'Every time after finishing a big project, I must go for a trip to recharge!’ ‘I’ve been to many places. I don’t know where to go for my next trip.’ Travelling seems like a ‘necessity’ for many Hongkongers. It is quite common for the working class to go for two or three trips a year. However, for a group of elderly people with financial or family issues, travelling abroad is definitely a luxury.

The Salvation Army ‘Dream Fly Programme’ invited 31 senior citizens to travel to Kaohsiung, Taiwan free of charge during end October to early November last year. Among these elders are CSSA recipients; some of them have children who are not well-off and cannot afford to pay for their parents’ trips. Most surprisingly, passport is also a hindering factor for their travelling abroad. Born in Cuba and having spent his entire life in Hong Kong, Uncle Ho has been rejected by the Immigration Department for his many applications for a  passport. Gladly, with the zealous efforts of the social worker, Uncle Ho’s passport was finally issued one week before the trip.

After much effort, this group of elders could finally fly on a plane. In fact, this is not Uncle Ho’s first flying experience. Many years ago, he became a paratrooper of the Kuomintang in order to make a living. Back then, Uncle Ho always flew on a military aircraft to help dropping military supplies. Upon arriving at the destinations, he even had to carry the supplies and jump down. Years have passed. This time, Uncle Ho saw a completely different picture flying with a different feeling. ‘The sky is magnificent. Flying on a plane is like riding the clouds!’

Broadening Horizons for a Breakthrough
Among the many scenic spots in Kaohsiung, the elders were most impressed with the Tianliao Moon World and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. Uncle Ming, who only had a glimpse of Taiwan from travel programmes on TV, loved the former spot in particular. ‘The rocks on that mountain look really sturdy, but they broke with a simple hit of the hammer. The tour guide told us this kind of rocks was only found in 4 places in the world. They’re really special!’ Uncle Ming could hardly conceal his excitement when sharing on this.

This is indeed a breakthrough for Uncle Ming, a single introverted man used to living alone, to share a room with a newly met tour member. ‘When you live by yourself, you can do as you like and don’t have to accommodate anybody. When sharing room with others, we must compromise in order to find a  balance.’ Gladly, Uncle Ming got along well with his roommate. He also made friends with elders from other centres and exchanged phone numbers with them, expanding his social circle.

Apart from the ordinary eat and drink and entertainment during a trip, tour members were also given special assignments: elderly women were to write a thank you card to a member of the tour, elderly men had to take photos of ‘cultured youth’ style at the art zone, whereas couples had to take sweet   photos at Love River and exchange presents they prepared in advance. All the elders were not only cooperative but enjoyed the tasks!

Good Memories Sink in 
Three weeks after the trip, these tour members gathered together again to share their feelings. ‘I thought it was scary to fly on a plane, but it was even more stable than riding on a car. Just that I could hear a ringing in my ears during landings!’ ‘This is the first time I take to the sky. Wonder if I may travel on a plane again.’ As the elders watched the photo slideshow prepared by the social workers, they burst into laughter, still lingering in the memories of the trip.

Apart from creating good memories for the elders, the ‘Dream Fly Programme’ also encourages them to pursue their dreams. When asked what his other dreams were, Uncle Ming said, ‘I want to travel to a place further away than Taiwan, but much cheaper...’ He was actually talking about Beijing. He worried he could not afford it, so he dared not think too much about it. Aged 87, Uncle Ho does not wish too much for himself, ‘I just hope more people will care about the elderly people!’

Care about Spiritual Needs of Elders 
‘To the elderly, is it enough for them to be clothed and fed?’ said Matthew Yau (1st right), Team Leader of The Salvation Army Yaumatei Multi-Service Centre for Senior Citizens. In fact, the elders also have spiritual needs, which are often being neglected. The ‘Dream Fly Programme’ aims to provide an opportunity for the elderly in Hong Kong who have never travelled abroad to broaden their horizons and to have beautiful memories.

Ms Chu Wing-sheung (2nd right), Team Leader of Tai Po Integrated Service for Senior Citizens joined the trip. She saw the participants were curious about every single scenic spot they visited and eager to try new things. ‘I’m touched as I can be part of these elder buddies when they realise their dreams!’

‘Love in Time. We are all carers’ Campaign
The Salvation Army advocates ‘We are all carers’. Through a series of learning and experiential activities, participants are encouraged to care about elders in their family as well as in the community, realising the spirit of ‘honoring old people as we do our own aged parents’. Among these activities was the ‘Snapshots of Family Meals’ campaign that raised funds for the ‘Dream Fly Programme’. It provided an opportunity for 31 deprived elderly who had never travelled on a plane before to go on a 4-day trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, helping them to realise their travel dream. Their wonderful memories will be compiled and a retrospective exhibition will be held to promote care for the elderly in the community.