ECH Micro-film “Battle against Covid-19”

During the peak of the 5th wave pandemic, ECH children need to be quarantined on-site. All staff was united to safeguard the children’s home and to cut off the spread of virus. Thankful that we could win this tough battle. This large-scale “Battle against Covid-19” involving everyone in this Home was documented in a micro-film. It re-lives the heart-bounding scenes and the touching moments when our staff advanced to take care of the children wave after wave.

Caseworkers invited children and youth to play different roles in the film, deepened their understanding of how our staff cooperated in the process of the fight and faced the unpredictable challenges together.

This micro-film was premiered in the 2021-22 ECH Award Ceremony, where guests and supporters shared the production results. The film director praised that the children could. bravely try, patiently learn and showed team spirit. After overcoming the tsunami-like pandemic, while looking back on the process, what everyone retains is a grateful heart.

Children and youth played the roles of the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and Caseworkers who were having an emergency meeting on the pandemic. She also played as a news reporter who interviewed ECH.

They played the roles of cleaner and food delivery staff dressed in personal protective equipment. She pretended to be a busy supporting staff distributing emergency supplies.

The invisible virus also participated in the scene of infecting the children’s home, while she acted as Superintendent asking for help calmly.

This special scene with the children’s interaction, represents that time goes back when the virus first struck the children’s home. They need to face the unknown development during the pandemic. After the 5th wave pandemic, what remains is our grateful hearts.

晴報–逆境自強—入住播道兒童之家9年 19歲男生努力進修盼做社工助人

【即使面前困難處處,但人生總有出路。現年19歲的浩文生於完整家庭,惟因父親吸毒和母親患病的緣故,他自小被送往不同家庭寄養,自卑心湧現。小三那年他被送往兒童之家,再次轉換環境令他感到不適應;猶幸獲院舍提供很多關懷和協助,浩文逐漸打開封閉而久的心扉,個性漸變開朗。至去年中學畢業,他遷往青年家舍生活,學習獨立的同時亦得到家舍多方面的協助,令他認清人生目標,盼能成為一名好社工,好好回饋社會。】轉載首段

播道兒童之家院長羅姑娘與浩文
浩文分享在疫情下考DSE的心聲

轉載自《晴報》

撰文記者:賴天兒

相片:播道兒童之家提供

https://skypost.ulifestyle.com.hk/article/2955566/?utm_medium=share&utm_source=clipboard_share?r=cpsdlc

《A Relative with No Blood Relations》– “Elder Sister” Joanne

About 20 years ago at an ECH volunteer activity, a few strangers were connected and developed family-like relationships, spanning over the years and across different regions. An “Elder Sister” nurtured four young boys’ growth with blessings from heart to heart.

Become a Volunteer with Boundless Love

ears ago, Joanne was a member of EFCC – Woot Chuen Church. Dedicated to becoming a volunteer and serving the community, she is full of love. In the past, she trained her own puppies to become dog doctors. They had been serving elderly homes and hospitals for over 8-10 years. In 2003, after a charity walk organized by Evangel Children’s Home, Joanne took the initiative to offer volunteer services to the children. The social worker at the time (now the social work supervisor) – Joe arranged two pairs of little brothers under the age of 10 (including Ah Yin and Ah Wai) be mentored by Joanne and implemented an “Elder Sister Plan”. Out of expectation, this arrangement connected these few strangers and created family-like and boundless care thereafter.

In the 2003 ECH charity walk, Joanne participated with her beloved dogs.

Life Nurturing and Selfless Companionship

Joanne has a bright personality which makes her appropriate to be a caregiver of boys. She hopes to accompany these children with the love of Christ and influence these little lives with her life experience. At that time, Joanne worked in a commercial firm. She brought snacks to the children’s home and chit chat with the little brothers at her spare time. At the beginning, she did find it hard to look for some common topics to kick-start a conversation. Nevertheless, she accompanied and listened patiently and carefully. Gradually she opened up the little brothers’ inner world, sharing their sorrow and joy. She will not forget the time she was invited to be a boy’s guardian and met his teacher at school. Joanne found these kids kind-hearted. Occasionally, she applied to take them out for a movie, or go hiking and stretch their body and mind. All these were wonderful experiences to the little brothers

A Relative with No Blood Relations

After these little brothers left the children’s home at the age of 18, Joanne continued to communicate with the four boys who became young men and exchanged greetings. Seeing that they were not self-reliant right away, she devoted herself and bought suitable home appliances for them. Even at one of the boys’ life event – the wedding day, she was asked to be formal witness of the wedding. This showed that even though they have no blood relationship, they shared the same family-like relationship. What comforted her most was watching them grow up and becoming loving and responsible adults. Some got married and even gave birth to the next generation, inheriting the love of Christ.

Boundless Care Brought up Doctoral Student

In recent years, Joanne emigrated overseas. Thanks to the internet, their communication never stopped at her fingertips. One of the big boys, “Ah Wai” is now a doctoral candidate in nutritional studies at a Taiwan University. All these achievements did not happen by chance. Great thanks to the irrigation from all aspects with love so that little saplings can grow into big trees and benefit the community.

This kind of invisible relationship does not require too much verbal communication. Companionship with heart brings out the most sincere dedication and care.

Few years ago, Joanne originally planned to meet “Ah Wai” in Taiwan, but the two unexpectedly met at the Hong Kong airport.

Joanne visited HK and made a special trip to reunite with members of ECH.

From left to right: Ms. Law (Superintendent), Joanne, Joe (Social Work Supervisor) and Calvin (Deputy Superintendent)

有線電視–小事大意義–「愛心業主助無家青年Leo」

在寸金尺土的香港,住屋租金冠絕全球,對於家庭發生突變的青年,霎時失去居所,他們怎樣面對租屋的困難?播道兒童之家青年家舍舊宿生Leo,因遭家暴後入宿,面對有家歸不得,透過「第二人生助跑計劃」服務過渡自立。感恩得到愛心業主平租單位,更感恩是他與父親復和,還帶他返教會。 Leo發奮多年,今天,他已完成學位,有穩定工作,並有能力自住。

Leo與爸爸同住時,因與父親發生爭執,須入醫院治療。經社工介入後,入住播道兒童之家青年家舍。期間正修讀高級文憑課程,晚間做兼職維持日常開支。Leo入宿時大約19歲,是初期第二人生助跑計劃青年家舍宿生,唯青年家舍只限住2年,當時青年社區共住服務還未推出。他面對須搬出租屋,感到很徬徨,離開時還在學的他,要應付高昂租金及其他開支,經濟壓力非常大,只能在元朗的偏僻村落租住圍村套房。雖然租金較便宜大約三千多元,但交通費每月差不多要二千元,每月所賺的大部份也用在學費和交租,當時真稱不上是生活,只是為了生存而活。

在全職工作兩年後,他再一邊工作一邊修讀學位課程,因回家須趕尾班車,連放學後與同學研習功課的時間也沒有。家舍導師盡力幫助,透過教會網絡,最終找到以市值六折租金,約三千元以下租住位於太子的劏房。在太子單位居住了約4年,期間順利完成學士學位,畢業後他找到穩定工作。現在Leo已有能力租住其他單位。

Leo感恩得到「第二人生助跑計劃」的幫助,有愛心業主在經濟上的協助,讓他有空間發揮所長,給予機會自力更生。

更感恩的,是Leo入宿期間,獲家舍導師邀請參與播道會同福堂九龍東堂聚會認識福音,有一次牧師為他禱告並給他猶如父親的擁抱,把他的心軟化,聖靈一直作工,他最後與爸爸復和,還帶他返教會。

Leo最近更勇敢接受有線電視訪問,讓公眾了解那「做在小子身上的工」,那助力多大!

節目重溫:有線電視–小事大意義 [愛心業主助無家青年] (https://fb.watch/2PyIrKhyIc/)

香港01 – 林淑敏擔任助跑之星向青年「送水」鼓勵:我也經歷過很大難關

「大小姐」林淑敏為播道兒童之家的「第二人生助跑計劃」擔任助跑之星,更為計劃拍攝的籌款影片《逆境有你起跑易》,剛於 11 月 28 日晚上的「逆境有你起跑易!播道兒童之家籌款首映會」開 Live中,透過 Facebook 專頁及 YouTube ECH 專屬頻道首播。首映會由藝人阮小儀擔任嘉賓主持。

嘉賓主持阮小儀與播道兒童之家青少年開Live。(播道兒童之家提供)

林淑敏在片中分享:「我的生命也經歷過很大難關,難關之中,領會到除了自己的努力,身邊有愛你和關心你的人也非常重要。」她鼓勵家舍青年,努力堅持,不要放棄,夢想總會實現;並分享家舍青少年在人生起跑線上,只是先天裝備可能不足,需要我們關心和幫助,使他們的才能得以發揮。各方支持,有助過渡難關。

睇睇部分影片片段:

而在首映會上以歌聲為家舍青年打氣的助跑嘉賓關心妍,與一班家舍孩子齊齊以詩歌 —《當行你走到無力》帶出正面訊息。她表示自己也來自單親家庭,很明白成長之路的困難,幸運地在這段路上找到自己對唱歌的興趣,一直努力走下去;她深明陪伴家舍孩子同行的重要,希望自己的榜樣能成為他們的借鏡,所以願意義務教家舍孩子唱歌,鼓勵他們,讓他們看到希望,走出困局,活出第二人生。

關心妍義教家舍女孩。(播道兒童之家提供)

撰文:秦志鴻

相片:(播道兒童之家提供)

林淑敏擔任助跑之星向青年「送水」鼓勵:我也經歷過很大難關

https://bit.ly/3lAKCYA