Key information

Venue: 2/F, Block A, Vita Tower, 29 Yip Kan Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
Opening reception: 4 March | 18:00 – 20:00
Exhibition: 5 – 7 March | 12:00 – 19:00
Purpose: To introduce the public to Mayaa’s missions in Hong Kong and Nepal — with no commercial objective or revenue generation – through documentary photographs of children supported by Mayaa, accompanied by their stories.

Press release

The result of a collaboration between Mayaa World and photographer Sophie Bonnin-Rocher, Where Hope Begins tells, through images, the journeys of families supported by Mayaa in Hong Kong and Nepal.

In 2024, during a trip to Kathmandu (Nepal), Sophie visited the Mayaa centre and accompanied the charity’s social workers for a photographic report during their visit to the families  they work closely with Because hope also begins here—in Hong Kong—she then extended the project alongside two members of the Mayaa HK team, visiting partner schools and meeting families supported by the charity. Through photography that is both documentary and deeply human, the exhibition immerses visitors in these lives and highlights what Mayaa’s support changes in tangible ways: covering school fees, uniforms, books and supplies, social follow-up and health support—levers that help children stay on the path of education.

Where Hope Begins has no commercial purpose. The exhibition was designed as a gateway into Mayaa’s work in Hong Kong and Nepal: to understand, to feel, to meet—and, above all, to realise that hope often begins with something simple: a child who can go to school.

About the exhibition

Where Hope Begins brings together a selection of photographs taken by Sophie Bonnin-Rocher within the communities supported by Mayaa. The series alternates scenes of daily life, moments at school, portraits and quiet everyday instants. The images tell singular stories—without sensationalism—and make visible those we too rarely see.
Beyond bearing witness, the exhibition aims to create connection: between Hong Kong, where Mayaa also supports underprivileged children, and Nepal, where Mayaa has been supporting families for over a decade. One common thread runs through the entire exhibition: education as the turning point to break the cycle of poverty.

About Mayaa World

Mayaa World is an NGO founded in 2011 by Nicole Sicard and Sarbendra Pachhai.
Its mission: to support children and families living in extreme poverty so that children can go to school and stay in school, in order to break the cycle of poverty.
In Hong Kong, where poverty also affects the youngest (20% of the under-15 population lived below the poverty line in 2024*), Mayaa supports students in the most underprivileged areas by covering essential education-related expenses (uniforms, supplies, school and medical costs).
In Nepal, Mayaa funds schooling and combines social follow-up, health and prevention programmes. A human-scale NGO, Mayaa relies on a largely volunteer team in Hong Kong and a salaried team in Nepal.
* “Hong Kong Poverty Report 2024” — Oxfam
Motto: “Offer a meal to a child and you give them a smile. Offer an EDUCATION and you give them a FUTURE.”

About the photographer: Sophie Bonnin-Rocher

Sophie Bonnin-Rocher is a photographer whose work draws on visual storytelling to highlight the value of people and create connection. Her practice ranges from documentary to portraiture, with a particular focus on impact-driven initiatives.
For Where Hope Begins, Sophie first immersed herself in Mayaa World’s work to understand the essence of the project, the organisation’s long-term relationships with families in Hong Kong and Nepal, and the practical realities shaping children’s access to education. This led her to choose to document the children in their homes. The spaces where homework is done, where challenges are lived, and where resilience takes shape.
Thanks to the trust built over years by Mayaa’s team, school directors and social workers, the families agreed to open their doors. Accompanied by members of the organisation, Sophie aimed to create a climate of ease that allowed her to capture moments that felt truthful, images the families themselves would recognise and feel comfortable seeing.
“My work is often marked by enthusiasm, warmth and visible joy. Yet here, I was entering spaces shaped by hardship. My intention was to portray dignity, resilience and hope without inviting pity, which is at the heart of Mayaa’s work. To connect rather than dramatise, and to honour the trust of families who opened their homes to me. These images are the result of genuine encounters. I hope they reflect both the complexity of each story and the strength made possible by Mayaa’s long-term support in encouraging education and providing emotional guidance.”
To know more: sophiebonninrocher.com

✨ Une soirée d’art, d’élégance et de générosité ✨

Préparez-vous à une soirée extraordinaire de divertissement et de philanthropie au Vogue Kornhill, un lieu situé au cœur de Quarry Bay. Entrez dans un monde d’art en vous immergeant dans une série de spectacles à couper le souffle. La soirée sera animée par des musiciens de classe mondiale, du jazz à l’âme à la musique classique exquise, ainsi que par des danseurs professionnels qui apporteront élégance et énergie à la scène. Pour ajouter un élément d’émerveillement, des artistes de cirque éblouiront le public par leur grâce et leurs exploits audacieux. Plus qu’un spectacle, c’est un voyage artistique conçu pour captiver et inspirer.  

🎶 Rencontrez les artistes

• CheHo Lam (HK)- Violoniste de renommée internationale, CheHo s’est produit au Carnegie Hall et lors du déjeuner d’investiture de Barack Obama.
• Costel Pascu (RO) – Pianiste de jazz, chef d’orchestre et arrangeur, Costel s’est produit dans les plus grandes salles de Hong Kong, de Montréal et des Émirats arabes unis. Après une formation classique en Roumanie, il est tombé amoureux du jazz et du funk et a dirigé des spectacles musicaux pour de grandes compagnies de croisière
• Julius Sarino Bernales (PH)- Bassiste de jazz ayant plus de 25 ans d’expérience, Julius s’est produit dans des lieux prestigieux tels que le Rosewood et le JW Marriott à Hong Kong, ainsi qu’à Macao et au Japon. Il a travaillé comme chef d’orchestre, directeur musical et éducateur, partageant sa passion pour le jazz et la basse.
• Londiwe Ngubeni (MsLolo) (SA) – Vocaliste puissante et ancienne Rafiki du Festival du Roi Lion de Hong Kong Disneyland, MsLolo mélange l’afrobeat avec des influences asiatiques, apportant énergie et âme sur scène.
• Margaret (HK)- Diplômée de la Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Margaret a participé au Festival du Roi Lion (HK Disneyland) et à Universal Studios Singapore. Fondatrice de PERFORMCREW, elle soutient des organisations à but non lucratif comme le cirque de Hong Kong et travaille comme tutrice, formatrice et thérapeute en danse.
• Matthieu Sachot (FR) – Ancien soliste de la cathédrale Saint-Patrick de New York, Matthieu a fait les beaux jours du Lincoln Center et continue de soutenir des associations caritatives telles que Mayaa Nepal à travers son art.
• Le trio Elodie Lee : composé de Jimmy Pitman (basse), Toshi Horiguchi (piano), et Elodie Lee (chant), est un ensemble dynamique mêlant les influences du jazz, du tango et des musiques du monde. Profondément enracinés dans la scène musicale de Hong Kong, ils promettent une performance envoûtante remplie d’harmonies riches et de rythmes captivants.

Dans le cadre de cette soirée exceptionnelle, les invités pourront également profiter d’un repas gastronomique, soigneusement préparé pour accompagner les spectacles de la soirée. L’excitation se poursuit avec une vente aux enchères en direct comprenant des lots exclusifs et un tirage au sort avec une variété de prix qui promet de ravir tous les participants. 💃 Code vestimentaire : Formel Ouverture des portes : 18h30 🎟 Prix des billets Prix de la table : 13 000 HKD Billet individuel : HKD 1,200 Prix de la réservation anticipée : HKD 1,080 Au-delà du glamour, Cabaret by Mayaa est un événement caritatif avec un but. Organisé entièrement par des bénévoles, 100 % des fonds récoltés serviront à soutenir la mission de Mayaa, qui consiste à offrir une éducation et des opportunités aux enfants défavorisés de Hong Kong et du Népal. Rejoignez-nous pour une nuit mémorable de talent, de générosité et d’impact – une célébration de l’art, de la culture et de la générosité qui fait vraiment la différence.