An Inspirational Picnic

Our Ethnic Minority Centre is always looking for new ways to connect families to the local community. We want them to feel more at home in the city, and we also want to encourage family bonding. Inspiration Lake, a recreation centre at the Disneyland Resort, was the recent scene for a family picnic for ethnic minority families.

The outing clearly meant a lot to the families, because they don't often get to explore Hong Kong. For many of them, it was their first visit to Lantau Island. They arrived at the Lake in time for a picnic lunch. It was a multicultural celebration prepared by the families themselves. There was food from different places, including samosas, chicken wings, and sandwiches. There was a lot of laughter during the meal.

After lunch, there were games and recreational activities like badminton. One family rented a six-seater bike, and it became the highlight of the afternoon. As the family rode around Inspiration Lake, all the other children ran beside the bike, hoping to get a turn. Eventually, the family who had rented the bike split everyone into groups, so that everyone enjoyed a ride, while everyone else trailed behind. It was a lot of fun!

The afternoon was filled with joy, everyone at ease with everyone else – that is not something you always see among members of ethnic minority communities. The participants obviously enjoyed the picnic time, and the lovely view. Several said that it was rare for them to spend time with their families, especially at a place like Lantau Island. They normally spend their holidays in the New Territories.

I'm so thankful that we have a dedicated team reaching out to ethnic minorities in our community. May each family feel treasured and valued by God and us, as they are a significant part of what makes Hong Kong such a wonderful place to live.

Note: Our participants do not wish to share their identities. Faces have been blurred to protect them.