Dreams of a shared future

Walking deeper into the dining room leads to an 800-sq-ft kitchen that can accommodate a number of tenants preparing meals at the same time. There are also rice cookers, pots, refrigerators and other kitchen equipment. The shared laundry has three washing machines, three dryers, a toilet and a shower room. Users of the laundry and drying equipment pay HK$8 each time.

Zhang simply said "wow" when she saw the piano room. "I asked social workers if my children could practice playing the piano here. 'Of course', they replied," said Zhang, much to her delight.

Kaifeng was thrilled at being told he and his brother could play the piano again. "Although there are many things in my life that make me unhappy, Mozart's melodies bring me a sense of calm."

Each community living room also has a naturally lit living space, enabling users to hold various activities. "Participating in these activities and interacting with others make me feel less lonely. This place is like my second home," says a 63-year-old Sham Shui Po resident surnamed Fong, who lives alone in the district. Like Zhang's family, she visited the community living room on Lunar New Year's eve for the banquet. "I felt sad spending Lunar New Year's eve alone most of the time. The dinner made me feel like I was with my own family," says Fong.

The community living room is manned by more than 30 employees, including dozens of full-time staff. Chui himself has taken part in community activities with his family members since childhood. Such experiences have transformed him from an introvert into someone who enjoys interacting with others. "The community truly has had a positive influence on residents' lives. That's why I'm committed to community work," he says.