Annie Ho Ting

Photo courtesy of CrazyRouge

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Tell us about Bring Me A Book's project with L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels 

This is our second year as a charity partner for L'Ecole. Last year they also very generously donated 100 per cent of the proceeds from the children's workshops to us... we got a substantial donation from them. 

The collaboration is so meaningful because they are an international company, and yet they want to focus on doing something for the local community of Hong Kong.

Photo Courtesy of L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels

What are the workshops like? 

It's really eye-opening for kids to walk into this elegant space and do a parent-child activity that really inspires creativity in them. The craft activities referred to a lot of things in nature that children could associate with, like butterflies and dragonflies, but let them experience these in a more detailed way, not in your face, like a clown or a butterfly tattoo, but more subdued. 

What is the pressing need in Hong Kong that Bring Me A Book wants to address? 

Both Hong Kong children and adults suffer high levels of stress. The simplest way to reduce that stress, or at least have the resilience to cope with it, is to have a strong family bond that can easily be achieved by simply reading a picture book together for five minutes every night. It brings families closer and is a great conversation starters.

We promote parent-child reading by training parents, teachers and  social workers on the importance of reading aloud so hopefully children can be read to from birth, all the way to their teens. 

Hong Kong's libraries have excellent children's books, but its bookstores lack diversity and only stock books about Disney princesses, Thomas the Engine and more. We also focus on delivering books that you don't normally find in bookshops here - really good quality children's books that you want to read and re-read - and giving these to underserved communities throughout Hong Kong, in kindergartens, primary schools and community centres.

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Photo Courtesy of L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels

What are the benefits of having access to these quality books? 

People who read have a lifelong love of learning - it helps with the way you think, deal with adversity, and understand people who are different from you.

Quality children's picture books are the ones that aren't overtly moralistic or educational. They spark your imagination, transform the way you view things, and make you want to read and re-read them.

We just want people on HK to focus on the joy of reading, not only for the purpose of getting good grades and getting into the right school. Not every child can be a straight A student, but they can still be a successful adult.

Photo Courtesy of L'Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels

How did you get involved with Bring Me A Book? 

I'm a trained lawyer and practiced for more than 10 years and then I had a family. The reading journey for me has been very interesting because I love books, I grew up in Canada and on Saturdays my parents would leave my brother and I at the library when they had to run errands because it was the safest place for kids.

I've always supported Bring me a Book because I believed in the cause, especially after having children of my own. I became a board member, and chairperson for the last three years. We are on our 10th year now, and for a local organisation like ours to be thriving and helping thousands of families, has been very rewarding.

 

Annie Ho Ting reads one of her favourite children’s books

How can people in Hong Kong help?

I think everyone can help by embracing our message of using picture books as a tool for parents and teachers to nurture and engage with Hong Kong children. First step is that we have to move towards a cultural belief that there's more to life than academic achievement. Children cannot grow up thinking that they are only as good as their test score or report card: that's just too stressful a concept to bear.

We are also purely funded by donations, so any form of financial support would help. We don't use second hand books. We buy brand new books because we feel the kids deserve a high standard of service. We also hire professional trainers to do the training. 

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The specialised workshops are tailored to children ages five to 16, and requires parents to attend as well. The programmes are both playful and educational, providing a connection between design and imagination. The workshops are offered on two Saturdays in March. 

For more information, please visit: 
hk.lecolevancleefarpels.com
www.bringmeabook.org.hk

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Annie Ho Ting is board chairperson of Bring Me A Book Hong Kong and also serves on the board of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award, Children’s Medical Foundation and Preemie’s Parents Support Group.

A former lawyer, she devotes herself to her family, focuses on community work in children’s health and education, and finds great joy in reading both silently and aloud.