Valentine’s Day is 14 February, but three days before the festival, on 11 February, the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM) Iao Hon Community Centre hosted a baking workshop entitled “Love. Be With You-Partners Walking Together”.  The centre hopes that through workshop, the couples can create sweet memories together and enhance their relationship.

The activity was initially led by social workers, with participating couples needing to carefully weigh the ingredients when making a cake, emphasizing the communication and cooperation between the two parties during the process. In the second half of the activity, social workers tested the way couples expressing their love and promoted their relationship.

Hong Wai Dong, director of the Iao Hon Community Center, said that many families in Macau have both parents working full time, who need to balance work and taking care of their children every day, with “we time” rarely enjoyed by husband and wife.

“I hope that through the event, professional social workers will provide participants the skills to get along with each other, so as to enhance the relationship between husband and wife,” Hong said.

One participant said, “Because I am busy with work and taking care of children, I don’t spend much time with my wife. This is the first time I tried baking with my partner. During the process, I can better understand my wife’s ideas and we learned to respect each other and deepen our relationship.”