A special charitable organisation is celebrating its 20th birthday in Hong Kong this year, and the installation of a new cybercafe in its offices would be more than just icing on the cake.
The Intellectually Disabled Education and Advocacy League (Ideal), an Operation Santa Claus beneficiary, is planning on buying new computers and remodelling part of its 122-square-metre space so its students can prepare cups of coffee, fruit juice and powdered classics for members of its group.
Ideal originated as a parent self-help group in 1989, and moved into its current Nam Cheong Estate offices in 1998. Presently, the organisation has around 400 members and students, including about 150 who have intellectual disabilities such as autism and Down's syndrome.
'It's not just making coffee or using coffee machines. [The students] can learn how to make different kinds of drinks like juice, tea, or Ovaltine or Horlicks,' said Laura Yeung Yuen Chi-kwan, the group's chairwoman. 'And we will check what's popular in the outside restaurants and we'll teach them.'
By doing so, it will teach the students serving, money-handling and communication skills, Yeung and Nora Fung Leung Yee-ping, a vice-chairwoman, said. 'Then, when they learn this, they can go out and get open employment. That's what we aim at. That's our final goal.'
Other than teaching students skills, arranging outings and providing an outlet for parents, the group is fighting for over 1,000 intellectually disabled Hongkongers who are waiting for residential services, as well as calling attention to the needs of ageing Hongkongers with intellectual disabilities.