Love @ Po Leung Kuk

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。」

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.  

愛意洋溢的二月，素色打扮的一對伊人站在保良局中座大樓門前，他們是阿錦和阿錦的太太。中學階段，由於家庭緣故，阿錦曾暫住在保良局兒童之家幾年。離開家舍將近十年，今天他應保良局的邀請回到保良局總部，團聚之餘，也與陳黎惠蓮主席一起探望住在總局的住宿兒童。   不少人誤以為住宿兒童的日子都過得很悽慘，但阿錦卻笑說未然。「剛入住家舍時，我是萬般不情願的，但隨著日子過去，開始感受到家舍職員的關愛，而且跟其他小朋友又開始熟稔，我漸漸開始喜歡上這裏的生活，甚至在搬離家舍時不捨得要哭出來了。」太太在旁補充說︰「阿錦常常跟我說他在家舍生活的日子是他人生中最快樂的時光之一。」 家舍的生活塑造出阿錦樂天的個性，正所謂知恩圖報，阿錦現時會不定時到家舍當義工，例如在誼親日擔任工作人員，或在週末時帶「細佬妹」出外遊玩。「想當年『哥哥』『姐姐』對我照料有加，特別在我剛入住期間，常常主動跟我聊天遊玩，令我很快便融入這個大家庭，現在我也想以『哥哥』的身份回饋這個大家庭。」   問到在家舍生活中最難忘的畫面，阿錦說是離開家舍的那一天。「我在18歲生日前一天離開家舍，那晚我正提著行李箱，準備走了，職員和其他小朋友都跟我一一道別，唯獨一直照顧我的阿Sir不在，我猜他一定是不想看到我離開的背影，於是我走到他的房門打算跟他告別，卻發現他在房間偷偷拭淚。」十年彈指一過，阿錦與阿Sir和家舍朋友的關係沒有隨時間而變質，「我在去年都邀請了他們出席我的婚禮，希望他們見證我邁入人生下一個階段。」   談笑間，主席笑得雙眼像彎月一樣。「我真的很開心，上任以來一直想跟曾經在本局住宿的兒童聊天。得知阿錦在保良局家舍的日子過得快樂，我便心安了。」回朔保良局歷史，兒童住宿」服務，但保良局關懷住宿兒童的心卻持續未斷。「從145年前到今天，我們初心不變，未來也會一直守護有需要的小朋友，為他們提供一個安全、安心的家。」