OneSky Gala 2024 Planting Seeds of Hope

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Let’s PLANT SEEDS OF HOPE for young children at our annual Hong Kong gala dinner. The gala will raise vital funds for quality early childhood care and education so young children in Hong Kong and across Asia can grow and thrive. We’d love to see you there!

With your support, more children will receive care that helps build resilience, curiosity and hope. Let’s nurture these small seeds to become strong, beautiful trees!

Date:
8 June 2024

Venue:
JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong

Time:
6:30pm – Cocktails
7:30pm – Dinner

For tables, donations, sponsorships or if you have any questions, please contact Cindy Wong or visit https://onesky.org/hkgala2024 

Special thanks to our sponsors︰

Asia Alternatives Logo Dragon Fly Logo

Skymax Garment

 

 

 

 

Guy & Deanne Russo
Melissa Ma
Zili Zhang & Chenyue Yu

OneSky Amazing Race @Sham Shui Po

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Join OneSky’s inaugural Amazing Race on 3 December 2023 (Sunday)! You can participate as an individual or a group. There are interesting checkpoints, each one with its own activity for you to complete. You can choose to visit as many checkpoints as you wish. Each one will inspire and delight you with an intriguing activity.

All funds raised through this fundraising event will go towards OneSky’s programmes at the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development, dedicated to strengthening early childhood care and education across Hong Kong to ensure all children can thrive, no matter the circumstances they are born to.

Apply now: https://bit.ly/oneskyamazingrace23

OneSky supports vulnerable families through the ongoing Covid pandemic in Hong Kong

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The recent fifth wave of the Covid pandemic has severely affected the most vulnerable members of the Hong Kong community. And, In areas like Sham Shui Po, where the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development is located, OneSky’s Family Mentors are helping to serve low-income families as best they can.

Families like that of 5-year-old Tung Tung, who all tested positive for Covid.

Unexpectantly forced into isolation in their cramped Sham Shui Po apartment, the little girl, her elder brother and mother did not have sufficient food, test kits, or medical supplies to get through their quarantine.

“We had no rapid antigen test kits so I dared not go out,” Tung Tung’s mother recalled. “We were running out of food at home and I felt so helpless. I didn’t know what to do.”

In desperation, she reached out to OneSky’s Family Mentors for help.

When OneSky’s Family Mentors heard of the family’s difficulties, they gathered together items for Tung Tung, her brother and mother, including Covid test kits, food and cleaning supplies and delivered them to their home.

The Family Mentors kept in close contact with Tung Tung and her family, to help them cope throughout the quarantine period. They provided the two children with fun, online learning activities.

“I was really touched. In such a severe environment, OneSky Family Mentors never gave up on us,” Tung Tung’s mother said.

With the generous support of community partners and donors, OneSky has been able to distribute emergency supplies to Sham Shui Po families in need to help them through this very difficult time.

Like many, Tung Tung’s family was isolated due the current Covid outbreak. Crowded living conditions and lack of childcare support has brought great distress to affected families, particularly in regards to the children’s learning and personal development.

OneSky’s Senior Family Mentor Yannis Chan noted: “The pandemic has posed great challenges to children’s growth. We have tried to help as best we can by providing emotional support in addition to the material supplies.”

“We have offered parents support in storytelling, how to play-at-home, parenting tips, and other information to support their caregiving needs. Looking at it from a different angle, we have tried to help parents and caregivers to use quarantine as a positive time for the family.”

Throughout the pandemic, OneSky Family Mentors have continuously adapted and remained connected with the families, like that of Tung Tung — providing emotional and daily support —virtually and in-person as circumstances allow.

Barclays Bank: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in Hong Kong

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Thanks to our partnership with Barclays Bank (Barclays), the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development in Hong Kong has amplified its support of vulnerable families living in Sham Shui Po.

Across the Asia Pacific, Barclays is working with selected charity partners, like OneSky, who are providing pandemic relief to the communities where Barclays has a presence — to help vulnerable communities impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and those working on the frontline of response.

Most recently, through the Barclays LifeSkills Programme, the Centre trained over 100 local women in an evidence-based methodology to care for young children, and is now helping them to secure employment.

And, to help vulnerable children manage through the Covid crisis, important pandemic-related information was relayed through interactive storytelling and activities. In addition, with further support from Barclays through its global programme, the £100m COVID-19 Community Aid Package, COVID-care packs (including sanitizing spray and masks) were distributed to families through the Centre’s network, benefiting more than 800 vulnerable families.

“Barclays has a long-standing commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate and an important duty to help the most vulnerable through the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why we partner with organizations like OneSky who play a critical role in our society, providing vulnerable communities with life skills and employability opportunities as well as ensuring that tangible support is getting to those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Anthony Davies, Chief Executive, Barclays Bank Hong Kong Branch & Senior Relationship Management, Asia Pacific.

During the season of giving last year, Barclays employees also came together to spread festive joy by delivering 280 gift packs to children visiting the Centre, sharing the Christmas spirit with low-income families in Sham Shui Po.

 

OneSky’s 10th Annual Charity Hike held despite pandemic-related challenges

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Despite all the challenges faced to hold the hike, we finally made it happen. On 13 Nov 2021, over 230 #OneSkyHikingHeroes of all ages joined our fun, family-friendly event under the beautiful sunshine! The hike could not have happened without all of our incredible corporate donors including: Avery Dennison, CLSA, EQUINIX Women Leaders Network, Impact Products, Nan Fung Group, and PwC; our NGO partner Sprouts Foundation; and a group of committed individual donors, volunteers, and staff. An enormous thank you to all who joined and supported OneSky’s 10th Annual Charity Hike in Hong Kong!

“The charity hike was a great success! We enjoyed every minute of it and hope all children grow up healthy, safe, and happy,” said Nan Fung Group, a long-term supporter of the hike.

“Thank you again for making this meaningful and great event happen this year. Our young kids were keen to join and they enjoyed it very much. They were also grateful to be able to raise funds for other kids at OneSky,” said Sprouts Foundation, an NGO partner of OneSky.

Your support means that our professional and dedicated caregivers can continue their critical work providing nurturing care and love to vulnerable young children in China, Vietnam, Mongolia, and at The P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development in Hong Kong.

Thanks to your active participation. We hope to see you again at next year’s hike!

The Training Hub – helping to expand the capacity and quality of childcare in Hong Kong

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At the heart of the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development is the Training Hub, offering training programs for both professionals and parents using cutting-edge theory on early brain development. The innovative teaching methods unite children and adults on a new learning journey.

Since opening in Hong Kong a year ago, during the pandemic and various lockdowns, OneSky’s training focus has been on supporting parents.

Our training is interactive and suitable for all parents or caregivers of young children. It includes responsive care, building secure attachment, child development, and play-based learning.

For Jasmina Wadhwani, OneSky’s Director of Global Programs, the past 12 months have been remarkable, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It has been an incredible year for our training program,” said Jasmina. “The year has passed so fast, and it has been a joy training and watching the parents grow in their learning and being able to use our teaching with their children at home.”

Parents like Jessica — who has a 2-year-old boy — have found the Centre to be a refuge. In between lockdowns she and her son visited the Family Centre in person to play while she also participated in family training.

She told OneSky: “I am so happy to have been able to participate in the parenting course offered by OneSky. It has enabled me to absorb so much practical knowledge as well as being able to enjoy a new, safe and rich playground with my child.”

Jessica and her son are among many who have directly benefited from OneSky’s training and its lasting impact on both caregivers and children, which began more than 20 years ago with OneSky’s groundbreaking work in China’s orphanages and rural villages.

Today, thousands of more lives are being changed in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Vietnam, thanks to OneSky’s mission of training communities and caregivers.

“It’s very heartwarming when the teacher remembers my child each time we are together,” added Jessica. “I love that during lessons we learn so much from small details to the big picture information.”

The OneSky Global Centre now partners with ten NGOs, including PathFinders and the Music Children Foundation, to recruit vulnerable families to join OneSky’s parent training.

The ultimate goal of the Training Hub is to offer training programs for professionals, as well as parents, using best practices in early childhood education.

As a training organization, OneSky’s mission is to support the systems of care in Hong Kong that are so vital to growing a healthy, happy society for tomorrow. It’s a new pioneering journey, using the proven OneSky Approach, that has only just begun in Hong Kong.

The incredible supporters who share OneSky’s vision for a better future

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Inspired by great names, helped by good friends, and grateful for so much kindness.

We are so deeply grateful to the many generous individuals and organisations who, from the very start, have supported OneSky to bring love and nurturing care to the most vulnerable children and families of Hong Kong.

Almost exactly two years ago OneSky founder and then CEO Jenny Bowen met with Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Alongside her was OneSky Board Member Stella Lee.

The meeting was a milestone and, about a year later, carrying the name of Stella’s father, the P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development opened in Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong’s poorest neighbourhoods.

The late P. C. Lee was born in Changsha, Hunan and was the oldest of six children. He left school at the age of 11 but never stopped learning, going on to enjoy a remarkable career in banking and shipping in Hong Kong.

Through their commitment to the OneSky Global Centre, Stella and her family support their father’s legacy and OneSky’s vision to provide access to loving, nurturing care and quality early education for the children of Hong Kong.

Elsewhere, the desire to reach Hong Kong’s most vulnerable young children has also inspired strong corporate support.

Working together – Generali and OneSky

Our friends at Generali told us that OneSky’s desire to help families meant we were the perfect match for The Human Safety Net, their global philanthropic platform. Essential support has also come from the Hong Kong branch of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, Barclays Capital Asia Ltd and Baring Private Equity Asia.

Jean Salata and his family at the opening ceremony of the OneSky Global Centre

Baring’s support for OneSky goes back over 15 years. Jean Salata, Chief Executive and Founding Partner was a patron of the center’s Capital Campaign, which raised the funds to open the Centre in May last year.

We asked him why he was now so passionate about supporting OneSky. 

“It is easy for people to forget that while Hong Kong is a city with significant resources, there still are many children and families with unserved needs,” he told us. “The Hong Kong center is a tremendous step to help meet those needs and be a pillar of the community.”

He added: “Our philanthropy program has a specific focus on underprivileged children, particularly in the areas where we work and live. It has been so meaningful to us to support OneSky all these years and watch it grow and evolve and greatly improve the lives of children.”

OneSky also recognises the contribution of so many individuals and incredible friends who have helped fund specific parts of the centre or provided general funding. We thank you all. 

If you would like to talk to OneSky about how you or your organisation can support OneSky in Hong Kong, please get in touch witg Jackaline Chow, Associate Director of Development.

OneSky’s Global Centre and beyond – TEN ways you can help the children!

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Your kindness can turn around a vulnerable young life and be a permanent investment in their future.

1. Make a donation

2. Become a child sponsor

3. Give a gift! From training a caregiver to giving an aspiring child artist a boost

4. Redeem your Asia Miles to give

5. Buy a tile at our Global Centre with your name on it. Get in touch!

6. Consider match or workplace giving

7. Add OneSky to your will and let your kindness leave a legacy.

8. Sign up for OneSky’s newsletter.

9. Follow us and share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram

10. Or check out other ways to give!

To learn more about how you can support the OneSky Global Centre and help at-risk children, email Jackaline Chow at OneSky in Hong Kong.

BPEA – a shining light for OneSky during the pandemic’s darkest hours

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When the pandemic hit in 2020, OneSky for all children struggled to balance urgent increased need with limited resources. Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) stepped up with senior staff even donating their salaries for the cause.

For OneSky and the children it serves, their kindness was a shining light at a very dark time.

It followed a decade and a half, during which BPEA has been a true friend to OneSky and to Asia’s children. It’s a relationship that started with helping China’s left-behind children.

BPEA Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Cordes explains:

Q. How did BPEA first make a connection with OneSky?

Before even beginning a formal philanthropy program, BPEA began supporting the OneSky Guangzhou location. That support started around 15 years ago, and the relationship with OneSky has only broadened and deepened since, making OneSky a core long-term component of the BPEA philanthropic program.

Q. And what was it about OneSky’s work that interested you?

When we first visited the Guangzhou location we started to understand the vast need for children left behind.  We then began supporting just that one facility, which was close in proximity and where we could go and see the results every year.  But as the organization grew and evolved into a teaching and development organization, providing the software to complement the hardware often in place throughout China, we understood the power of the new model and the vastly increased reach and ability to help as many children as possible.

Jean Salata and his family at the opening ceremony of the OneSky Global Centre

Q. With the opening of the OneSky centre, how do you think OneSky can best help Hong Kong? What are Hong Kong’s current and future challenges?

The opening of the Hong Kong centre, which was directly supported by our founder and CEO Jean Eric Salata, was a critical next step in the organization’s development, centering the organization while also creating a facility to help those in need in Hong Kong. It is easy for people to forget that while Hong Kong is a city with significant resources, there still are many children and families with significant unserved needs. The Hong Kong center is a tremendous step to help meet those needs and be a pillar of the community.

Q. OneSky was amongst those benefiting from BPEA’s assistance during the COVID crisis – what was it so important to BPEA to step up and provide help?

Given the severity of the crisis, senior members of our team gave up their salary, and we created a specific Covid relief fund. The first place we looked to help was within our core philanthropy program.  In the case of OneSky, the needs were clear with significant extra costs required for critical cleaning and protective equipment.

Q.Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Our philanthropy program has a specific focus on underprivileged children, particularly in the areas where we work and live. It has been so meaningful to us to support OneSky all these years and watch it grow and evolve and greatly improve the lives of children.