When the world turned its back on my daughter, Melody, it was unimaginable that she would perceive it through a lens unlike any other. Regardless of life’s challenges, she greets each day with unbridled joy and infectious laughter. Her narrative is astonishingly inspiring! Melody didn’t just earn the honour of representing Hong Kong in the Special Olympics; her relentless optimism and spirit have sparked a beacon of hope, transforming and uplifting lives. This miraculous turnaround coaxed her mother out of despair, prompting a bold, fresh start. Together, our family stands tall, striding forward with renewed purpose. We journey with fellow travellers, inspiring them to cherish their own worth, delight in their children, and find beauty in life’s tapestry. It is hope that fuels our collective drive, birthing miracles and turning the tide of the impossible into waves of potential, culminating in the founding of ‘StarUp Wonders’—a testament to the power of shared dreams.

Convinced that Youths with Intellectual Disabilities are equally entitled to artistic appreciation and creative opportunities, Jade and Andy founded ‘StarUp Wonders’ to empower their latent abilities. They elucidate the transformative power of art education in elevating proficiency and self-assurance, thereby intensifying their societal participation, self-valuation, and societal contribution. Furthermore, they demonstrate how harnessing societal solidarity and amalgamating resources can broaden the horizons of creativity for communal sharing, inspiring solidarity with a spectrum of talents and fostering novel inclusive experiences. They strive to broadcast a beacon of positive energy, liberating the vigor of these youths and their guardians, and kindling a life filled with aspiration.

The Story of StarUp’s Parent, Carol, and Her Daughter, Lin Lin: I have a daughter with autism whose language and communication skills have been weak since childhood. However, she possesses remarkable dexterity, especially with her hands. She enjoys knitting scarves to give to others, and painting is her favourite activity. Her dedication to the use of colour and her meticulous drawings are impressive, often astonishing me with the results! Additionally, she is an accomplished ice skater, having represented Hong Kong in competitions and won gold medals. I believe that God has endowed everyone with unique talents, and it is only through expression and acceptance that life becomes truly vibrant!

Graduated from the Design Department of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she now wears multiple hats as a muralist, illustrator, and teacher. Fearless in taking on challenging tasks, she serves as an instructor at the “Starry Artisan” gallery, where she teaches young people with intellectual disabilities and autism. Through art, she helps them build confidence, collaborate with others, and integrate into society. Her art classes not only enhance individual skills and self-assurance but also prepare these students for active participation in the community. Her ultimate goal this year is to transform their artworks into tangible products and establish an exhibition and platform in Hong Kong dedicated to this vulnerable group. She deeply understands the diverse talents and abilities of her students and takes joy in uncovering their hidden potential.

Upon completing my social work degree, I dedicated my career to the field of rehabilitation. My experience spans from institutions for adults with severe intellectual disabilities to sheltered workshops and resource centres for parents. Presently, I am part of a school-based early rehabilitation service team. While our services are centred on individuals with intellectual disabilities, we recognize the profound influence of parental and familial involvement on their holistic development. Consequently, I am a staunch advocate for family-oriented services, striving to transform families into vital havens that foster the growth and flourishing of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Over two broadcast episodes, we will showcase how special schools harness diverse curricular designs to unlock students’ potential and let their lives shine brightly. The first episode will delve into student career planning, STEM education, and the promotion of e-learning. Our school has recently been keen on assisting high school students with career planning, aiming to help pre-graduates formulate plans that align with their personal development. Moreover, through our STEM curriculum and e-learning strategies, we provide students with enjoyable learning experiences, enhancing their inquiry and problem-solving skills.

We will focus on introducing how schools, through various activities and curriculum arrangements, help students realize their potential in the second episode. This includes:
In the realm of sports: marathon training / rowing (dragon boat) training,
In the realm of music and dance: the establishment of the school band—‘Fermata Band’ / dance team,
In the field of visual arts: encouraging students to explore various forms of creative expression,
Potential Development Activity: Mary Rose’s Got Talent

My daughter has Down syndrome and was born with three holes in her heart. She needed heart surgery before she was six months old. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it to her first birthday. Despite the various challenges that come with Down syndrome, these children are optimistic by nature. They enjoy socializing, dancing to music and bring a lot of joy and positive energy to others. I’m grateful that the school has arranged for her to learn rhythmic gymnastics with four other beautiful girls with Down syndrome. To showcase their talents, they perform rhythmic gymnastics, sing, and dance at school, church, and in the community. With the rapid advancements in medicine and technology, I sincerely hope that these will not be used to erase children with Down syndrome from the world. Instead, let them shine and bring joy to the world with their cheerful melodies.

Pastor He from the Hong Kong Tsz Kwong Bethel Church has been shepherding a group of individuals with intellectual disabilities (Joy Group). The most profound experience has been witnessing their growth, from high school to graduation, then from job hunting to employment. She has also witnessed their dating, breakups, accompanied them to doctor’s appointments, and helped them navigate the setbacks and hurts in interpersonal relationships. Even though they may seem insignificant in the eyes of many and are perceived as weak, this group has taught him a lot about respect, patience, humility, empathy, and compassion. Their genuine nature is captivating; they are straightforward with their feelings, whether they love or don’t love you, without any pretence. In fact, they are her great teachers.

As a mother of two children on the autism spectrum, one with typical cognitive abilities and the other with a moderate intellectual disability, I have gained a deeper insight into the challenges encountered by families navigating the broad range of abilities within the spectrum. This experience has led me to establish
‘Little Star Delivering Love’ to create free events for children with autism, operating independently. We offer free activities and seminars internally, while externally, we engage in interviews to educate the public about autism. Our goal extends beyond aiding these children and their families in societal integration; we strive to enhance the public’s comprehension of autism to foster improved social inclusion.

Mr. Tsang organizes the Hong Kong International Darts Festival every year, bringing the positive message of darts to the general public and inviting everyone to participate in this grand event of the darts community. He hopes that the citizens of Hong Kong will support the entire event, darts enthusiasts will support local players, players will support the Hong Kong team, and even the entire darts industry in Hong Kong, further establishing Hong Kong’s leadership position in the darts field in Asia and internationally! The sport of darts is also promoted to people with disabilities, teaching darts for free at special institutions and schools, allowing them to experience the fun of darts. The third Hong Kong International Darts Festival has set up the Wisdom Cup (智醒杯) for the special sector, allowing Youth with Intellectual Disabilities to experience the sport of darts together with the general public.

The diverse talents (Youth with Intellectual Disabilities) possess a wide range of talents, spanning from sports like golf, ice skating, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, darts, and taekwondo, to artistic endeavours in painting, dance, and music. They’ve established the Alpha Performance Team to showcase their abilities, which include singing, dancing, gymnastics, instrumental performances, magic, and balloon artistry. Their performances grace venues such as church services, outreach events, and community gatherings, and they’ve been featured as special guests at the singing contests organized by the Hong Kong Association of Christian Music Ministry. Eager to share their journey, they continually seek to improve themselves and utilize their talents to contribute positively to society.

The notion of social enterprise, despite its emergence in the UK during the late ’70s, remains relatively unknown to many in Hong Kong. Social enterprises are entities that tackle societal challenges through innovative means, distinct in their operations from conventional non-profits and private businesses. StarCraft exemplifies this model, engaging Dr CHUI Lai Man, Susanna, Assistant Professor at Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, to elucidate the essence of social enterprises and the transformative potential of social innovation in nurturing the diverse talents within our community.