Joy Amongst The Cage Houses by Tim Maitlan

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that every BH 'veteran' volunteer at July's party at the SoCo centre in Sham Shui Po left feeling we had found our spiritual home: a place where we can both make the biggest difference and be appreciated the most. 

Anita's wonderful photo montage below captures the fun, joy and the love we all experienced at the party.  What it doesn't quite catch is just how desperate the living conditions are in this area: squalid conditions where entire families live packed into a space that most of us would consider too small for a bathroom.  Needless to say, it will surprise few to hear that where help is needed the most is exactly where there is least investment.

We had 50 children and maybe half as many parents packed into one of the smallest rooms we've ever partied in.  The amazing thing is, despite all the issues they face in their lives, this was possibly the most wonderful group of children we've encountered in all the years that BH has been organising parties.  We have never been thanked so often and with so much warmth, gratitude and sincerity.  

If you don't know about the Hong Kong cage houses this CNN report gives you a quick snapshot http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/28/cage.homes/index.html