RCHK's 2021 Jie Jie Day — The RCHK Truth

By Isabel Wong

COVID-19 has been an especially challenging time for our domestic helpers in Hong Kong. Known commonly as ‘Jie Jie’, domestic helpers help students manage their daily lives and household duties, such as chores, cooking, and caring for students and their siblings.

As flights are suspended to avoid local outbreaks, more than 200,000 domestic workers are stranded in Hong Kong. Even in trying times, they continue to work hard. In order to show them our gratitude, love, and appreciation, the annual student-led Jie Jie Day was held on the 10th of December.

Jie Jie Day is an annual RCHK event dating back to 2012 which celebrates the hard work of domestic helpers. This year it provided an hour of fun and relaxation at the basketball courts with over 300 Jie Jies from the RCHK community participating.

The doors to the event officially opened at 13:30. Before the day, donations from RCHK students were collected and turned into 400 gift bags that were distributed to the participants upon arrival. These gift bags included thoughtful items such as facial masks, lip balms, nail polish and hand creams. There was also a message board displayed outside the cafeteria in which students’ handwritten notes, messages, and doodles in appreciation to the helpers were displayed.

The event started off with a moving speech from Dr. Harry Brown, RCHK’s principal. He spoke of how our domestic helpers are part of our family and without them, we would not be who we are today.

“Many of our students have shared that their helper has been with them their entire life and is as much a part of the family as any other member. Much like Mother's Day and Father's Day, Jie Jie Day is a moment for us to be grateful for the sacrifices others have made on our behalf. Our students understand that and want to celebrate it,” Dr. Brown remarked, upon being questioned about the importance of Jie Jie day.

Students then provided a variety of performances as entertainment, such as a live band, dancing, etc. The helpers enjoyed their time very much as they started dancing to the beat.

While students were performing, booths at the sides of the basketball courts provided activities for the helpers as well, all led by our student volunteers. Booths included tattoos, origami making, bracelet making, and the most popular – the photo booth. Participants took photos wearing fancy hats and accessories, some put temporary tattoos on their arms or neck, some made bracelets, and some challenged themselves into making difficult origami taught by students. “It was a really fun and welcoming programme to the jiejies and they participated very actively. I will definitely participate in volunteering in the future, “ says Hermione So from Year 9, who was a volunteer for the origami booth that day.

As the event came to an end, the booths started packing away and closing up. A lucky draw conducted by a digital spin wheel was held in which there were small, medium, and large prizes. The prizes consisted of items ranging from daily supplies to mobile phones and even laptops! The helpers gasped in excitement as the winners of the prizes were announced and after obtaining them, they were overjoyed, astonished, and hugged each other in joy.

After the prize-giving was over, the registration area was cleared away and students guided the helpers out.

Dr Brown summed up the day: “The programme was amazing considering all the pandemic-related restrictions still in place. The afternoon was well organized, well attended, and the music performances were well received. Hopefully, we'll be able to add back the food service portion of Jie Jie Day next year, however, we were thrilled we were able to host the event this year.”