Plan International HK Launches Pencil Drive to Support Nepalese Girls' Education
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Plan International Hong Kong officially launched its annual "Love．Girls" pencil charity sale on September 18, 2026, at a shopping mall event featuring a symbolic lighting ceremony. The campaign aims to support girls' education in Nepal while raising awareness about child marriage issues. Officials and celebrities called on the public to purchase or donate pencils, with proceeds helping vulnerable girls in developing countries continue their studies and avoid early marriage.
Key Points
- The pencil sale runs from September 18 to November 1, 2026, with pencils sold at HK$20 per pack containing two pencils at participating shopping malls .
- Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare Ho Kai-ming stated that while child marriage may seem distant to Hong Kong residents, it remains prevalent in many developing nations .
- Board Chairman Leung Ho-kei emphasized that education empowers girls to change their destinies, describing each pencil as "a gift of hope" protecting girls' futures .
- Voluntary ambassador Scarlett shared that girls as young as 15 or 16 in Nepal are forced into marriage, with traditional beliefs limiting their perceived life choices .
- The campaign has collected over 200,000 pencils since 2013, donated to girls in China, Cambodia, Ghana, Nepal, and Northern Thailand .
Why It Matters
This campaign addresses a critical global issue: millions of girls in developing countries are denied education due to child marriage, trapping them in cycles of poverty. For Hong Kong residents, the initiative offers a tangible way to contribute to gender equality beyond local borders. The recent Nepal landslides have exacerbated risks for vulnerable girls, making this support more urgent than ever .
This campaign addresses a critical global issue: millions of girls in developing countries are denied education due to child marriage, trapping them in cycles of poverty. For Hong Kong residents, the initiative offers a tangible way to contribute to gender equality beyond local borders. The recent Nepal landslides have exacerbated risks for vulnerable girls, making this support more urgent than ever .