Love @ Po Leung Kuk

Sharing Love

物理治療師陪伴殘疾人士走上藝術家的路 (Chinese Only)

高韻雯（KoKo）在9個月大的時候，因發燒而患上大腦麻痺症，自此嚴重影響其身體協調和語言能力，需要長期坐輪椅，但無損她對藝術的熱誠。Koko花了許多時間和毅力執起畫筆，透過畫作與世界連接，成立屬於自己的畫廊，更當上了香港展能藝術家。 KoKo自小已很喜歡拿各種顏料來玩，十多年前才正式跟隨老師學畫畫，從此就沉醉在繪畫世界。KoKo的畫畫過程，一點都不容易，因為她的肌肉張力異常，四肢間中出現不協調和痙攣，以致影響活動能力，於是她便從較易控制的塑膠彩學起。她每天用上許多時間和毅力握著手上的畫筆，開始在畫布上畫畫的日子，表達心裡面的情感和意念，讓她的「生命畫布」增添豐富的色彩。保良局嚴重肢體傷殘人士綜合支援服務物理治療師左棟樑（Alex）分享，「其實畫畫的動作非常複雜，需要大小肌肉的協調，Koko的手指和手腕的關節僵硬，容易脫臼，需要持續接受物理治療，故我們會定期上門為她進行拉筋訓練，希望減少關節攣縮，維持其四肢活動能力，助她繼續拿起畫筆。」即使Koko四肢嚴重攣縮，其身體的限制沒有阻礙Koko對藝術創作的渴求。「每一次訓練，KoKo都總是面帶微笑，即使有時身體狀況不佳，手部的肌肉和筋鍵特別繃緊，她都會樂觀地嘗試和練習，只因這是她與世界連接的重要媒介之一。記得剛認識Koko時，由於她難以用語言表達，所以每次訓練時只能作簡單交流或是透過照顧者了解她的感受，後來我就從她的畫作打開話匣子，從中也能了解她的內心世界和想法。」 KoKo喜歡創作各類型畫作，家中亦擺放了不少作品。在這十多年來的藝術創作路上，她成為了香港展能藝術家，更成立屬於自己的「思情畫意畫廊」，希望帶出「畫畫人及看畫人要用心思考畫」的意思。KoKo又將畫畫心路歷程和作品結集成書，藉此告訴大家，即使遇上任何問題也不用害怕，只要肯堅持，總有解決的辦法，正如書中所言：「一幅畫布，既是張白布，同時也是個有待發現、有待創造的新世界。畫布是她與世界溝通的重要媒介之一，也是記錄生活上喜怒哀樂的寒暑表。」

Compassionate Lawyer Sponsors 12 Children: Aiming to Bring Happiness and Warmth to Kids

Every Saturday morning, Lawyer Wong takes the time to visit the children, playing and interacting with them, and even preparing snacks for them. “I’ve always felt very fortunate in my studies, work, and family, so I want to give back to society and bring happiness and warmth to the children!” Lawyer Wong's connection with the children at Po Leung Kuk began in 2019. Initially, she learned about volunteer activities involving visits and interactions with children through a member newsletter from the Hong Kong Law Society. During that event, staff from Po Leung Kuk informed her about the facilities, programs, and sponsorship details. Lawyer Wong found the program meaningful and decided to become a sponsor, hoping to improve the children’s living environment and provide them with opportunities to participate in various extracurricular activities. After completing training for sponsors, she officially began visiting the sponsored children. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple delays in visitations, it did not deter her compassionate spirit. She expressed that she enjoys every visit, fully engaging with the children, saying, “Whatever the children want to play, I play along with them, even if it’s in the garden.” She also keeps track of each child’s interests, personalities, and memories to make future visits more familiar and enjoyable. “I remember on my first visit to one child, he asked if he could hug me.” Unfortunately, due to visitation rules prohibiting close contact, Lawyer Wong couldn’t give him a hug. However, that experience deeply moved her, highlighting the children's need for love and care. With a heart full of compassion, Lawyer Wong hopes to reach out to and visit even more children, bringing them joy. Thus, she decided to “expand her family” by increasing her sponsorship from 5 to a total of 12 children. “I hope that in the brief hour of our visit, the children can have fun and find a different experience in their daily lives at the facility; I also want them to feel that there are many people in society who care about and love them.”

(Chinese Only)運動是……身心的鬥快成長

(Chinese Only) 近年新興運動百花齊放，連小朋友也有份！保良局金卿幼稚園於2014/15 年度參與由保良局與香港地壺球協會的合作項目，推行全港首創幼稚園「地壺球運動」先導計劃，及後更組織了一隊地壺球校隊！「地壺球」是港人自創運動，由蘇格蘭的「紳士運動」—冰壺演變而成，玩法簡單：比賽分成兩隊，每隊有三名隊員、六個地壺，每回合雙方輪流推發地壺，愈接近圓心區域愈高分。當初校方有見規例簡單，又能強化幼兒的肌肉發展，於是安排老師進行培訓、制定指引及購置器材，正式在高班課程引入這項運動。「推行初期，幼兒在我們協助下組隊比賽，後來他們更自發邀請同伴入隊，玩得十分投入。」有四年教授經驗的袁敏儀主任笑稱，「大部份小朋友一開始只是隨意推出地壼，後來在老師引導下，就開始一起研究下次發球的策略。」小小的地壺鍛鍊出專注力及合作能力，殊不簡單。地壼球還能傳授「社交禮儀」：雙方隊員賽前須握手及向對方說 "Good Curling"（打好球），賽後則說 "Good Game"（好球）。袁主任指幼兒較自我中心，學地壺球正好讓他們明白「友誼第一，比賽第二」的道理，「最重要是小朋友能面對失敗，賽後不論勝負也能主動向同伴示好，也是重要一課。」校方曾組隊參加香港首屆校際地壺球錦標賽，最後奪亞，袁主任回想起也別有感受：「看著他們凝神貫注地發球，很有運動員的風彩。」她指校方將繼續推廣地壺球，希望有朝一日能普及全港。

Leaving Nursing to Nurse Her Son Back to Health

For every mother, feeling her baby growing inside of her during the 10 months of pregnancy is one of life’s most incredible journeys. Ms. Yiu, soon to be the mother of Laam Laam, could not wait to welcome her little one and start their small family, Born prematurely at just 26 weeks, Laam Laam’s tiny organs were not yet ready for the world. He spent crucial months in the hospital fighting to survive and he requires round-the-clock care – a ventilator breathes for him at all times. Laam Laam couldn’t run and jump like other kids in the past 6 years because he had to go to the hospital for various treatments. His ventilator must be monitored constantly. As such, Ms. Yiu had no choice but to leave her job to be Laam Laam’s full-time caregiver. While the financial, physical, and emotional demands soon became overwhelming, money grew tight as the income of Ms. Yiu’s husband alone could not cover Laam Laam’s expensive medical costs. Professional team of Po Leung Kuk Chao King Lin Early Learning Centre is helping Laam Laam on his muscle training Thankfully, she heard about the Po Leung Kuk Chao King Lin Early Learning Centre-Special Child Center. When the professionals of the center heard about Laam Laam’s circumstances, a dedicated team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, childcare workers and social workers were fully geared up to provide holistic support for Laam Laam and his family. His performance on his speech, muscles and eating abilities were weaker than other children of his age at the beginning of training; however after 3 years of time at the center, Laam Laam made tremendous strides in developing his overall abilities. Ms Yiu feels immensely grateful to Po Leung Kuk and the center for providing her family with comprehensive support She cherishes how their care gave her strength and courage to face each hurdle along this difficult journey. “Because if I did not hang in there with courage, who else could Laam Laam count on?” While uncertainty remains about the future of Yiu’s family, Po Leung Kuk will continue to support children with special needs and their families like Yiu’s family through the Kuk’s full backing in fostering children development and meeting their family needs. With the assistance of Po Leung Kuk’s resources and generous contributions from donors, we are able to provide adequate and comprehensive training services for underprivileged children and families, safeguarding the children's growth and offering holistic support to families.

琪琪媽媽：「感謝保良局伸手扶了我一把。」(Chinese Only)

因新型冠狀病毒疫情出現，影響整個社會及多個行業，作為家中經濟支柱的丈夫至今也只當過兩、三天散工，經濟負擔一下子變得沉重。面對收入驟減、前景不明，琪琪媽媽承受著生活上，以至情緒上的無比壓力。琪琪媽媽比想像中堅強，她明白身為兩個女兒眼中的榜樣，要勇敢地守住這頭家，不讓情緒影響女兒開心的童年。女兒琪琪就讀保良局幼稚園暨幼兒園幼兒班，去年疫情嚴峻，曾多次停課數月，長時間留在家中，琪琪媽媽要花更多時間照顧女兒、投注更多心力。例如女兒沒有上學，要額外準備平時由學校提供的奶粉、午餐等；丈夫沒工開閒待家中，沒有收入亦令婆媳關係惡化。生活上所有事情變得方寸大亂，使她很迷網，甚至手足無措。「好感恩，好像伸手扶了我一把。」琪琪媽媽多謝保良局對她的支援，送上食物及營養包，補足小朋友基本營養需要；停課期間，老師每星期都會致電關心她們的近況，甚至提出可以把孩子送回學校暫託等支援。保良局邀請您在這關鍵時刻伸出援手，支持保良局「關愛無限 ‧ 共跨逆境」扶弱計劃，為受影響的基層家庭，尤其是小朋友送上及時雨。捐款支持