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Save the Children’s “Journey Around the World” Addresses Deep-rooted Community Needs to Create Lasting Change for Children’s Futures

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8 months ago

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Travel Influencers Christy Leung and “African Prince” Kunbi Journey into the Heart of Childhood

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 October 2025 – Hongkongers love to travel, and in recent years, more people are seeking in-depth experiences, venturing into local communities to feel the cultural pulse. 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.

Hashtag: #SavetheChildren #charity #JourneyAroundtheWorld #ChristyLeung #Kunbi





The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Save the Children Hong Kong

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Hong Kong and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world’s first and leading independent children’s organisation – transforming lives and the future.
Established in 2009, Save the Children Hong Kong is part of the global movement which operates in around 100 countries. We work with children, families, schools, communities and our supporters to deliver lasting change for children in Hong Kong and around the world.

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GIA Acquires 30% Shareholding in Diamond Provenance Blockchain Platform Tracr

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2 hours ago

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09/06/2026

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Investment by leading industry institute supports Tracr’s evolution to becoming an independent, industry-wide platform for natural diamond provenance

LAS VEGAS, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – De Beers Group and GIA (Gemological Institute of America) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for GIA to acquire a 30 per cent shareholding in Tracr, the De Beers Group-backed company behind the development of the pioneering diamond provenance blockchain-driven platform.

The agreement marks a significant milestone in Tracr’s evolution towards independence and reflects GIA’s confidence in the platform’s role as an industry-wide infrastructure to advance natural diamond provenance and traceability at scale.

GIA’s investment – which builds on a 2023 initiative to include diamond provenance information registered on Tracr’s platform on eligible GIA diamond grading reports – represents a significant step in this transition, reinforcing Tracr’s long-term credibility across the diamond value chain.

Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said: “Consumers deserve to know where their diamonds come from and they should feel more confident in their understanding of each diamond’s source. At De Beers we have been providing provenance data on diamonds through Tracr for several years and we believe that delivering provenance should become an industry standard. Following our promise to open Tracr up to broad ownership, we are proud to be partnering with GIA as Tracr evolves into an independent, industry-wide platform. We will work alongside GIA to advance provenance transparency for the entire diamond sector.”

Pritesh Patel, President and CEO of GIA, said: “At GIA, our mission has always been rooted in trust, integrity, and consumer confidence. Our collaboration with Tracr over the past several years reinforced our belief that combining source-based blockchain provenance with GIA’s independent grading and identification expertise can help unlock a new level of transparency for the diamond industry. As Tracr continues to scale globally, we see a tremendous opportunity to deliver meaningful, verifiable provenance information from the source to the consumer. We are proud to deepen our commitment through this investment and help shape the next evolution of transparency, traceability, and trust across our industry.”

Jillian Wolk, CEO of Tracr, said: “The start of Tracr’s evolution into an independent platform, as a result of GIA’s investment, creates a strong foundation for the future. I am excited to continue scaling the platform and bringing more producers on board, which will support Tracr in enabling the individual journey of every registered diamond to come to life. Each stone carries its own narrative, defined by its source and the craftsmanship that has shaped it, and as Tracr continues to grow we have a fantastic opportunity to help reveal those unique stories.”

De Beers has been developing Tracr since 2018 and it is now a leading distributed diamond blockchain platform that starts at the source, registering diamonds at the point of recovery. In 2023, De Beers opened the platform to the wider diamond industry, positioning Tracr as an industry-wide, scalable solution for rough-to-polish verification of natural diamond provenance, which starts at a stone’s source.

Today, more than five million rough diamonds have been registered on Tracr at source, representing around two-thirds of De Beers’rough diamond production by value. Since January 2025, single country of origin for De Beers diamonds has been available on Tracr, with all newly sourced De Beers rough diamonds of one carat and above being registered on the platform.

Hashtag: #NaturalDiamonds #Diamonds #DeBeersGroup #GIA #Tracr





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About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo-American plc group. For further information, visit.

About GIA
An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism.

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Smart Design Global 2026 Awards Presentation Ceremony Proudly Unveils 52 Original Award-Winning Designs International Tour Highlights Hong Kong’s Creative Design Power

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2 hours ago

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09/06/2026

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Set to Appear at Bangkok Mega Show and Paris Maison&Objet

HONG KONG SAR –

About The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association

Founded in 1955, The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (The HKEA) is a non-profit making trade association registered under the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance as a company limited by guarantee. The HKEA is committed to creating new business opportunities and enhancing market value for Hong Kong exporters, aiming to position Hong Kong as a premier trading hub. The HKEA focuses on serving the industry and taking export trade as its core value, helping members expand their business by closely liaising with the government, initiating different projects, and organising seminars, business gatherings, business delegation trips and exhibitions. The HKEA also disseminate the latest local and international trade information and provides online product display and search services for additional publicity, to further promote Hong Kong’s export trade and enhance market competitiveness.

The HKEA website:

About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

CCIDA’s website:

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

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Disney Garden of Wonder blooms to life again at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay with all-new character topiaries

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12 hours ago

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08/06/2026

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The second edition of the popular topiary showcase introduces an interactive area starring Disney’s Frozen, and more beloved Disney and Pixar character dioramas including Toy Story 5 and Disney Princess

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 June 2026 – Disney magic blooms anew at Singapore’s premier horticultural destination Gardens by the Bay as the second edition of Disney Garden of Wonder, opens today. Featuring 23 vibrant topiaries inspired by beloved Disney and Pixar characters, the enchanting showcase transforms Floral Fantasy into a world of floral artistry and imagination through 14 March 2027.

Beauty and the Beast

Organised in collaboration with Disney and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, Disney Garden of Wonder is inspired by Disney and Pixar stories that have charmed generations of fans around the world, inviting people of all ages to re-discover their favourite stories of courage, kindness, friendship and love through the beauty of plants. Following the success of its debut at Gardens by the Bay in 2024, the enthralling floral showcase returns in an even more special second edition.

Anna and Olaf from Frozen
Anna and Olaf from Frozen

Visitors can look forward to five themed areas:

  • Frozen, in which topiary versions of Anna, Elsa and Olaf preside over an enchanting snowy landscape, brought to life through themed lighting that imagines a frost-kissed world of wonder. Inspired by Elsa’s Ice Palace, visitors can step on a floor where magical snowflakes dance and respond to movement.
  • Disney princesses, where Rapunzel appears alongside her best friend Pascal the chameleon; Belle is with the Beast and their enchanted companions; and Jasmine is accompanied by her loyal tiger Rajah.
  • Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger gather in a cheerful party scene. Tigger bounces up and down while Piglet twirls, and visitors can picture themselves joining everyone at the table!
  • Toy Story 5, where Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear appear as topiaries in a playful setting inspired by Bonnie’s Room, alongside displays of new characters Lilypad and Smarty Pants.
  • Go Local, a Singaporean-themed zone where Disney characters are reimagined in familiar local settings. Chip ‘n Dale perch atop a giant ice cream sandwich; Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck share the spicy rice noodle dish laksa; and Mickey Mouse makes the traditional beverage teh tarik with Donald Duck.

Outside Floral Fantasy, a 4m-tall Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey marks the entrance and welcomes visitors to Gardens by the Bay.

The hand-assembled topiaries are crafted from more than 40 species of preserved and dried floral materials, which took more than 16,000 man hours.

Each material was selected for its colour, texture and form, helping to reflect each character’s features. Plenty of flowers are used for the Disney princesses for example, while Rapunzel’s hair is crafted from Stipa, a perennial grass that has fluffy or oat-like flowerheads.

The surrounding landscapes also use plant palettes that reflect the mood of each zone — sunflowers and marigolds reflect the honey-toned meadow setting of Winnie the Pooh, while lilies and roses bring out the romantic and jewel-toned settings of Disney Princess stories. Hydrangeas and dusty miller evoke the icy blues, whites and silvers of Frozen.

Throughout the duration of Garden of Wonder, visitors can enjoy select weekend Meet and Greet sessions with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in outfits inspired by Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim. Donald Duck and Daisy Duck will also join the experience on select weekends, dressed for a sunny getaway on our tropical island. Meet and Greet dates are available at www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/disneygardenofwonder.

Visitors can round off their experience with shopping at the gift shop, which carries items launching exclusively at Disney Garden of Wonder.

Disney Garden of Wonder
Date: 8 June 2026 to 14 March 2027
Time: 10am to 9pm
Venue: Floral Fantasy at Gardens by the Bay
Details: Tickets are priced at SG$24 for adults and SG$16 for children
Getting here: Take the MRT to Bayfront station. Alternatively, drop off at the Bayfront Plaza carpark via taxi or ride-hailing service. More information available here.

Hashtag: #DisneyGardenofWonder #FloralFantasy #GardensbytheBay




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Gardens by the Bay

An integral part of Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision, Gardens by the Bay is a national garden and premier horticultural attraction that showcases the best of garden and floral artistry for all to enjoy. Spanning 101 hectares in the heart of Singapore’s downtown Marina Bay, it comprises three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central. Bay South, the largest at 54 hectares, officially opened on 29 June 2012.

Guided by the vision to be a world of gardens for all to own, enjoy and cherish, the Gardens’ extensive plant collection, ever-changing floral displays, and myriad of engaging programmes have captured the imagination of many, while its Gift of Gardens community initiative, with Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore as Patron, reaches out to people from all walks of life.

Since opening, Gardens by the Bay has welcomed more than 115 million visitors and garnered numerous international accolades including the third Top Attraction in the World in Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026, Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2024, Best Theme Attraction at TTG Travel Awards 2022 and 2023, and Best Attraction Experience at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2019. The Gardens continues to refresh and refine its offerings, to be a place that everyone can enjoy – a garden where wonder blooms.

For more information, visit .

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