(14 January 2015 – Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in Mainland China, has cooperated with about 26 non-profit organizations all over the country to hold a nationwide hula hoop themed Christmas party, “Merry Hula Hooping Christmas”. More than 260 volunteers from all stores participated in the event, contributing over 660 service hours and benefiting over 860 children. The event is an extension of the “Sports” portion of the “@Dream Sustainable Development Program” and aims to craft a merry and warm Christmas for under-resourced children and enhance their physical fitness through interesting sports activities. 

Christmas is a joyful holiday season. However, parents from under-resourced families cannot afford to spend much at Christmas and migrant children cannot even celebrate with their parents. Therefore, this Christmas, NWDS Volunteer Team members turned into Santa Claus, bringing hula hoops, a popular children’s toy, to schools and non-profit organizations such as Jingshun Hope Primary School, Anshan Tiedong Xin Miao Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation School and Sunvillage. They had hula hooping competition and creative group games with hula hoops, such as A Cold Wind Blows and Hula Hoop Pass. The atmosphere was lively and festive with our volunteers having so much fun with the children benefited from the event, including underprivileged children, children with special needs and migrant children. They all enjoyed the activities very much and thanked NWDS Volunteer Team for bringing them an unforgettable Christmas. 

Apart from hula hoop games, some stores prepared special gifts for the children and have arranged games incorporating other elements to bring more fun to the party. For example, volunteer team from Beijing New World Qianzi Department Store visited Jingshun Hope Primary School to play and sing songs with the children. Stationery was given to the children to encourage them to study hard. Volunteers of Wuhan New World Department Store and Wuhan New World Department Store-Wuchang Branch Store visited Qushuilou Primary School to finish a giant puzzle with the children and “little bear shopping bags” were given out to encourage them to use less plastic bags, promoting caring and environmental friendly messages together. Staff of Beijing New World Liying Department Store initiated the collection of winter clothes for the orphans in Sunvillage to bring them warmth in this cold weather.  

Ms. Rebecca Woo, Corporate Affairs Director and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS, said, “The essence of holiday is to spend quality time with family and friends, however we would never forget to share the joy of holiday with the underprivileged in society. Our Volunteer Team has put much effort in this Christmas event. Many of our volunteers said although they were not very good at hula hooping, they were very much inspired and reacquainted with the old days of children innocence by watching the children having so much fun. They agreed that volunteering is all about give and take and they had certainly learned a lot during the process. At the time of new year we wish for the prosperity of society and may all the good wishes and health come your way. Let’s work hard together for a sustainable society.”

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