Annual Donor Gathering 2025 – Thank You for “Draw Us Together”!

Our Annual Donor Gathering 2025 was successfully held in late November. We were delighted to welcome over 110 donors, their families and friends, volunteers, and ex-beneficiaries to witness the impact we have made together in transforming the lives of vulnerable children and girls.

Impact Report – Tackling Inequality and Challenges at the Root

Our Board Director, Kathleen Shi, and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kanie Siu, captivated the audience with inspiring real-life stories from our child-centred community development programmes worldwide, and highlighted the remarkable achievements made possible through the unwavering support of donors and volunteers over the past year:

Emergency Response: Delivered rapid relief and essential supplies to communities devastated by the typhoons in the Philippines and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Climate Crisis & Disaster Preparedness: Rolled out innovative programmes to build resilience and equip vulnerable communities to face unpredictable natural disasters.
Education: Witnessed the transformation of a school in Nepal, creating safer and more inclusive learning spaces for children and youth.
Girls’ Empowerment: Shared the inspiring journey of a young Bangladeshi girl who broke free from child marriage through education and vocational training supported by Plan International.
Legacy of Hope: Inspired by the story of a former sponsored child in Ghana—now a young adult—who is giving back to the community by empowering women and girls with income-generating skills.

These stories are a testament to the trust and generosity of every donor and volunteer. Together, we are safeguarding the rights of children and girls and creating lasting change across the globe.

In her speech, Kathleen Shi conveyed heartfelt appreciation to every donor and volunteer for standing firmly with Plan International throughout a challenging year. She emphasised that while we may not all be able to visit remote communities in person, your contributions and compassion are the driving force that empowers our frontline teams to deliver projects with professionalism, dedication, and passion.

Dr Kanie Siu shared real stories from around the world, illustrating how every donation is utilised in support of children growing through adversity. Together, we are tackling inequality and creating a world where we are all equal.

 

Donor Testimonial: Positive Parenting – Inspiring Lives Through Giving

We were honoured to invite Wai, a long-term donor who has supported Plan International for over 14 years, to share his journey with his son, Marcus.

Reflecting on his three donor trips, Wai said: “My first visit was to see if my donations truly made a difference. Each trip was long, but when I stepped into remote communities and saw how children’s lives had changed through Plan International’s projects, I came to deeply understand the meaning of support. It also reminded me how fortunate we are in Hong Kong.”

Wai brought these experiences home, inspiring his son, Marcus, to start donating his pocket money to children in developing countries. On stage, Marcus shared his heartfelt wish to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue giving, living by the belief that ‘Helping Others Brings Joy.’

This father-son story perfectly illustrates the power of “Inspiring Lives Through Giving,” as it passes love and hope across generations.	Marcus’s sincere and youthful perspective touched many hearts, reminding us that nurturing care is a powerful force for global change.

 

“Draw Us Together” Art Exhibition & The Power of Letters

One of the most memorable highlights of this year’s gathering was the “Draw Us Together” Art Exhibition, featuring masterpieces from our drawing competition. The exhibition celebrates the power of connection through art and words—bridging distances and encouraging sponsored children in developing countries to feel supported and cared for, broaden their horizons, and nurture creativity and literacy skills.

Participants admired each piece and voted for the “Most Popular Award.” The winning artworks will be transformed into an e-card on our Child Sponsorship Programme e-blessing platform—spreading love and hope across borders and truly drawing us all together through art.

Participants admired each artwork carefully and cast their votes for their favourite piece.

 

Board Director Kathleen Shi presented the “Most Creative Award” and certificates of participation to all donor-artists, thanking them for using art to draw us together.

We also invited Rosana, our dedicated volunteer translator who has been volunteering and translating letters between donors and sponsored children weekly for three years, to share her reflections:

“Our perspective can be so narrow, as we all live in the city. Through the children’s letters, I am inspired by all the diverse cultures and traditions around the world—and learned to be more grateful and cherish everything we have.”

Rosana’s story reminds us that communication not only draws us together and bridges distances, but also enriches lives through connections between Hong Kong and communities around the world.

 

Volunteer Appreciation – Thank You for the Selfless Contributions in 2025

In 2025, nearly 130 volunteers—including our ex-beneficiaries, individuals, and corporate partners—volunteering over 1,000 hours to support Plan International through tasks such as letter translation, photography, and event preparation. Their contributions helped us to save valuable resources, allowing more support can be directed to children in need.

Board Director Kathleen Shi presents certificates of appreciation to attending volunteers, expressing our heartfelt thanks for their invaluable support.

 

Children’s Picturebook Workshop – Learning Expression and Sparking Creativity

Last but not least, a special session for children aged 4 to 12: the Children’s Picturebook Workshop, led by professional artist Benny Lau from our partner “Onefineday Studio.” Nearly 30 young participants unleashed their creativity by crafting their own picturebooks titled “Where Are You Going?” using sticky notes, tape, and collage techniques. This fun and interactive workshop empowered children to express themselves freely, enhance their communication skills, and develop their problem-solving abilities.

Through art, children explored new ways to express themselves and share their unique voices.

Thank You Once Again! We sincerely thank every donor, ex-beneficiary, volunteer, and participant for supporting Plan International in 2025 to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We look forward to our next gathering!