television. Though my bed mattress felt like a sheet of cast iron, I fell asleep almost immediately in order to get some good rest and prepare for tomorrow’s long journey.

18-Aug: I was up by 7:30am, and headed down to the canteen to get some nourishment under my belt which was essential for the big day ahead of us. Upon arrival to breakfast, I was once again pleasantly surprised. The fried noodles, plain congee, and boiled eggs were a far cry from the smorgasbord offered at The Conrad, but sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. After consuming a plate of noodles and 6 boiled eggs, I was ready to go.

On our agenda, we had 12 visits and interviews to conduct, and if I were to go over all of them, this case sharing experience may end up a 12 page journal entry. I will however, highlight one visit which touched me the most. There’s a well-known saying that ‘Good things come to those who wait’, but in my experience for this trip, it was the exact opposite. My most memorable experience came in the beginning – on the very first visit.

It took us almost 2 hours to arrive at the remote village residence of our first candidate. We went through many twists and turns and up narrow steep rocky slopes. There were 4 occasions where the vehicle was stuck and we had to alight and walk by foot in order to continue our journey. As I battled up the steep rocky slope in sheer agony perspiring in the sticky and hot humid weather, the first thought that came to mind was not so much the pain I was experiencing, but the struggle which the family (the one I was visiting) had to go through each time they had to go into town for groceries and supplies. What if there were a medical emergency? What if someone was injured and hurt? How long would it take to get help and treatment? These were the thoughts that were circumnavigating my mind. At last we reached the village. At first glance, the place looked serene and tranquil surrounded by lush green vegetation. It was a good feeling. But as I stepped into the 200 year old house, my initial perception had changed. There was no electricity, no telephone line, and no proper lavatory system. Forget about internet, refrigeration and gas cooking – that would be considered a luxury item. The conditions of the household and its surrounding were so bad, they were unimaginable. I paused for a moment and felt a shock of despair go down my spine. Something of greater proportions dawned upon me which was not so much the poor conditions of this household, but the thousands more which are in similar or worse off conditions which go unnoticed in Mei Zhou and other parts of China. This was a real wake-up call because many families are so poverty stricken and need help, and even with the benevolent hand from foundations such as Green Action, only so much can be done. But taking the first step forward towards making a Change is better than taking no step at all.

I never got to see the boy. He was staying with relatives in a place closer to school. We exchanged pleasantries with the father and after 20 minutes it was time to leave. I believe we must to continue to sponsor more students whose families are in a financially challenged position, and that one day perhaps, these students will in turn become leaders and contribute back into the community. The efforts of one person alone may not have a great effect, but the collective efforts of a thousand will in turn revolutionise a change. And

It is this hope which gives us the drive to persevere in our indefinite journey to improve humanity.

Volunteer Mervyn Fung

15 - 9 - 2014