China donates accessible buses to disabled children in Trinidad and Tobago

In the run up to Christmas, on December 23, 2014, kids at Lady Hochoy Home, a charity for physically-challenged children in Trinidad and Tobago, a country in the Caribbean, received special gifts from China consisting of dozens of aid materials including two accessible buses.

With the enchanting smell of the holidays encompassing the house, the new accessible buses were parked in front of the cramped yard of Lady Hochoy Home.

Shading his face with his hands and flattening his nose against the window-pane, a skinny boy was looking inside the buses. “So big,” he said after scanning the special Christmas gift.

Although he perhaps didn’t know where China is located, the gifts from China may have helped him contemplate far-away places.

China's first lady Peng Liyuan visited Lady Hochoy Home on June 1, 2013, which was China’s Children’s Day. To recognize the friendship between the two peoples and show China’s support to the philanthropy of Trinidad and Tobago, on behalf of the Chinese government, Madame Peng promised the country a supply of badly needed materials.  

Besides the accessible buses, they included six nursing beds, three computers and more than a dozen kitchenware items, all customized to the specific needs of Lady Hochoy Home, according to Huang Xingyuan, Chinese ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.

He said that it was pleasing to see the materials bring convenience and happiness to the children. Their pure smile is the best Christmas present to the Chinese government and Chinese people, he added.

Lady Hochoy Home is the only charity organization for the physically disabled and mentally handicapped children in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ever since its founding, Lady Hochoy Home has had a deep bond with China. Its founder was the country’s renowned first lady of ethnic Chinese origin, Thelma Hochoy, whose husband is the former Governor-general, Solomon Hochoy.

In 1957, Hochoy visited a welfare house in the country. Shocked by the harsh living conditions and the desperate status of the dozens of handicapped children living there, she determined to establish a special home for them.

At her promoting, the Disabled Children’s Society of Trinidad and Tobago was founded in 1958. Then, in 1961, the first Lady Hochoy Home was set up to provide handicapped children with welfare, treatment and education.   

To date, four Lady Hochoy Homes have been founded in the country, and thousands of children have received treatment and education. They grew up in a healthy environment until they developed the ability to fit into society.

First lady of Trinidad-and-Tobago Reema Harrysingh-Carmona expressed her appreciation to Peng Liyuan and the Chinese people for their kindness and the precious presents.

She said that every little bit of love brings a great improvement to those children’s lives. She added that the home and her country pledge to make the best use of the materials and strive to eliminate social discrimination to guarantee the handicapped children healthy growth.