Sunday, 1 February 2026By 4J Katrina Chung
We all see janitors on the street and know that their work is hard. I recently started to wonder what we can actually do to show that we care about them. On 27 October, we visited Hung Fuk Estate to meet some of the janitors working there. We brought them small gifts and shared a few simple words to show our appreciation and gratitude. This volunteer activity made me realise that the janitors’ job is even tougher than I had imagined. While looking for them, we visited their break room next to the refuse collection point. The area where they ate and rested was smelly, cramped, and had no comfortable chairs. We talked with one of the janitors. She said, “Thank you so much for respecting our work.” It made me wonder how people had treated them before and what kinds of disrespect she had faced. They work to clean our neighbourhoods and make the community more beautiful. What would happen to our community if all the janitors were not here? Their hard work is truly meaningful, and we should respect and care for them more. By simply thanking them, we can give them the respect they deserve.