Good food for a good cause at DSC International: from Jamaican oxtails to Indian pani puri, this charity fair had it all
- Event included a second-hand clothes sale to raise money and promote sustainability
- The institution organised six activities in 2023 to support Operation Santa Claus, raking in over HK$139,000
DSC International raised HK$139,000 for Operation Santa Claus this year. Photo: DSC International SchoolA mouth-watering array of international fare, from Jamaican oxtails and American pumpkin pies to Dutch stroopwafels and Indian pani puri, delighted students, parents and teachers at a recent school charity fair.
The International Food Fair on December 1 was one of six activities organised by DSC International School in late 2023 to support Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual fundraising initiative held by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK. The school events raked in more than HK$139,000, a new record.
Charity gives disadvantaged Hong Kong youth a chance to broaden their horizons
At the food fair, parents of DSC students offered specialities from Asia, Europe and North America at colourful booths in the school playground where donors from the school community – including students, their parents and teachers – grabbed the food of their choice for a picnic lunch. Picnic mats were also sold, with proceeds going to OSC.
“It was really fun because we got to try foods from different cultures,” said Grade Six student Keiko Barker, 11. “It’s meaningful because we are giving to less fortunate people. So I think it’s really nice.”
Her mother, Asako Barker, took the day off from work to take part in the fair, offering Japanese-style rice balls.
“It’s cool that parents from different cultures could bring in different foods. It’s fun, and it’s for a really good cause,” she said.
Equally thrilled was Sarah Miles, the school’s vice-principal for admissions, who helped organise the event. “It was a wonderful success, with over 50 booths representing food and cultures from all around the world,” she said.
“We have been doing fundraisers for OSC for 14 years,” she added.
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“It allows us to reach a wide array of communities. We are helping them, but at the same time, the activities help us strengthen our school community and foster a culture [that] gives back.”
Fun and merriment filled the playground, with many children sporting eye-catching and hilarious headwear, as students who had donated to OSC could wear casual clothes and silly hats to school for “Crazy Hat & Hair Day”.
Meanwhile, second-hand clothes were sold at the “DSC Opp Shop” to raise funds for OSC. Student volunteers sorted donated clothing and turned a meeting room into a pop-up fashion store.
“We collected clothes for two weeks and sold them at the Opp Shop for one week. We raised a lot of money,” Miles said.
It was also a good way to promote sustainable consumption.
“The fashion industry contributes a lot to waste. It was great to promote fashion recycling and upcycling while raising funds for charity at the same time.”
That morning, laughter abounded in the playground during the last rounds of the two-week Dunk Tank Challenge, where students could donate money to have water dumped on a teacher or school leader. Other fundraising events included a dodgeball tournament and a candy gram sale.
Since its launch in 1988, OSC has raised HK$369 million to support the Hong Kong community through 338 charitable projects of worthy causes. This year, 15 such projects are being funded.