Green New World Volunteers Sharing the Joy of Gardening with Low-Income Families
On 11 June 2011, the Green New World Volunteers ("the Team") of New World Development Company Limited ("the Group" or "NWD"; Hong Kong stock code: 17) organized the volunteering activity "Green New World - Organic Farming and Field Cooking". The Team accompanied low-income families from Tin Shui Wai to visit the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Organic Farm ("the Organic Farm") in Yuen Long to practise organic farming and use natural resources to set up fire to prepare simple lunch, enjoying the joy of green living.
The detailed guidance of the organic farm tutors enriched the knowledge of the Team and the beneficiaries on organic farming. The Team and the beneficiaries fully utilized the practical farming skills they learnt and conducted the field work together. Under the burning sun, they still enjoyed the experience much. Leung Ka Yan, a child from one of the participating families treasured the green experience, "I have some plant pots at home but I have never used a hoe to practise farming. I am very happy about this experience."
After the organic farming, the Team worked with the families to set up fire with natural resources in the organic farm and prepare simple lunch. Organic herbs are used for seasoning and preparing the delicious dishes like roasted chicken with herbs, potatoes with eggs, onion with eggs, corns, etc., and also baking some bread. A member of the Team, Ms Zarinda Au, found field cooking fresh and full of fun, "I have never imagined that we can prepare such tasteful lunch with simple tools and organic materials. It seems that practising organic living is not that difficult. I will encourage my family and friends to include green elements in everyday life.Also, I enjoyed very much in communicating with the participating families and sharing knowledge with them.What we do in daily lives may be completely new to them."
Another member of the Team, Ms Chingmi Chow, also enjoyed a lot in the activity, "The participating kids were very keen on asking different questions relating to organic farming. They are totally different from other children who only play electronic games or smartphones. Also, the participating housewives shared their cooking skills with us who rarely cook amid of the busy life. We learnt a lot from them."
Each of the participating families received an organic vegetable gift set from Green New World as souvenirs. The bright smiles from the beneficiaries prove that green living can bring happiness to everyone without boundaries. Bringing different groups in the community to attend green events and sharing green living with each other meant a lot to the Team.
Uniting passionate and devoted staff members and their families and friends who love the environment and care about the next generation is the mission of Green New World Volunteers. It provides them the opportunity to participate in green volunteering and contribute to the preservation and improvement of environmental protection together. The activity is the closing activity of the 2nd New World Green Week of which the Group organizes from 5 to 11 June, starting from last year. Through various public activities and staff activities, the Group delivers green messages to the public and shoulders the responsibility as a green corporate citizen. This year, New World Green Week activities include Make it Green! Product Design Competition, K11 People Power 2011 - "There's No Place Like Home" Recycling Paper Creation Scheme, Green New World Facebook GNW Studio Eco-Photo Contest, "Love Reading‧Green Living" and "3R on Food Waste" Environmental Talk at Discovery Park Shopping Centre.