Chocolate, cheer and charity: Hong Kong children whip up treats at festive workshop
From cupcake decorating to chocolate treats, Nina Hospitality and Operation Santa Claus team up to bring seasonal joy to youth in need
Laughter and the scent of chocolate filled the air at Hong Kong’s Nina Hotel Island South on Saturday, as 11 children came together to craft edible Christmas trees.
The festive workshop, held on December 13, brought Nina Hospitality, the hospitality arm of Chinachem Group, face to face with the beneficiaries it supported – a hallmark of the company’s long-standing partnership with the annual fundraising campaign Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
The children, aged eight to 10 and all from the Hong Kong Paediatric Rheumatism Association – one of this year’s 13 OSC beneficiaries – were guided by Nina volunteers in Santa hats, working alongside the hotel’s chefs as they showed how leftover pastries could be transformed into colourful festive desserts.
Each child was paired with a volunteer and encouraged to decorate their creations using cereal, chocolate, icing sugar and sweets.
For Simon Manning, managing director of Nina Hospitality, the annual workshop has become a tradition staff eagerly anticipate.
“Operation Santa Claus embodies the spirit of giving, and we are honoured to continue this tradition for the ninth year,” he said.