Page 7 – 播道兒童之家

Events16/05/202216/05/2022

“A Severe 5th Wave Pandemic” – A Tough Battle Against Covid-19

The fifth wave pandemic swept all over Hong Kong and our children’s home was in deep water. A total of 22 children, youths and staff were tested positive. We are grateful to get over this battle with peace even at the precarious stage. Our staff standby each other and protect this Home against the pandemic.

Start of the New Wave

Our organization is located in the middle of the infected area of Wong Tai Sin. In early Feb, after everyone passed the compulsory nucleic acid test, we started to use rapid antigen tests for early identification of infected residents or staff. This preventive measure proactively stopped anyone with symptoms from returning to this Home.

Challenges of On-site Quarantine

Inevitably, the virus struck on us. On Feb 18, after the “Pandemic Response Measure Meeting”, our staff reported 3 residential children and 1 day care child tested positive. With fear and precaution, we immediately launched the highest-level contingency measure in order to quickly stop the spread of viruses inside our Home. As Hong Kong was at the peak of the pandemic, quarantine facilities became insufficient and public health care system was collapsing. Apart from arranging voluntary online medical consultation by our honorary consultant doctor, we quickly implemented on-site quarantine, separated children that were confirmed as infected, close contacts, returned from short term home leave and other children into four different zones, and took care of them separately. Even if they had to be moved from one place to another, they did not make any complaint. All children were required to stay at our Home during quarantine period. Every day, we have to do rapid tests as prevention of outbreak and safeguard the health of the children.

United as One to Fight the Pandemic

In the severe pandemic, 8 children, 2 youths and 12 staff have been infected successively. Our organization has to maintain 24-hour residential and youth home services for more than 100 children and youth, and face the unprecedented challenges. How we should take care of the children in different zones, deliver meals, continue online classes, conduct rapid tests and monitoring, arrange medical consultation, protect and disinfect the area, all these increased the workload and psychological pressure of our staff. Thanks to different departments, frontline house parents, supporting staff, etc. for safeguarding in their positions and help each other. There were social workers who took up night duties at consecutive nights, relief staff who risked and worked in the forefront. In face of extreme shortage of manpower due to their illnesses, the superintendent and social workers personally took care of the children. Thankfully, although confirmed cases were found in different care units, they happened at different time. Under the situation of extreme manpower shortage, everyone confronted the challenges head-on.

Take Care of Children’s Emotions

Under the pandemic, children need to stay inside our Home, take online and make up lessons. Some extracurricular activities could only be carried out to a limited extent or moved online. To our children, especially those with special educational needs, staying focused could be a big challenge. House parents not only look after the children’s daily living, protect them from infection and teach them self-care, they also care about their emotional stress due to the pandemic. “Beibei” (alias) – one of the children tested positive and recovered, recalled that she used to co-live in a group and felt lonely when isolated during quarantine. Fortunately, social workers and house parents kept chatting with her and cheered her up.

Despite the difficult process of the fight against this pandemic, the patient care and fearlessness of our staff, the implementation of preventive measures by all staff, compounded by the care and donations of all the kind-hearted supporters, united as a fortress, our organization peacefully overcome this tough battle against the pandemic.

Youth Stories16/05/202208/06/2022

《Bid Farewell to My Boyhood》 – Kenny

Youngsters do not know what sadness is? Youth staying in children’s home have to think about housing, livelihood, independent living and other issues before the age of 18, and their growth is accelerated all at once.

Kenny (alias) used to be taken care of by his grandma and lived a carefree live. He was arranged to stay in the children’s home about the time of junior high, when grandma was too old to look after him due to her old age. In this new Home, he had to learn to do housework and self-care. He accepted it silently with a sense of responsibility.

Boyhood Days

Kenny was looked after by his grandma since he was a child, and he had no impression of his parents at all. Life in this new Home was an eye-opener. Among the many activities, he liked hiking, especially the night walks, camping and sunrise watching activities at the end of year. Although it was tough, each time he successfully saw the sunrise, he felt a sense of achievement. In addition, he was impressed at the first time he participated in the “Man vs. Wild” – a field activity that tested physical fitness and courage. Kenny remembered that in one of the challenges they had to work in pairs and walk between two cliffs with one belt. He learnt that it takes courage to initiate the first step and come out of his comfort zone in order to succeed, and it is very important and a great help to have someone around and support each other.

Home is where the heart belongs

Kenny has an easy-going personality and everyone around him is willing to help. After he aged out of the children’s home to pursue further education, he still came back to work as a part-time tutor. This time, he takes care of young children like an elder brother. He realizes that the younger generation is different from his past and they have various needs. Nevertheless, he feels each generation has its own way of happiness.

Independent Living

Before any youth leaves the children’s home, social worker will assist with decisions on transitional arrangements such as housing, further education and work. Kenny is rather introverted, passive and goes with the flow. Under careful coordination of the social worker, he finally made up his mind to be a full-time student specializing in pharmacy. Firstly, it is his interest. Secondly, he was encouraged by the social worker. He wants to join the medical and nursing profession, and contribute to society in the future. With this goal in mind, he actively puts it into action. He allocates his time appropriately on studying and doing part-time job. After leaving this Home, he successfully moved into public housing, and gets support from a close relative.

The Strongest Backing

Always peaceful and quiet, Kenny is most reluctant to bid farewell to the comfortable life in high school, the boyhood days he spent with a group of housemates and the hot dishes from the dorm kitchen. Compared to living alone now, it seems a bit deserted. During leisure time, he loves reading and will go back to help at the children’s home. Evangel Children’s Home is like a big warm family. “Family members” look after, support and encourage each other, thus it becomes his strongest backing.

Youth Stories11/03/202201/06/2022

《The Blue Sky and White Clouds Above Me》– Youth Zeta

Besides providing a place to stay for the “transitional” youth, the staff and supervisor here also lend their ears to them. They listen to voices of the youth carefully and let them express their feelings.

An honest reveal of youth Zeta (alias):

Short-lived Happiness

It was unfortunate to move into a children’s home when having a family that was absent, not even for the basic support. I admit that I was less motivated to pursue my dreams as compared to others. There was no trusted person around me to instill correct values. Receiving care from Youth Home staff and supervisor was already very happy. However, this happiness is short-lived as they are not my family members.

After 18, I was transitioning to independence. To be honest, I was surviving to live. I did not expect to have my own space and dream. Youth Home was my first temporary residence, followed by theYouth Community Co-living Service I received from the 2^nd Chance in Life – Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program. It was a great help that gave me peace of mind to finish my university course.

I felt grateful to be admitted to a university. However, I also worked as part time during my school days. Coping with study and exams, there seemed to be no spare time and no classmates. Comparing to other classmates, they could have extracurricular activities, leisure time, exchanges, study tours, etc. Nevertheless, I was fortunate enough to have a 7-day study tour in Mainland China, which was a dream come true.

A Fresh Start

Now that I step into society, I accept the limitations of my monotonous past which repeated itself every day. When I wanted to talk to someone, I would chit chat with my roommates. When I wanted to be alone, no one would disturb me. To me, the days of living in the Youth Home was not a negative thing or a misfortune. Indeed, it was the greatest fortune. I learnt to kick-start and be independent earlier than others, and I am not a complainant of my origin.

I hope there will be no more panic in the future and I will face uncertainty with courage. Now having a full-time job, I will find my scattered roommates and meet up on weekends to have a bowl of Vietnamese noddle in soup with chili. This is my trust, my friendship and the blue sky and white clouds above me.

A footnote post editing: thanks to Zeta’s sincere sharing. We understand that it was not easy for him along the way. Reading between the lines, we can feel the bitterness and helplessness within him. Grateful that he can still find a bit of sweetness in life. Seeing young people learning to be self-reliant bit by bit, I cannot help but be moved to say, “Keep it up and don’t give up!”

Events10/03/202214/04/2022

“A Severe 5th Wave Pandemic” – Thankful for Timely Donations with Love

Hong Kong has no choice but to face the raging 5^th wave of COVID-19. We are grateful for the timely assistance from kind-hearted donors and organizations. Your kind donations replied our urgent funding needs. Your donations in-kind safeguard the residential children and staff so they can fight the virus with peace of mind. Our organization is deeply grateful. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Since mid-February, the market was short of protective items and people were panicky. Thanks to many kind people and organizations for donating the needed items and monetary contributions, including rapid test kits, highly protective masks, protective clothing, etc. We can also acquire new beds for isolation and more protective gears at the right time with your selfless love. All staff can perform rapid tests before going to work. Children and youth can use them immediately when necessary. Everyone takes precautions to protect the health of our children. We are now better equipped to face the attack of the virus, even when the children have no choice but to stay isolated at the designated rooms. Moreover, our honorary consulting doctor also volunteered video consultation and helped us overcome the illness.

Evangel Children’s Home has been committed to supporting the healthy growth of orphans, children and youth from broken families or families with difficult background. Residential children are more helpless in face of this 5^th wave of pandemic. Our organization provides 24 hour services with our devoted hearts. Many of our service program and operation expenses are non-government funded and supported by kind donors. At this difficult time, boundless loving care shines upon us with your kind support.

Donation methods: https://www.ech.org.hk/en/support-us/donation-methods

Let’s fight the virus together!

Supporter Stories19/02/202214/04/2022

《The Kid that Moved a Gas Tank》- ECH Alumni Man Tat

“Honest and Helpful”, this is Man Tat in the eyes of former house parent Onson.

At the age of 6, Man Tat was arranged to stay in Evangel Children’s Home because his family could not provide proper care in the 80s. When he first came to this unfamiliar place, all the house parents he met took great care of him. In this lovely home, he stayed for 12 years.

A Good House Helper

In this home, there were energetic boys and girls of different ages. Man Tat actively participated in activities such as primary student fellowship and loved sharing. Everyone loved him very much. Each child needs to do household chores, e.g., making the bed and cleaning. Man Tat not only did that, he also assisted in other tasks such as moving gas tanks and became a good house helper.

Selfless Love

One of the house parents – Hung, took good care of Man Tat and taught him well. Hung continued to be his big brother in a “Big Brother and Sister – Mentor Project” even after he resigned. He took care of him for many years. Because of the selfless love he received, Man Tat worked in ECH to look after the youngster of the Home for a short while after he left. It showed a sense of belonging, a response to God’s love and a giveback to this Home.

Love Your Neighbors as Yourself

Man Tat deeply understands that young children need to be accompanied. The brothers and sisters here took care of him like family members. This molded himself to be a brother who loves God and mankind. In the last annual Alumni gathering, he tried his best to attend and extended this love. He looks up to God with a pure heart and helps other alumni that grow up with him.

Evangel Children’s Home – a place that raised him up. He wishes this Home continues to shine and ignite hope.

*Thank Onson (Alumni Gospel Ministry Worker and former house parent) for contacting and interviewing Man Tat.

Youth Stories26/01/202201/06/2022

《The Unhappy Olivia》

Nowhere Home

Olivia (alias) used to live with her grandmother in an old village while her parents live in another place in Mainland China. Born in HK, Olivia was arranged by her parents to stay with her paternal aunt’s family in HK. Her parents insisted that she should stay in HK while her aunt only promised short-term care. Conflicts arose between her uncle and her aunt who suffered depression, thus hostel service was requested.

Referral to “3R” services

The 15-year-old Olivia started to displayed emotional and behavioral issues which affected her school life and appetite. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the girl was afraid to face her English teacher in Zoom class and cried even while doing newspaper clipping. Owing to the pressure from homework and quarrels among her roommates, she became more annoyed. Hostel social worker then referred the girl to the “Right Care, Right Time & Right Team (3R) Project”. After assessment by family doctor, Olivia was referred to clinical psychologist (CP). Upon the 5^th session, she was diagnosed insomnia and anxiety. CP also referred her to psychiatrist for medication.

Hostel

Knowing the girl needs more space and needs to prepare for upcoming public exams, hostel social worker helped arrange another independent room with more mature roommates. Together with extra care and concern, she could focus on her studying.

Counseling

3R CP took initiative to understand and assist in resolving some of her psychological and practical problems. CP taught her to handle emotional swings and pressure from family and school. CP also advised her to write down the happy and memorable things which remind her that someone loves her.

Psychiatric treatment

Medication helped Olivia sleep better and avoid overthinking. 3R psychiatrist was very attentive. He adjusted the dosage and treatment plan according to her latest condition. The outcome was remarkable. Her emotional swings reduced. With a calm mind, she can think more positively. Psychiatrist also prescribed appetite stimulants that helped her regain some weight.

Olivia felt lucky that she can receive multi-professional services from 3R project.

She believes many children and youth in the society also need such services. Hope that 3R project can gain more support from people in the society.

“Right Care, Right Time & Right Team (3R) Project”

https://www.ech.org.hk/en/services/3r-project/

65th Anniversary17/12/202127/01/2022

Christmas Event 2021 -《Meet God’s grace in a Christmas adventure. Show our love in a walk through adversities.》

2021年的聖誕慶祝晚會以《聖誕奇遇見主恩逆境同行顯愛心》為題，同慶播道兒童之家65周年。今次慶祝以別開生面的形式，讓孩子與助養人及助跑人互動。各嘉賓由孩子扮演的牧羊人引領，走訪幾個精心設計的家舍景點，了解孩子的日常生活。一連串慶祝活動，逆境同行顯愛心!

65th Anniversary05/12/202127/01/2022

ECH Alumni Homecoming Visit – Sharing Session for “2nd Chance in Life” Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program

服務社會65年之久，播道兒童之家照顧過的孩子超過1,300名。難得ECH院友周年重聚，移居加拿大多年的第一代院友大哥哥段一勤，專程回院與院友及孩子分享「愛的承傳」，話說當年。院友重返家舍，懷緬昔日生活的點滴，更參觀增設的青年家舍。青年宿生現身說法，讓大家更立體地了解新一代青年人的挑戰。

一勤哥更鼓勵院友以月捐方法支持「第二人生助跑計劃」，以愛還愛，分享更拍攝成短片，結連不同地域的ECH院友。

「一勤哥哥傳家愛」播道兒童之家第一代院友為「第二人生助跑」呼籲院友關愛，幫助無家青年走出困局，月捐支持 [第二人生助跑計劃] ，有助他們「安居．樂業．自立．合群」。

Children Stories28/12/202120/12/2022

《Waiting》– My Daughter

Friday Afternoon

Staff said, “Mama, you have to wait a little longer…, your daughter’s homework is not completed yet. There is a lot of homework today.”

Mama smiled, “No problem. When she returns home, she couldn’t do it at all…”

Friday Evening

Staff said, “Mama, please expect to pick her up at 6:30pm the earliest. There is usually a lot of homework on Fridays. ”

Mama smiled, “It doesn’t matter. I can wait. She will not finish at home.”

Staff said, “Thanks for waiting. You have to wait a little longer. There is one more to be finished.”

Mama smiled, “It is fine. It is better to wait. At least she has something to submit in school.”

The word “waiting” is not strange to parents of SEN (Special Education Needs) children. In particular, children suffering from problems with concentration seem to be “born without ears” that they are inattention to instructions. They can sit alone for half a day facing their homework untouched. Due to the lack of strength of their small muscles, writing is as difficult as “carrying buckets of mud on their shoulders”. Repetitive and intensive writing to them is like “farmers raking the field”. Many adults misinterpret these children as “lazy”, “uncooperative” or even deliberately confrontational.

When caregivers scream and roar anxiously, children will be frightened. In this case, with her serious lack of concentration and writing too slowly, her daughter has already scared away many tutoring agencies. A private tutor even resigned right after the second lesson.

The Bible says “children are a heritage from the Lord…” (Psalm 127:3). Children are human beings with flesh, blood and feelings, and they should be respected and protected by their parents.

In order to reduce parent-child conflict and the pressure of supervising homework, parents and caregivers can play the role of “waiting” when appropriate. This is also a kind of love and care to the children so they can enjoy their time together.

The Day Care Services (”S.E.N. 2.0” – Integrated Service) of Evangel Children’s Home is family-focused, children-oriented and community-based. We serve SEN primary school students and their working parents. We dedicate to becoming the SEN children’s second home in the community.