Students at American International School don casual clothes to raise money for Operation Santa Claus
- Pupils donated money to participate in ‘free dress day’, with proceeds going to the charity
- Annual fundraising initiative by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK has raised HK$369 million for 338 projects to support the Hong Kong community
American International School organised a charitable “free dress day” to raise funds for Operation Santa Claus. Photo: HandoutEye-catching red and green attire added festive cheer at an international school in Hong Kong on a sunny Friday ahead of Christmas as students wore casual clothes to raise funds for charity.
Students at American International School (AIS) who donated HK$20 could wear outfits of their choice on December 15. Proceeds went to Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising initiative by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.
The school has monthly “free dress days” in which students can donate to charity for the chance to dress casually. The one in December was dedicated to OSC.
“Many students are wearing red or green [the colours of OSC],” said Linda Morrison, principal of AIS elementary school.
These merry colours added to the Christmas atmosphere at the festively decorated campus, dotted with banners emblazoned with the school’s core values of justice, knowledge and love.
“We value the work that Operation Santa Claus does and how it relates to our core values,” Morrison said.
“[Charitable activities] help our students understand that we are able to help others in our community by donating to different charities. So, we have charitable events throughout the year. OSC has been part of that for a really long time,” Morrison said.
The school has supported OSC since 2006 and raised HK$13,476 for the campaign this year.
Located in Kowloon Tong, AIS comprises kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools with students from 30 nationalities.
“I am trying to raise money for Operation Santa Claus so that all the homeless people, [for example], can get a place to live and something to eat,” said Anaya Dutta, a Grade Four student from India.
Her classmate Derrick Lui Yik-hiu could barely contain his excitement. “I am feeling good because I am helping others,” said the Canadian-Chinese student, sporting a smart green top with a cartoon reindeer design.
Good food for a good cause at DSC International
Reika Kobayashi from Japan called the event meaningful and was happy to contribute to charity. “I feel great,” said the Grade Four girl in a prim red dress.
Classmate John Yang Jun-yu also embraced the spirit of giving and sharing, cheerfully boasting a Santa hat.
“Six months ago, I searched on social media [and found] that there’s a school that has a lot of homeless [children] that need help. So my mom and I donated money, a total of HK$15,000, to the school,” said the student from Hong Kong.
OSC is funding 15 charitable projects of worthy causes this year. Since its launch in 1988, the campaign has raised HK$369 million for 338 projects to support the Hong Kong community.
For more information on this year’s beneficiaries, please click here.