During the Christmas and New Year season, people evaluate their values and how they've treated others during the year. They also make resolutions to do better for the new year. The holiday season is about "giving, not receiving" and "treating others as you would like to be treated".

At Shanghai Sunrise, these values motivate and facilitate the direction, action and future of the programme. Shanghai Sunrise is a 9-year old charitable programme run entirely by volunteers.

It helps poor children with their educational fees and tuition by managing a one-to-one sponsorship programme. Shanghai Sunrise enables children to realize their dreams and teaches that giving is better than receiving and treating others with respect and kindness is how we should treat each other regardless of economic status.

Over 520 children are currently in the programme and over 100 library books have been donated to needy schools. Just a small start in our endeavour to bring a brighter future to the students of Shanghai.

For year 2005, we will visit another six libraries in local school in January, and go on to collect more used computers for children. We will hold two parenting ceremonies - parents meeting the child they supported, with the first in March.

We are involved with Shanghai Sunrise as volunteers because we want to lead our children and Shanghai's children by example.

And, indeed, many of the Sunrise children are involved in their school's community service efforts.

Again, thanks for those giving generous support.