Page 7 – 播道兒童之家

Supporter Stories22/03/202227/05/2022

Homeless Youth《Kick-Start in a Pandemic》–Sponsor 2nd Chance in Life- Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program “Start-up Fund”

Youth staying in Evangel Children’s Home not only face the predicament of homelessness, they also face challenges of future residence, independent living, further education and employment issues. This leaves them feeling helpless especially under the constant threat of Covid-19. Grateful that there are empathetic and kind-hearted donors who sponsored 2nd Chance in Life-Transitional Youth Sponsorship Program “Start-up Fund”, a continuous subsidy since 2021, and helped they transit gradually to independent living.

“Start-up Fund” – Timely Support under the Pandemic

Businesses in Hong Kong were hard hit in the face of severe pandemic. Residential youth encounter many difficulties when finding part-time jobs. Some being laid off are under tremendous mental and psychological stress. For a living, they have to allocate time on both study and work, which causes a dilemma. In the past two years, we are blessed to have kind donors – Angie & Cathy, who injected sponsorship of “Start-up Fund”. This helps the youth to transit through difficulties and prepare for further studies and career development.

A few sponsored youths are studying in accredited tertiary qualification courses or participating in pre-employment internships offered by the service project of the organization. They need to work part-time after school to cover rental, tuition and other living expenses. They recalled that during the pandemic, various industries fell into recession. They encountered financial difficulties, such as deduction in working hours or being laid off. Fortunately, they received the “Start-up Fund” and solved their immediate needs. Their psychological and mental stress was relieved so they could continue to focus on studying, complete their coursework or internship then gradually transit to self-reliance.

A Difficult Start with a Dilemma

“Due to the pandemic, I was unemployed early2021, resulting in zero income. I was under intense financial stress in face of various expenses, such as rental, transportation and food. In the last semester, the courses I studied are the most difficult. It takes me a lot of time to search in the internet every day. I study hard with my classmates, and depart school only when the campus closes” Amanda (alias) who is studying Chinese Medicine.

“Under the severe pandemic outbreak, labour demand dropped drastically. Many employees suffered either from deduction of working hours or being laid off. Due to the same reason, I was laid off from my last part-time job. The competition of finding a job is very high. There was no news about the jobs I applied. I was confused and under a lot of psychological pressure. At the same time, I have to take care of my studies. I need to spend a lot of time practising in the hospital to avoid making mistakes. If I fail in the exam, my graduation will be delayed for one year. My mental burden is very heavy…”Gwyneth (alias) who takes Nursing Studies.

“I attend school Monday through Friday. I do not have enough time for a regular part-time job. My income is unstable that intensifies my financial pressure. The schoolwork in the new semester is also getting heavier. I really hope to devote more time to my studies without worrying about my living expenses…“Britney (alias) who is studying Nursing.

Gratitude from the Youth Beneficiaries:

Amanda (alias) who is studying Chinese Medicine

“When I couldn’t find a part-time job and urgently needed financial support, this fund gave me a buffer period during the difficult time. It allowed me to study and complete the course with peace of mind. I am greatly thankful to the sponsors who contributed silently. When I am able to give back, I will do my best to contribute to the society.”

Gwyneth (alias) who chose Nursing Studies

“The Start-up Fund allowed me to relieve some financial burdens. It provided support under the unpredictable situation of the pandemic. Hence, I could focus on my studies and achieved satisfactory results. I look forward to obtaining enrolled nurse license subsequent to my internship… After overcoming this hurdle, I deeply realize that I shall serve people with different needs in this helping industry, and practise selfless dedication.”

Wing (alias) who is learning Information Technology

“The Start-up Fund relieved my financial pressure, allowed me to spend more time on further studies and start developing my second life. After becoming financially independent in the future, I hope to help those with financial need.”

Beautiful DIY thank you cards made by the youths

Once again, we thank Angie & Cathy for their timely assistance, encouraging homeless youth to come out of their predicaments and strive to move up. Hope that intergenerational poverty can be lifted and they could live a prosperous second life, and give back to the society.

Children Stories20/05/202206/06/2022

Money Management – 《Battle of Little Millionaires》 – Wilbur House

If children can gain knowledge of money management, explore and practise at a young age, their future growth will be greatly benefited. House parents train Wilbur House children (primary school boys) on money management, and let them grasp some basic concept in economics earlier. These children learn how to save, reduce unnecessary spending, postpone enjoyment of their ‘heart’s desire’, and save money slowly for their set targets. The result is very encouraging!

Learn Currency Values

House parents teach children money management. Firstly they introduce to them the Hong Kong currencies, for example, the shapes, sizes and values of coins and paper notes, so as to avoid confusion. Allow them to record income and expenditure every week. Just like Math, they add the savings (e.g. red packets) and deduct the spending on their account books. Let them see how much they really have. Then they can plan ahead and clear off fantasies.

Set Goals and Carry Out Plans

Once the savings goals are set, they can list out the ‘wants items’ or ‘important and needed items’ using straight line sorting method. House parents can infuse the meaning and value of each item, let them set priority and make better decisions. When the shopping goals are set, they have to compare prices and be smart consumers. For example, the same product may have different prices in different stores. If one store offers discounts, is it the best price? This could be a very practical Math lesson!

Give Back and Sharing

Finally when certain saving amount is reached and the ‘heart’s desired’ is bought, are they able to share the joy with housemates? Will it be donated to someone else in need? Learning such topics at a young age can help pave the way to contribute and give back to the society.

From Theory to Practice

Steve (alias):

He saved enough money to treat his mum for a meal on Mother’s Day.

Brian (alias):

Aim at the target, check for the best price, then purchase biography of his favorite basketball star.

Teach children to “save first, spend later”, cherish to wisely use and manage money, master the balance of income and expenditure, then we can cultivate their good spending habits. Some research points out that children who can postpone enjoyment and wait patiently will give rise to better development in academic, social and coping ability, thus enlightening their future.

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.