Operation Smile @DHSZ
Did you know that:
Every 3 minutes,
A child is born with a cleft condition
about 1 in 500-750 births,
They may suffer from
hunger & thirst
difficulty with speech
social isolation
What can we do in the face of this reality that needs more attention?
1st December, DHSZ joined hands with Operation Smile, an international charity organisation, to kick off a heart-warming and meaningful activity – sewing plush baby elephants. Our students, parents and staff participated enthusiastically, working together to help children in their time of need.
At the beginning of the event, the staffs from Operation Smile gave us an impressive introduction, and we learned more about how this organisation, founded in 1982, is dedicated to providing medical help to children who suffer from cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities, improving their health and well-being.
Our Head, Ms Sarah Tielman, delivered a warm message thanking students, parents and staffs for their active participation. She emphasised the special nature of the event as a valuable opportunity to invite parents into the school for non-academic activities. It was an important time for us to come together as a community to support this organisation dedicated to helping children with medical needs and offer our love. This was not only a fundraising and charity event, but a community event to experience and build love together.
Then everyone could not wait to start making their own "little elephants," from the flat fabric to the gradually rounded body, patiently sewing, and highlighting the smiling eyes! Elephants slowly took shape, one by one, filled with not only soft cotton, but also the warmth that we wanted to pass on to the children, the fine, meticulous stitching representing the care and well wishes we would like to pass on. All the plush elephants will be sent to Operation Smile's next stop, Shenzhen, to be the comforting companions of local children during their surgeries.
#From student and parents
Inspiring, touching, supporting
Liya&Liya's mother
Liya W from Year 13 and her mother worked well together on sewing their elephant. Liya told us how impressed she was with the design of the elephant toy and how easy it was to sew them. “I think the event is very good to raise awareness of cleft lip and that we can do something for them. I was really inspired by this. After this experience, I could try to organise some similar activities to help others because I know our school also has charities like Ripple that would be eager to help."
For Liya's mother, the process of sewing the baby elephant brought back precious memories. "I remember when Liya was a newborn and I was sewing the bedside rattles for her to hang on her bed. I made them all myself then, so I was deeply moved when sewing the elephant today."
Ethan's mother
Many parents were heartily supportive of the event. Ms Jiang, mother of Ethan L in Year 11, said when she witnessed children with cleft lip and palate on television documentaries, she was consistently moved by their stories, feeling a deep sense of sadness, so when she learnt that the school was organising this event that would help them, she was more than willing to take part in the event in the hope of showing her love for the children with cleft lip and palate.
Steven's mother
Ms Zhao, mother of Steven W in Year 10, agreed, "On knowing that the school had organised the event, I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate. Our school places a strong emphasis on promoting social care, and this event serves as a tangible manifestation of that commitment. At the same time, it provides a platform for children to engage and witness the diverse environments in which others are growing up. By participating, they can feel more love, and learn the power of making small, ordinary gestures to positively contribute to society.”
She added that DHSZ's diverse curriculum, such as some CCA activities, require children to be creative and hands-on, and sewing baby elephants was an opportunity for them to be able to practise. "Children are rarely exposed to needlework, so today they were also able to practise the use of these tools. This event provided the children with a variety of learning opportunities, not only to care about social issues, but also to develop their practical skills."
Although the money raised and the elephants made in a single event are only a small contribution, we hope that it will bring a smile to the faces of some children in need, and that love will flow in every corner of the school, creating a closer community bond through shared dedication. At DHSZ, we strive to cultivate empathy and a sense of service in our students, to inspire them to take an active role in public affairs, and to empower them to make an impact.
May each warmly crafted little elephant bring smiles, courage, and dreams to children with cleft lips and palates!
