Instead of dashing home after school, or joining their friends to play games, a group of five St Bonaventure Catholic Primary School students rush to a local community canteen to cook and serve a meal to seniors.
A leadership programme they joined urged them to find a way to make the world a little brighter. Though their culinary skills were limited, they volunteered as kitchen hands and waiters at the local church-run canteen.
On arrival, they roll up their sleeves and get to work, two washing vegetables, the others holding an oversize rice cooker, washing the rice - enough to feed more than 30 people.
Primary Four student Bernice Sze is a novice cook.
"My mom doesn't let me cook at home, not even to fry an egg," she admitted.
In this kitchen, the youngsters can learn not only how to cook, but also how to work with each other and develop problem-solving skills.
"I wondered whether I should ask teachers to bring only students who do housework at home. I didn't ask, and they do much better than I expected. They are eager to learn and pick up the skills quickly," canteen kitchen assistant Yuen Man-lung said.
Attentive service
Primary Four student Rex Lai has worked alongside his mother to cook fried rice at home, but the challenge here is much greater.
"It's more difficult because we need to cook a big portion," he said.
Once they have prepared the meal, they slip into the role of wait staff, serving the seniors. As each guest is welcomed into the canteen, Rex serves them hot tea. Before dinner, the children sing a hymn, lead a thank-you prayer, and deliver the piping hot meals.
The seniors appreciate the students' positive attitudes and attention to their needs.
"Although we are strangers, I feel happy to help and serve someone in need. I will share my feelings and experience with my parents when I get home," Rex said.
After dinner, the students pitch in to clean up, wash dishes and pack up. Initially, some of them were not familiar with sweeping, but now are experts in such housekeeping chores.
Life lesson
St Bonaventure Catholic Primary School teacher Carmen Wong said the leadership programme encourages students to develop their own action plan to enhance their community. This helps students to realise the real needs of the poor and disadvantaged through personal experience, a more lasting lesson than a talk at school.
"Before, when the children ate their meals, they may not have realised there are people in the community who do not have enough to eat. Now, when they see a bowl of rice, they should have a new insight and know how to care for and help people in need," Ms Wong said.
Mr Yuen, a retired teacher, found the pupils' good behaviour gratifying.
"Unlike those spoiled children who always depend on their parents, they showed their initiative to step out and serve the seniors. This makes me quite satisfied," he said.
