Evangel Children’s Home will organize an “Individual Volunteer Briefing Session 2” of this fiscal year on Oct 26, 2024 (Saturday). This is for those who are interested in becoming volunteers to learn more about the mission and services of the organization.
We welcome mature individuals aged 18 or above, support the mission of our organization, to join us as an individual volunteer with love and care. This is not for material rewards but to bring positive changes to our residential children and youth.
Date: Oct 26, 2024 (Sat) Time: 10:00am – 11:30am (registration starts at 9:45am) Venue：Evangel Children’s Home – Mini Hall
120 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin
(Go to Exit A of Wong Tai Sin MTR Station, take the 18M green minibus, get off at the Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital station, cross the road to the opposite side) For map and directions: https://www.ech.org.hk/en/contact-us/
The briefing will be conducted in Cantonese.
Types of Volunteers needed:
Volunteers for Activities and Other Skill Sets*
Large-scale event support group
Technical team* (Assist in art design/ website & multi-media design / photography and recording/ video production/ information technology/ promotion)
After-school activity group
Fund raising and charity sale
*Priorities in recruiting volunteers
For those who are interested in becoming volunteers but have not registered yet, please download and fill out the “Individual Volunteer Registration Form”, and then email to info@ech.org.hk and write on the email, register for the briefing session also.
Volunteer applications will be reviewed and to be matched in accordance with the organization’s recruitment procedures and service needs. After completing the registration form, you must attend the “Individual Volunteer Briefing Session” according to service requirements”. Whether the applicant can be arranged for volunteer service opportunities will depend on the needs and service consideration of the organization. We thank for volunteers’ initiatives but there may be cases that no further notice will be given if we are unable to arrange. Applications for family/group volunteers are not applicable. Evangel Children’s Home reserves the right for final decisions when changes become necessary.
Give children more cultivation and targeted training opportunities, and I believe every child can become a star-level outstanding child! Different groups, workshops and activities are specially designed for primary school students with special education needs, allowing them to build diverse abilities through games! Don’t miss it!
Activity goals:
Children-oriented: Organize tailor-made developmental activities and SEN training to meet children’s special needs Family Focus: Strengthen family unity and promote family harmony.
Targets:
Children aged 6-13 who attend mainstream primary schools and are assessed as having special educational needs (S.E.N.)
(Mainly for children from CSSA or low-income families who lack appropriate care during the day, but also for ordinary families)
Activities (10/2024-2/2025):
‧”5** Self-Confidence Improvement Group” – Get to know yourself and learn to appreciate yourself through games and activities;
‧”Origami Handicraft Class for Small Hand Muscles” – Improve the fine motor skills of fingers and palms, train hand-eye coordination, and improve writing;
‧”Play to Develop Execution Skills in Small Group” – enhance children’s reaction inhibition, working memory and flexibility through games and visual cues;
‧”Parent-child Special Play Time Parent Workshop”- parent-child activities and games strengthen parent-child intimacy, children are to put down their mobile phones to share intimate time;
‧”Lego Play for Multiple Abilities” – Use six-color building blocks to carry out interesting activities to train children’s concentration, social and emotional expression skills;
‧”Christmas and New Year’s Fun Time at Day Care” – Let children learn and have fun during the holidays, including tutorial, activities, crafts and refreshments, etc.
Opening hours: 10:00-18:30 (Monday to Friday) 10:00-18:00 (Saturday) Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Let your children shine and their abilities to soar! Please register as a member now (free of charge) and fill out the form. Quotas are limited and will be handled on a first come first served basis. Evangel Children’s Home reserves the right to make the final decision on events.
Service unit location: Evangel Children’s Home – Children’s Day Care Service Centre (2nd Floor, Extended Building, 120 Shatin Pass Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon)
Evangel Children’s Home is filled with endless love! Our beloved colleague Cheung Mei Ling, Yvonneretired in October. Before joined Evangel Children’s Home, Yvonne was a garment merchandiser. After she changed and picked up the job as a buyer for Evangel Children’s Home, she has been the “GMAA” (General Manager of All Affairs) for 24 years. All the way she is filled with grace and love for our Evangel Children’s Home (ECH).
The Big Family’s “Everyone’s Mom”
Besides from her own family and church, this big family is her third home, which is the one she spent the most of her time in “managing”. Yvonne described herself as a “Mom”, apart from purchasing daily necessities for all our children and need to take care of a huge household, for example, she needed to take children to buy clothes, brought them to see doctors, picked them up from school, mended their school uniforms, coordinated miscellaneous tasks, etc.
Below were some daily ‘calls for help’ which she often heard. “Yvonne! We’re out of rice!” “The air conditioner is down! The light isn’t working!” “Oh no, a child is sick at school and we need to pick her up now!… We need to prepare congee for him… We need to arrange a doctor’s appointment!” “The school uniform pants are too short now, can you do a bit needlework and make it longer? ” “The child misses to get on the school bus and needs to do alternative arrangements.” In her daily work, Yvonne and her team are just like a mobile unit – they have to handle the children’s daily routines and deal with emergencies at the same time.
Picking Up Children from School
Yvonne knows every child’s medical record clearly
The house parents may only know the children in their own hostel. However, Yvonne recognized all the children living in ECH and had the opportunity to build good relationships with them. “Sometimes I act as a buffer, helping to mediate conflicts between children and parents / social workers. I can explain and counsel the children in another way.” Yvonne had fond memories like the happy moments of “singing hymns and marching” when she picked up children from school. Beside of handling different affairs, she also worked on building relationships.
Yvonne had received some heartfelt gifts from children, like lovely cards on Mother’s Day, or some hand-knitted scarves. One day, a little boy promised, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor and take care of you, my Yvonne, when you’re old!” All these little things warm her heart. Although she is single and has no child, God has made her a “mother” to many and she can accompany many children as they grow up.
Children’s Love for “Mom”
She’s willing to help and work in the kitchen when urgent needs
“Weaving Up This Home”
Looking back on the days of growing together, Yvonne witnessed the expansion and changes in services, the increasing number of children with special education needs, she also experienced various challenges. No matter it’s in good times or bad times, supplies for children has never met a shortage, like festive food, fruits, snacks, daily necessities, and even COVID-19 test kits, masks, and beds for isolation. During the pandemic of COVID-19, apart from the silent donations in necessities like masks and test kits, Yvonne experienced the difficult time when there’s outbreak in the home, she worked with colleagues together selflessly to fight the pandemic. She believes when you walk with God, “nothing is impossible”.
Unforgettable Happy Moments Yvonne recalled the joy of seeing children “grow taller and gain weight” and left ECH happily. She remembered a child who loved staying at Evangel Children’s Home just because “there was food.” The child, who was skinny once, became a “big eater” later and grew stronger gradually. On the other hand, some of her unforgettable sad moments also revolved the children’s traumas and their misfortunes. She felt their pain and misery. One of the children lost his mother, and his father left too. The kid kept his father’s belongings in his pocket and he hoped to meet him on the street. This longing caused her great sorrow. Some of the children who had lived in ECH, passed away in their twenties or thirties, due to illness. She was very saddened to hear of these news.
Naughty and Frustrating Moments There were also moments of naughtiness and frustration. A child broke and spilled concentrated detergent on the playground. When cleaning, that created a sea of white bubbles, which made everyone “angry yet amused.” Once there was a newly join child, he liked to create troubles. When Yvonne brought him to see the doctor, he closed the clinic door and pretended to be a thief, scaring the patients waiting there. Fortunately, people there were understanding and did not blame him. Yvonne learned to keep patient and was grateful the children changed gradually.
Yvonne lost her father when she was six, and her mother worked hard to support the family. She understands the importance of “a home” for children. “Home” is like the root of a tree; if it doesn’t grow well, the child’s growth will be affected. She hopes that children from broken families can get warmth in this “home” and have a better future. A tree with healthy roots can grow strong.
“Threads is weaved in with Mother’s Love…” Yvonne stitched the child’s clothes with warmth and affection, hoping to mend the ‘wounds’ in children’s heart with love. She hopes that the children will be healed, and they will have their own lives and families, and reunite happily with their children in the future.
願我「家」更好Wishing My “Home” Better
Yvonne often encourages her colleagues with her favorite verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Our colleagues work at Evangel Children’s Home with love, and they sometimes face challenges and pressures which outsiders may not understand. She encourages them to accept and tolerate each other, and to receive God’s grace with a grateful heart.
Yvonne got the “Best staff” awards twice, showing how she devoted to ECH
Along these 24 years, Yvonne has been witnessing that the grace of Evangel Children’s Home is sufficient! She blesses her “Home” here will be even better!
On April 13th, approximately twenty college students from Hong Kong Elim Presbyterian Church (led by Pastor Park조윤태) visited the Evangel Children’s Home, a local residential group home to serve the children from broken families in Hong Kong. There, we conducted a Korean language workshop, shared traditional Korean games (딱지치기 ttakji-chigi and 제기차기 jegichagi) and basketball, introduced Korean food culture, and participated in a mural service project.。
At first, there was a sense of unfamiliarity and distance, but as time passed, the children at Evangel Children’s Home approached us with bright smiles and warm welcomes. Despite their smiles, it was impossible not to feel the pain and difficulties these young friends had been through. Most of the children there had been separated from their parents due to domestic violence and discord. Consequently, I was cautious in approaching them, also worrying whether it might be burdensome for the children. However, as we taught them songs of praise and played traditional games, the children began to open up and enjoy themselves, prompting me to reflect on my own hesitations. “Ah, they are also God’s beloved children,” I thought.
Realizing that I could not solve all their problems or be of significant help was both a burden and a source of compassion. Yet, upon realizing that God could accomplish what I could not, I devoted myself to expressing God’s love to these young friends through my limited language and gestures. I wondered the extent of grace that God, who gently heals even my smallest wounds and sorrows, would extend to these children who have endured great hardships from a young age, and what plans He might have in store for them. This experience led me to a moment of prayer: “I will do my best from my position, God. Please watch over these children, meet them, and stay with them.” I hope that the short time spent with these children offered them some comfort for their wounds and replaced their painful memories with joyful ones. To the end, I look forward to the next visit and will continue to pray that God’s love reaches them.
Master노래 Rae No of NRG Taekwondo, a donor of the Evangel Children’s Home, a local residential group home in Hong Kong, also played a bridging role in this volunteer activity. The loving heart that shares this involvement with others is truly beautiful. The college students conveyed love to the disadvantaged children, and a child who received love will in turn share that love with others. I look forward to seeing such activities continue to flourish.
About Evangel Children’s Home (ECH):
ECH was established in 1956 by an American missionary in Hong Kong. This NGO is committed to supporting the healthy growth of orphans, children and youth from broken families. Part of the funding is raised under the ECH Sponsorship Program for the holistic development of children.
The family members of the first-generation residents of the Evangel Children’s Home, carrying the love of Christ exemplified by the founder, Ms. Ruth Sundquist, generously donated a 2,000-square-foot property in Kowloon City. This allows our organization to have our own residence, offer more lodging in the community for “senior and youth co-living”, and launch the “Life Coaching – Always Stand by You” service. The “Love‧Inheritance Property Donation Thanksgiving Ceremony ” was held on 2nd of April in the hall of Evangel Children’s Home (ECH), witnessed the love passing down from generation to generation.
We had honorable guests attended the Thanksgiving Ceremony – they were from the property-donating family, Mr. Mak Hei Jit, Ms. Mimi Mak Siu Mei and her husband, Mr. Paul Tuen Yat Kan (we always call him big brother Yat-kan) who was brought up by ECH in 1950s, Mr. So Chun Ho (Chairman, Board of Director of E.F.C.C.), Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), Mr. Lau Kwok Wa (Chairman, The Board of Directors of ECH), together with the children, youth representatives and our staffs who witnessed the grace of the Lord. Through the sharing of our guests, those young people from broken family could understand and feel more about the selfless love behind this precious gift.
Connecting Love with the Community
Mr. Lau Kwok Wa, delivered a welcome speech and shared about the origin of the “LifeCoaching – Always Stand by You” service. The Board of Directors, starting from the review and further development of youth services, brainstormed about the idea of the Life Coaching Youth Project. The Mak’s family had made a donation of their property to ECH, passing on love and connecting to the community. Then, our ECH worship team led us singing songs to praise our Lord. Afterwards, Ms. Vivian Law, Superintendent of ECH, narrated the development history of the youth home service and her expectations for the future.
Lighting Ceremony Ignites Mission Legacy
This property donation lit up a new page of the Youth service. A Lighting Ceremony was conducted by our honorable guests, including the property-donating family, board members of E.F.C.C. and beneficiaries. To ignite the light, the guests inserted ‘activation cards’ representing the eight major elements and cultivation directions of the Youth Home service – housing, companionship, gospel, knowledge, connection, funding, etc. – this is a metaphor for the new service giving the youth hope for future career development. The “lighting” symbolized the “Stand by You” co-living program stepping into a new milestone. This witnessed the “Love‧Inheritance” under Lion Rock in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, everyone struggles for small living space. Those homeless youth had to spend most of their salary on housing, but could only afford a tiny subdivided room. They even tried hard to save money for further education, the chance for upward mobility became slim. On the other hand, those retired missionaries, who have dedicated their lives overseas, cannot find suitable housing when they return back to Hong Kong. Therefore, our ECH big brother’s (the alumni, first-generation admitted child of ECH) family donated their precious property to us. We were really impressed. This spacious property is located near Kowloon City with convenient transportation and all necessities of life, which makes it very suitable for community housing service. This self-owned residence creates a space in which we can have it both ways – both youths and seniors can co-live, interact, and enrich their lives with each other. We are looking forward to passing on the mission from generation to generation
Main Guests conduct the Lighting Ceremony
(From left to right: Mr. Lau Kwok Wa (Chairman, Board of Directors of ECH), Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), Mr. So Chun Ho (Chairman, Board of Director of E.F.C.C.), Mr. Oliver Mak, Ms. Mimi Mak, Ms. Vivian Law (Superintendent of ECH), Mr. Kyle Kwong (a youth representative of the ECH Youth Home)
“Love‧Inheritance under Lion Rock” – Sharing from Ms. Mimi Mak
Ms. Mimi Mak (Sister Mimi), on behalf of the property-donating family, shared her perception of this donation. She expressed, “God’s grace awaits us, no matter how difficult it is. God always has abundant grace.” “Thanks God, Ms. Ruth Sundquist raised up Paul, whom God prepared him for me (my husband). He was inspired with the gospel and believes in God, otherwise we would not have such fruitful blessings nowadays.” After her mother’s death, she continued, the inherited property has been unoccupied. One day, God moved her heart, and she conceived the idea of donating the property to ECH in where her husband, big brother Paul, grew up. The property’s inheritance rights, however, were jointly owned by her four siblings. When Mimi proposed the donation suggestion, all other three siblings agreed unanimously. “Commit your way unto the Lord; trust in him, and he will bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5)” said Mimi. This shows the Lord’s wonderful guidance, passing on the Lord’s love through human hands, using the property in a more meaningful way, willing to “returning God’s blessings for God’s use.”
Ms. Mimi Mak and Mr. Paul Tuen
Foster home youth, Jessica, created an artwork based on our special character ” ” for making a souvenir for them. The artwork showed our home filled with love and peace. An angel was fishing leisurely under the stars – this represented our home is a place where youth can rest, develop and be guided. A “home” here means a house having a ‘man’ and with “Lord” together. (The special Chinese character ” ” was designed by the Senior Pastor at the time of Grace Church of EFCC.)
Gratitude Sharing from the Youths of Foster Children’s Home
Kyle, Lynn, Gary and Icy, who were those residents and alumni of the Youth Home, shared their stories about the time when they were at the Youth Home Service. They treated the Youth Home as an oasis in their life, a place where could provide them strength and rest. In Hong Kong which is a fast-paced society filled with pressure, our Youth Home is a place where love, support, and endless encouragement could be found; a place where their hopes for future could be nurtured. One of the youths shared his future goal is to follow the step like Mak’s family and “to donate an apartment to Evangel Children’s Home after 50 years!” Another alumnus has become a hostel parent at the residential children’s home and she determined to influence one’s life with her experience to help needy children. This really showed the meaningful life brought by the residential home service to the young people.
Vision‧Opportunity
Rev Law Siu Tsuen (Vice Chairman, Board of Directors of the Paulus Cultural Center) shared the short-term accommodation needs of missionaries through a video. General Secretary, Calvin Lau (E.F.C.C. – Hong Kong Overseas Missions Board) also shared the meaning and opportunity of the “Life Coaching – Always Stand by You” program, how the missionaries and the young people bless each other, and also ‘influence life with life’.
All Things Work Together for Good
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.), recalled how he heard about the” dream” two years ago, prayed, and kept waiting in front of God. He kept seeking guide for both the housing needs of the youth home and missionaries. From nothing to something, God’s grace was accomplished through the Mak’s family in an unexpectedly beautiful way. “What is impossible to be happened now turn to be really happened!” Let the good seeds be sown in good soil.
Rev. Chan Wing Chau (General Secretary of the E.F.C.C.) Gives Thanks and Blessings
Evangel Children’s Home thanks the Mak’s family for donating the property, which can provide more lodging for homeless youth and adults to co-live, expanding the 2nd Chance in Life – Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program in our community – “Life Coaching – Stand by You”. Those homeless youth can break through from the predicament of self-reliant living and go ahead for their goals without fear.
It was great news for Evangel Children’s Home (ECH) when we knew the little girl Helen (alias) would be adopted by an Australian family. ECH have served many children coming from broken families for decades. It was fortunate Helen could walk out from the haze of sadness due to broken family and she could live in stable home with love. The new family ignites hope for Helen and her life could turn to a new page. She is the youngest sister in the new family and she settles into a new life in Australia well.
New Life of an Adopted Child
Most people may think that adoption is limited to infants or babies, but it is actually not. By referral of the Social Welfare Department, an Australian family adopted 8-year-old Helen. We were more than happy and grateful that a suitable family could be arranged for Helen and she would have a new home. After the epidemic, the adoptive parents and the family came to Hong Kong from overseas, who wanted to acquaint Helen and escort her to Australia to start a new life. They were so warmhearted they even prepared a pony pet for her which can grow up with little Helen!
As she was not good at English, Helen was afraid of speaking to her family in English at the beginning. She was only able to speak to her new family in simple conversation plus body language. In order to express her affection, she would give a hug to her adoptive father. Her adoptive siblings were willing to teach her and accompany with her, so Helen has adapted the new environment quickly. Her English has got much improved. More, she even loved to have Western cuisine as she could add the ketchup whichever she liked!
Farewell with lots of Blessings
Though Helen had lived in ECH for only around 2 years, she got well with everyone, like social workers, houseparent and the kids living together. It is obvious love was around this little girl. When everyone knew she was going to depart from Hong Kong and to live in an unfamiliar place, they all felt reluctant to her leave. They prepared a farewell party for her wholeheartedly – they made a commemoratory photo album and short video which carried about lots of sweet memories. In order to improve Helen’s English in short time, the houseparent not only tailor-made a picture book for literacy, which could help Helen to learn more English vocabularies, and also accompanied and watched videos from YouTube with her. In addition, to express her love and thankfulness, they taught her to make a DIY gift for her adoptive mother as well. Even though we missed her much, we sincerely wish Helen to grow up in a healthy and happy family. We may have chance to gather with her in future. Everyone in ECH continues to work hard for the new comers.
Dorcus, the houseparent, was very fond of Helen. Before Helen left, Dorcus told her about the mission of ECH – Jesus said “Let the children come to me…”
God take care of Helen and provide her a new home, with her adoptive parent and five siblings together, we sincerely wish her to be a cute and good girl with her big family in new place.
Whenever we met Elaine (alias), she smiled always. Whatever we told or asked her, she responded spontaneously with “yes”, “it doesn’t matter”, “whatever”, etc. She has encountered many difficulties in these years and we understood her days were not easy. We appreciated her positive attitude when we found she was temperless and willing to help others, with her smiley face on.
However, we found Elaine was not really a “yes-man” indeed. When she said “it doesn’t matter” but did not mean it; her facial expression could not help disclosing her ‘disagreement’ deep inside her heart. This discrepancy made her smile not authentic at all.
The coach discussed this ‘tip of iceberg’ with Elaine and investigated her iceberg underwater together. The impact from those barriers which she met in her life, made her not dare to express herself. She thought she could avoid any conflict from peoples around her after she said “yes” and just accepted others’ request, no matter she liked it or not. But, this would only suppress her feeling and ignore her real thought inside. This would not help her in solving problem at all, it even made it worse repeatedly.
When she knew the reason behind, she got the clue and understood there could be other way out. The coach encouraged Elaine to start how to speak out her thought and express more about her own feeling and needs. In order to learn how to love and protect herself, Elaine had to learn not to say “it doesn’t matter” everytime.
