Children's Character Festival 2025 - True tales of kindness.

It was an honour and joy to adjudicate at the very first Children's Character Festival in Hong Kong!

This wonderful new Festival is the brainchild of the inimitable Joanna Hotung of the Hotung Mills Education Foundation, Christine Ma-Lau of the Character Education Foundation, and Vivian Chung of Story Seeds.

The theme for the Festival this year was Kindness. We live in a fast paced world of almost instant gratification, and one where the 'self' seems to be more and more at the centre of things - 'selfies', 'influencers', 'content creators' being common examples.

The stories of kindness towards people, animals, and the environment were heartwarming and inspiring.

I have so much respect for such young performers (aged 4, 5 and 6) speaking publicy about their true experiences of being kind to others.

Thanks also go to the distinguished Guests of Honour and of course to Kenix Docking -who always makes organising events seem effortless! I can't wait for next year, when we explore the theme of Gratitude!