This toy is not a merchandise that can be purchased from a store. It is a work of art resulted from the collective efforts and imaginations of children and adults working together. It is unique, fun, and made entirely from recycled materials. Quality of life can not be measured by money alone.
孩子的玩具不是公司貴價貨，卻是難得的藝術品，是大人與孩子一起努力的成果，有想像力，有技巧，又是廢物利用，既環保、又益智。生活的質素不是只用金錢量度。
- Violin
Photo by Violin Chan. Cape Town, South Africa, 2010
It was one of our first time to visit Enkanini, the poorest subdivision of the Khayelitsha informal settlement in Cape Town. When we were walking through the area, we were surprised to discover children playing under a pickup truck cap. It was hot and lacked ventilation. The ground was made up of coarse sand. Nevertheless, to the children, it was their playground. Without any adult supervision, the girl in the picture was afraid when I approached her. She hid herself in the corner.
In this slum, many children severely lacked proper care from their parents and community. However, each one of them desire for the warmth that only a family can provide. Like all children, they enjoy games and playtime. We have so much more than a lot of people. We ought to be more grateful and share more with the less fortunate.
這是南非開普敦的貧民區Enkinini， 光愛中心為這社區提供服務。當工作還未開始的時候，義工隊伍跟隨負責人探訪了解居民。當時看見一個舊車的上身部分，擺設屋前，還以為是廢 鐵，但俯身卻見到小孩子在內玩耍。那麼酷熱的天氣，不透風的車蓋內，遍地泥沙，這竟然是小孩的「遊玩天地」，沒有大人在場陪伴，所以見到我這陌生人，嚇得掩面縮在一角。
這兒有太多缺乏照顧的孩童，他們被逼成為野孩子，但其實每個 都渴求家庭溫暖，父母的愛；他們也歡喜遊戲、玩耍。我們有的實在比許多人豐富，讓我們珍惜，讓我們分享。
- Violin
Photo by Violin Chan. Cape Town, South Africa, 2012
Every child has a dream. The children living in deep poverty are no exception. Upon entering a dwelling in the Khayelitsha slums of Cape Town, a large framed picture on an otherwise empty wall quickly caught my eye. The person in the picture wore a square cap and small black gown. Then a girl came and presented the picture to me. It was actually her preschool graduation photo. Was it her parents who cared so much about her preschool graduation? Or was it herself? Anyhow, I was impressed by how proudly she held the photo and the gleam of success in her eyes.
However with the lack of resources, dreams often remain only as dreams. The children living in the slums easily fall behind in their classes and subsequently lose their motivation. Many students drop out during high school; no need to even mention achieving post-secondary education. Some girls become pregnant when they are only 13 or 14 years old; thus forsaking school completely at an early age. To address these issues, Light and Love Home have set up after-school programs in the Enkanini district of Khayelitsha that target the children's specific needs and we have made significant progress over the last two years. The students enrolled in our programs and activities experience significant improvements in academics and conduct. It is very rewarding to witness how the children can be closer to realizing their dreams as a result of what we do.
每個孩子都有夢，在貧窮地區的孩子們也不例外。在馬達加斯加、尼泊爾、贊比亞的探訪經歷中，孩子們會告訴我，他們想自己成為偉大、有貢獻的人。當我走進南非開普敦的貧民區，在那簡陋、沒有什麼傢俱的房子中，卻在牆上看見這用相架
裱起的大相，相中人戴的是四方帽，還有一件小袍子，卻只是幼稚園的畢業相。心中有點奇怪，是她還是她的父母,竟然這樣重視那一刻？她是那麼神氣地抱著自己的相片讓我拍照。
我們在這貧民區Enkanini開設課後學習班，清楚孩子們的程度，不少學童因為缺少督導，經常缺課，無心向學，或是跟不上，連中學也不能完成，不用說更高程度的教育；有些十三、四歲已經懷孕，被逼放棄學業。然而他們都曾經有心中理想，只是缺少培訓、鼓勵、及實際的幫助；在過去大約兩年的日子中，那些穩定參加光愛中心課後補習及活動的孩子及青少年,在成績及品行上都有進步，他們仍可以一步步向自己理想邁進。
- Violin