Inspired by the El Sistema in Venezuela, the Pong sisters founded the Music Children Foundation to provide free music lessons for children from grassroots families living in Sham Shui Po area; the first classes were conducted at the office of Society for Community Organization (SoCO). There were 36 students in the first year.

Our versatile curriculum,
• a choir and wind band were formed ;
• first Music Children Concert and
• Music for Everyone Concert organized.

Entering a new stage:
• First office at Fu Cheong Estate Shopping Mall.
• Free-of-charge music experiential classes for children aged 2-6.
• Start of flute classes at Shamshuipo Kai-fong Welfare Association Primary School.

Further developments:
• String and percussion ensemble were formed;
• Drum Fun! programme at Pak Tin Catholic Primary School.
• Co-founder Ms Monique Pong received the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service.

Thanks to sponsors, MCF ‘took the leap’ from Sham Shui Po, taking on the following projects:
• Jockey Club Music Children Seed Programme was launched, expanding our services to a total of 6 sites.
• MCF opened a second office at Arran Street.
• Performance of Music Children • Musical 2017, one built from experience of previous productions.

To allow more grassroots children to learn music and bring music to the community:
• Great Eagle Music Children Ensemble was formed.
• Jockey Club Music Children Seed Programme expanded to two more centres in Kwai Tsing and Yau Ma Tei, 8 service sites in total.
• Performance “Amazing” – first musical for children aged 2 to 6.
• MCF moved from Fu Cheong Shopping Mall to Nam Cheong Estate.
• First public performance at Tin Shui Wai: “Music For Everyone“.
• Some 200 children gave a flash-mob Xmas performance at Hong Kong Cultural Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Many music performances were organized throughout the year,
• the “Annual Concert” with more than 500 MCF students performing;
• the re-run of the musical “MUSIC Stand by Me“ with parents and children sharing the stage.
• MCF was invited to give a performance at the 2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix.

Innovations under the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Online teaching and virtual concerts.
• Multi-sensory immersive ‘play’ facility – U-BoX – launched.
• “Music Cradle” online courses were offered.
• MCF received Most Impactful NGO Awards by HKCSS.
• The “Jockey Club Music Children Fruit Programme” started, providing services to underprivileged children and their families.

Despite life was still affected by the pandemic, we kept our spirits up:
• In order to allow children to learn music in an enjoyable environment, we modified our music curriculum and framework.
• For the first time since the pandemic, music children from four districts got together to record the online Annual Concert at the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village.

As the Foundation entered its 10th year of operation, we prepared many exciting new projects. Our music curriculum and teaching framework have been further enhanced our children can continue to learn and thrive music in an enjoyable environment.