There is a magical place in Lashio, Northern Myanmar that sells no toys but has all kinds to play with, and that lends no books but has its own library catalogue. It is a toy library, the apple of any child's eye, and a mark of the ambition of 12 students of United College to create a happy childhood for the young lives in Myanmar.

Participants of the College's 'GOAL Programme—Bringing Toys to Northern Myanmar' service programme visited Lashio of Myanmar from 27 December 2013 to 4 January 2014 together with representatives from the Taiwan Toy Library Association. Using paints and stickers, the team transformed old classrooms into toy libraries. For children in Hong Kong, toys are almost a given. But many children in Myanmar aren't that privileged. Having a toy library that lets you borrow playthings is especially important when it comes to growing up happy in deprived areas.

Sharing the Joy of Toys

Before the trip, students set up collection boxes and booths on the campus to encourage CUHK members to donate toys. 'We received 28 bags of toys and spent two days to clean and categorize them. Adopting the practices of Taiwan toy libraries, we divided toys into games, jigsaws, activity, arts, and music,' said law student Phyllissa Chan.

To raise the appeal of the libraries, the team decorated them using the fairy tale theme for an orphanage, and the sea and air theme for a Chinese school. 'Starting from scratch, we took up brushes and began to paint a mural. It was gratifying beyond words. Happiness is simple. Simplicity is happiness,' said Agnes Siu, a student of nursing. As for Phyllissa, she was inspired by the local children. 'They reminded us to look at what we have instead of what we lack. When we saw flaws on the wall, they saw painters in every one of us. When we saw a shortage of supplies, they saw our good intentions…. It is comparison with those who seem to have more that makes us forget about happiness, about sheer appreciation, simple joys.'

Child's Play

According to Ms. Tsai Yen-chih, founder of Taiwan Toy Library Association, 'play leads to positive experience in childhood, and play allows kids to learn and develop skills.' To a child, playing is part of life. Toys and kids are made for each other. When the team finished setting up the libraries, they could feel the children's joy. Playing requires children's minds and bodies, gets them thinking and imparts creativity. Through interactions with others, children learn to regulate their emotions, like when they should give in, and how to express ideas and accept ideas. 'The library is very new to our children. They were thrilled to decorate classrooms with university students from Hong Kong. I hope the kids can have a new way to learn through playing with toys,' said Mr. Yang Ronggen, vice-principal of the school.

Mr. Tony Chan, assistant college secretary of United College, first learned about the Taiwan Toy Library Association during his previous service trip to Taiwan. 'I found the idea of the toy library truly meaningful, so I organized this trip to Myanmar with students of United College to put the idea into action. It has been amazing to see the students' hard work and commitment. Even the frailest girls were picking up hardware tools, with just one thought in their minds: creating a happy childhood for Myanmar children.'