In 2007 Dr Jamieson co-founded and served as chair of the Hong Kong charity, Birthday Happiness, a charity focused on making birthdays special for underprivileged children.
Whilst on a slow ferry whilst trying to write her first book, Dr Jamieson met Edward Fernandez, who spoke of a need in Hong Kong for a ‘birthday charity’ that he had heard of working well in other countries. On hearing how this format had been successful in other parts of the world in improving self esteem and even exam results as a consequence, she decided to assist in registering with the Government and finding volunteers.
Since then, the charity has provided a birthday party for the underprivileged children of Hong Kong weekly as well as other activities to provide support to struggling families.
Addressing Diversity
Hong Kong, like any big city, has it’s share of problems related not only to poverty and overcrowding but to racial disharmony and lack of understanding of other cultures and races. Daily, we read of the problems that this causes all over the world, not only in the Middle East and Africa but even across the border with Muslim/Uygar issues.
Statistically, it is the lowest-income sectors of any society, as well as those from fragmented family structures, often the least educated, who are the least accepting and understanding of intercultural / racial differences.
Parties offer a platform for shared cultural exchange: they are run by a multiethnic group,
and children participating are drawn from not only the Chinese but Filipino, Indian and other sectors of Hong Kong society.
There is shared cultural exchange, as the children interact with each other and volunteers of different racial backgrounds from all sectors of life (doctors and bankers to housewives). We mean to impact these children in their understanding of differing cultures, languages and equal opportunities.
Supporting a return to traditional Chinese values
Another recent charity activity has been taking busloads of low-income families to government-run play and adventure parks. Often parents are holding down two jobs each to make ends meet, so the time and money involved in organizing such an event themselves would be beyond them. Having a whole, carefree fun day together and the resulting family bonding provides a reinforcement of traditional Chinese family values.
As a doctor I know from numerous medical studies that the cohesiveness in a society and the feeling of being part of a stable unit — whether friends, family or religious — improves both the mental and physical health of a society.
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Birthday Happiness is totally dependent on the generosity of donations and volunteers for our children’s parties, without your help these parties would never happen !
Contact Birthday Happinesstoday if you can help in any way, whether it be in the way of a donation of money, toys, prizes or your time. Thank you.
