Hong Kong international school achieves triple its fundraising target using silly wigs, sweets and a whole lot of fun

DSC International School in Hong Kong topped fundraising records – three times the intended target – for charity last year. Its secret? Funky hats, wigs and shaved heads.

Sundae cups, clown wigs, a half-metre-long rocket and Hershey’s Kisses were just a few of the get-ups sitting atop pupils’ heads on December 3 as part of activities to raise funds for Operation Santa Claus (OSC) – an annual charity drive co-organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK since 1988.

The school in Quarry Bay was established in 1986 and offers classes for pupils aged four to 18.

Its latest week-long charity event, which started on November 29 and ended with the “Crazy Hat & Hair Day” on December 3, raised a record-breaking HK$125,621 (US$16,109), more than tripling the target of HK$35,000. The previous record was HK$70,502.36 in 2016.

DSC International’s parent organisation, CTF Education Group, pupils and their families contributed to the amount raised through initiatives such as the sale of candygrams.

Rebecca Marans, head teacher of pastoral care and well-being of DSC International School’s elementary division, said the pupils were especially passionate about doing good this time since “Crazy Hat & Hair Day” – the annual fundraiser for OSC since 2016 – had to be cancelled after classes were suspended in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.