Behind the bars of the house gate, rradiated beneath the blistering hot sun in Ouesso, Congo, I stood and watched local kids silently pass around the single bottle of water I gave them—without argument or hesitation. That quiet, instinctive generosity struck me deeply. It was a kind of community spirit I had never seen before—and it’s what’s bringing me back.
In partnership with New Sight, a charity known for restoring sight in Congo and empowering communities in which eye-care is almost non-existent, particularly addressing the poorest and most neglected communities in the north of Congo, I’ll be returning to Ouesso this summer to help organize the town’s first-ever children’s day camp, with a focus on sports, teamwork, and play.
We’ll be hosting three weekly day camps for over 100 children, with invitations sent to 30 schools across the town. Our goal is to provide a joyful space where kids can learn, move, and connect—some for the first time in a structured setting like this.
Why sports? Because they’re more than just games—they teach leadership, cooperation, and confidence in places where opportunities are few. I’ll be working with Wendy, a volunteer with a passion in children ministry at New Sight, together with a few other volunteers, to run active sessions and help build a camp model that can continue after I leave.
I’m incredibly grateful to have received a USD 800 summer grant from Deerfield Academy to purchase sports equipment and camp materials. But the grant doesn’t cover airfare or travel logistics. That’s where I need your help.
To get to Ouesso from Hong Kong, I’ll fly through Bangkok, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), then on to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. From there, we travel north, by minibus for 11-12 hours, to Ouesso. Compared to the more traditional route through Paris to Brazzavile, this whole journey will not only be faster but significantly cost less (by 40%).
The return airfare costs approximately HKD15,000, plus HKD 2,800 for the visa, HKD1,000 for vaccinations, HKD700 for bus ride and HKD800 for food and accommodation during travel – altogether around HKD 20,000.
Every donation, big or small, helps bring this vision to life — and gives the children of Ouesso a summer to remember.
Thank you for being part of the team!