Travel enables us to experience diverse traditions and build genuine connections with people. Similarly, helping to improve the lives of children around the world is a connection that transcends borders. Save the Children works in different regions globally to assess the social issues affecting children’s wellbeing and develop long-term changes, building deeper, more meaningful connections with children through the Journey Around the World (JAW) programme.
Christy Leung, a mother of three and travel show host, was inspired by a trip with her family where she witnessed first-hand the genuine smiles of children in hardship, deepening her convictions about children's education and wellbeing. Meanwhile, Kunbi, known as the “African Prince” and a Nigerian influencer who has lived in Hong Kong for over a decade, shares his personal experiences to highlight the importance of love and community, calling for greater attention to the challenges faced by children worldwide.
Christy’s Unexpected Discovery: The Innocent Smiles of African Children
“What started as a family trip to Kenya to see the Great Migration of animals turned into an eye-opening experience,” Christy recalls, still moved by her African journey four years ago. Beyond the wildlife, she encountered indigenous and minority communities living in remote villages. “Some villages had only 10 to 20 people, and their homes were built from cow dung and mud. We mostly saw women and children because the men were away doing labour work.” The children's smiles are still deeply etched in Christy's mind. "Despite their harsh living conditions, they were easily satisfied, finding great joy in just kicking a football made of paper."
Poverty remains a major challenge for children worldwide. In Zambia, for example, many girls are forced into early marriage due to poverty. Currently, 12 million underage girls are married, with over half becoming mothers before the age of 19. As a mother, Christy's travels resonated with her. “These situations move me deeply. We saw young girls in African villages who, because they couldn't go out to work, already had to shoulder family responsibilities, supporting their families by beading and selling bracelets. In a way, they lost their childhood and the chance to broaden their horizons.”
When asked what can empower children to change their future, Christy is unequivocal: “Education and knowledge. If children only know how to herd cattle and care for siblings, their lives will never change. Education can teach them life skills like farming and animal husbandry, or even allow them to become tour guides, improving the future of their entire village.” Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Save the Children has been working in Zambia for over 40 years to combat child marriage and help girls return to school, while improving literacy rates. In 2024 alone, nearly 100,000* children benefited from these efforts.
Kunbi Shares Childhood Memories, Thinking of Children in Hardship
“My fondest childhood memory is growing up in a Nigerian community”, When talking about his childhood, Kunbi, the “African Prince”, who has lived in Hong Kong for over a decade, always smiles as he describes growing up in a lively and warm community atmosphere. “We lived in a large, close-knit neighbourhood with about 15 families. Every evening, we cooked and ate together while the children played nearby.” After many years in Hong Kong, Kunbi's lifestyle blends Nigerian and Hong Kong cultures, with friends joking that he is "not a real African". Now a content creator, Kunbi bridges cultures by sharing videos about Nigerian music, food, and language. “People often notice the differences between Hong Kong and African children, but I see the similarities. The most important thing for a child is love.”
While Kunbi considers himself fortunate to have grown up in a loving environment, he has also witnessed the harsh realities in Nigeria. “Some children have no parents, live on the streets, and survive by begging.” When he and his girlfriend Zoe returned to Nigeria to visit family, they visited a floating slum and recalled the extremely poor living conditions: "There was no electricity, no proper toilets." Kunbi laments, "Many children don't even know how different the environment is outside their area."
Elsewhere in Africa, children in Ethiopia face a dual crisis of drought and conflict. Over 4.39 million people are displaced, 4.26 million primary school students are out of school, and child malnutrition is severe. Save the Children is helping by providing high-energy peanut paste to treat malnourished young children and supporting families to learn how to grow fast-maturing crops and practise beekeeping, helping communities build economic resilience. At the same time, the organisation provides children with books, school uniforms, and school meals to help them return to school. In 2024, nearly 180,000* Ethiopian children benefited from these initiatives.
Helping children through hardship is not just about resources—it’s about sending a message: "You are not alone. As Kunbi concluded, he shared a heartfelt message to all children facing challenges: "Don't give up." He explained that sometimes life may feel unfair, "but as long as you stay happy, strive to be a good person, and believe that you are worthy of love, you can also have happiness."
Connecting the World with Love: Journey Around the World Protects Children's Futures
A journey may end, but human connections can continue through sustained support. Save the Children Hong Kong’s Journey Around the World programme meets the ongoing needs of children in Mainland China, Ethiopia, Nepal, Vietnam, Zambia and regions of greatest need. It tackles challenges like malnourished children, left-behind children, education for ethnic minority children, and child marriage through survival, poverty, disaster response and protection. In 2024, Save the Children has reached over 2.8 million* children, bringing sustainable change to them and their communities.
One trip changed Christy and her then 6-year-old daughter. After returning to Hong Kong, her daughter learned to cherish what she has and no longer complains about going to school, because she understands that some children cannot. Christy believes that letting children see the other side of the world helps cultivate respect and empathy, and inspires their innate care and willingness to give. Christy praises the programme as being very meaningful: “It provides targeted support to children who truly need it, and its scope is broad, not limited to one aspect. Donors can clearly see where their contributions are going, which gives people a lot of confidence.” She believes that through the case stories and reports they receive regularly, donors can truly witness how they are changing a child, a family, and even a community, and this emotional connection is the most enduring source of support.
Hunger, lack of schooling, displacement—children in different parts of the world are facing complex challenges and need long-term, dedicated support to achieve positive and lasting change. Kunbi says frankly, “Donating is the simplest and most effective way to help. It gives children who long to go to school—or even have a safe place to live—access to food, shelter, and education.” The programme is able to gain a deep understanding of local situations and articulate long-term support.
Let us join hands through the Journey Around the World to bring hope, love, and a brighter future to children everywhere.
Notes: *The figures are from the Global Child Sponsorship Programme which has been transformed into Journey Around the World to reach more children and support the collective needs of their communities. We are not leaving any sponsored children or communities behind and we will continue to serve those enrolled in our programmes.
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