Entering the personal website www.leekm.w3.to, you will see a fine recipe for Chinese food decorated with lovely dancing cartoon figures. This is the work of 80-year-old Lee Kai Man, the oldest member of Hong Kong Senior IT Advocates.
Lee and seven other old people, who got to know each other at a computer training course for the elderly last year, founded the group in May this year.
"We enjoy great fun in learning computer and hope to make more old people know it," Lee said.
However, when he first registered for the training course, he hardly expected that he could do what he can do Sunday, not to mention getting any fun from it. "I am too old to learn the young people's fashion," he told himself.
Lee decided to learn to use computer on the advice of his son, who had migrated to Australia and hopes to communicate with father via Internet.
Thanks to the patience of the teacher, Lee and his fellows have learned the basic skill of using computer.
"Sending E-mail is a piece of cake," Lee said.
They designed their personal website, send electronic greeting cards to friends and relatives abroad and make more friends on Internet.
When earthquake hit Taiwan, Or Chi King designed and printed a number of cards and asked a charity organization to bring them to people in the disaster area to express his sympathy.
Lam Hing Fuk, 69, felt that learning computer brings confidence to her as well as interest and practical uses.
"I used to be a full-time housewife. But now I find I can do things other than cooking for the family. I can do what young people do. I have also made many friends," Lam said.
Her brother, five years younger, and her sister, two years younger, also joined her when they saw the happiness brought to Lam.
After the training course paused in March this year, they decided to form the group to continue communication and meanwhile share their experience with other senior citizens and advocate IT knowledge among them.
Their idea won support of warm-hearted people.
A company provided office for the group's daily activities. Some people donated computers. Some designed an interesting logo for the group free of charge. The organizer of Digital World 2000 being held at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center offered a free stand as well as 1,700 free admission tickets for them to make advocacy.
The group is planning to set up their website at www.hkseniors. org to advocate to the elderly the advantages of learning to use computer. They also want to run a training course for the elderly since they themselves have benefited from it. But this is definitely not easy for it requires necessary equipment and funds.
"We are very happy for being able to do something for other elderly friends," said Lam Hing Fuk.
"By the way, we often say this can prevent Alzheimer's," she joked.
(Xinhua)
