This photo was taken at the opening ceremony of this year's Zhongshan Charity Parade. Primary student Lo Yat Shan and Sophia, along with their foreign teacher Ms. Kristy represented their school in presenting a cheque to the Red Cross Society of China Zhongshan Branch. Located in Zhongshan city and established 31 years ago, China (Hong Kong) English School has many students from the Pearl River Delta, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as from many foreign countries. Sophia in the middle is a Canadian girl. Ms. Kristy and Lo Yat shan on both sides of her are mother and son. They moved from Utah to Hong Kong, then moved to Zhongshan with their families and came to the same school.

Holding charity carnival for 30 consecutive years

Kristy, a native of Utah, the US, was studying at the University of Utah many years ago when she met Mr. Lo, who is from Hong Kong. After marriage, the family settled in Hong Kong. Kristy has three sons and worked as an English teacher in Hong Kong for many years. As the children grow up, they can speak fluent English and Cantonese, but they can't speak Mandarin and know little about traditional Chinese culture. The husband engaged in cross-border trade realized that it was time to find a school for their sons to study on the mainland, so that they could learn international knowledge courses and better learn traditional Chinese culture. After several rounds of selection, they sent their eldest son Lo Yat Ming and second son Lo Yat Fu to Zhongshan to study at C.H.E.S.. "Yat Ming just entered the university last year, and Yat Fu is now studying in the middle school. They and Yat Shan are very good and polite children." Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the China (Hong Kong) English School, said.

In 2022, their youngest son Lo Yat Shan would also transfer from Hong Kong to Zhongshan. Seeing that the three children have gone to the same city and the same school, Kristy was reluctant to part with the idea of moving to Zhongshan. In the middle of 2023, she resolutely resigned from her teaching position in Hong Kong and came to Zhongshan to become a foreign teacher in the C.H.E.S. Primary School section.

"After studying in Zhongshan, Lo Yat Ming and Lo Yat Fu often talked about what they saw and learned in school, and they were full of interests. Especially because they're so loving." Kristy was full of doubts at first, until she participated in the school's charity carnival and the Zhongshan Charity Parade for two consecutive years, and then she had a little insight: As the first school in the city to advocate the concept of charity and public welfare, China (Hong Kong) English School has been sowing charity seeds for this city for 30 years.

▲Ms. Kristy (the third from the left) participates in the 2025 Zhongshan Charity Parade. (Photo/Ming Jian)

Ms. Kristy notes that there are more than 30 volunteers at the Primary School Red Cross. She often sees many students working together to organize a charity activity. She spoke with admiration about one thing she saw: "In the New Year's Day in Zhongshan City in 2025, Lu Tian Yuan and Peng Xinru brought a lot of beautiful plants and clothing from home to the charity sale." Student Yang Jinxi, as the Student Union member, came back to Zhongshan at 2 o'clock in the early morning right after the New Year's countdown in Hong Kong. He only rested for less than five hours, and then went to join the school's charity sale."

Love nurtures success that spreads across the world

On 12 February, Ms. Kristy and Lo Yat Shan, as representatives of the school, attended the commencement ceremony of the Zhongshan Charity Parade. During the donation check handover session, she witnessed a meaningful reunion between Dr. Choi and a former student.

He Yingying, a 2008 graduate of the secondary division of China (Hong Kong) English School, was also representing her family business to hand over a donation check. She immediately recognized Dr. Choi. The two took a photo together and reminisced about their school days. "She studied at our school from kindergarten to primary school, then went to the UK for further studies after high school. Now, she is the general manager of her family business, which was awarded the 2024 Zhongshan Charity Donation Enterprise (Organization) Commemorative Medal. She is also the vice president of the Zhongshan Federation of Industry and Commerce (General Chamber of Commerce) and a recipient of the Zhongshan 'Phoenix Award.' Most importantly, she mentioned that her passion for public welfare was nurtured during her time at China (Hong Kong) English School," Dr. Choi said.

In addition to He Yingying, other alumni included Tang Chuck (Class of 2007), Yang Yong (Class of 2015), and Li Yunran (Class of 2020)... Ms. Kristy learned that, under the influence of the school's charity carnival and the Red Cross Society, which has been active for 30 years, graduates of China (Hong Kong) English School have not only spread their influence across the globe but have also carried forward the spirit of public welfare and charity to countries like the US and Australia, as well as regions such as Hong Kong and Beijing.