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Community outreach builds strong ties

July 26, 2015

Unlikely stylists

Unlikely stylists:  Hong Kong Fire Services Department Volunteer Team members trim seniors’ hair for free every month.

Tea time

Tea time:  Volunteer team members visit day care centres for the elderly and bring them some dim sum.

Building unity

Building unity:  The volunteers are happy to pitch in and agree that teaming up to help others enhances their communication and sense of unity, on and off the job.

Seniors at a social centre in Kwai Chung look forward to having free haircuts each month, given by unlikely stylists: Hong Kong Fire Services Department Volunteer Team members who are keen to enrich the community.

 

Desman Mak, the Principal Ambulanceman at the Tung Chung Ambulance Depot, has been part of the volunteer team for a decade. He was giving Catherine Chan, 76, a trim, and she was giving him and his fellow volunteers high praise.

 

“They were not skillful at the beginning but their haircutting skills have improved through repeated practice. Their standard is that of professional stylists - and they are even more caring,” she said.

 

Mr Mak says that, since each client has different hair texture and their own expectations, haircutting is challenging work. He enjoys chatting with seniors as he cuts their hair, and offers hairstyle advice.

 

“Some of the ladies like to cut their hair really short, which doesn’t suit them. We try to persuade them to keep a more becoming style,” he said.

 

‘Gentle’ work

The volunteers also visit senior centres occasionally, to bring them some dim sum.

 

Fung Man-kin, a firefighter stationed in Yau Tong, has been a volunteer team member for about eight years. He says taking care of the elderly is gentle work compared with fighting fires.

 

“Some of the elderly find it difficult to chew their food, so we cut it into small pieces. I like providing service to seniors because they share their life experiences and feelings with me,” he said.

 

While they may be old in years, Mr Fung says they are often young at heart, sometimes acting like children and wanting to play.

 

Building unity

Day care centre service coordinator Ho Ka-ki says seniors in wheelchairs need strong volunteers to help them take part in outdoor activities like picnics.

 

“Most seniors travel in wheelchairs, so it is quite tiring for us to push them uphill. It is safer if strong firefighters can help us,” she said.

 

The volunteers are happy to oblige. Both Mr Mak and Mr Fung agree teaming up to help others enhances their communication and sense of unity, on and off the job.

 

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department Volunteer Team was established in 2002, and now has more than 1,000 members. By the end of 2014, they had contributed more than 130,000 service hours. They pitch in to help in many ways, including refurbishing homes for seniors who live alone; providing household removal services for those in need; and participating in charitable events.



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