Love @ Po Leung Kuk

Sharing Love

感謝．信讓自閉學員接通愛的世界(Chinese Only)

今日的軒源媽媽（林太，長椅左），在保良局鄭翼之中心與斌Sir（陳衍斌助理經理）、洪姑娘（洪婉蓉社工）談笑緬懷。林太信中「進步良多」四字承載著的，就是足足二十年的汗水眼淚、起承轉合。自閉症是一道隔閡，分隔了軒源的內心與外在世界，攔阻彼此的感受交流。隨著軒源踏入青春期，內心湧動情緒急欲表達，就接連出現推倒電視、拍打他人的發泄攻擊行為。軒源的突發行為與日俱增，父母疲於奔命，也無可避免影響到專注備試的兄長，轉移暫宿就成為無可避免的選擇。「我將軒源帶到這世界，卻不能給予他正常的家庭生活和關愛，作為母親，這是一輩子的愧疚。」林太曾經如此感受，如此寫下。洪姑娘與斌Sir都記得，經歷三年醫院精神病房生活，初轉至鄭翼之中心的軒源也有著推人扯髮等攻擊行為，情緒陰晴不定。但當軒源初見寬敞的課室設施、花園環境，職員與年紀相仿的同儕……這些前所未見的事物令他心生好奇，在中心同事的教育照顧下，軒源的表現亦開始漸見穩定。今日的軒源，偶爾也會有脾氣與突發行為，但只要中心同事介入導引，不久就能平復冷靜。軒源溝通能力的進步與當初相比，更是不可同日而語—— 從一開始封閉自我於內心世界，斌Sir就回想軒源有一次提起紙筆主動抄寫汽水機上「Orange」字樣，見證他對外界漸生好奇；今天軒源會離開房間踏足客廳，主動與同學一同看電視劇集，甚至成了Hotcha、糖妹的忠心粉絲；而最令洪姑娘欣喜的，莫過於軒源今日更懂得照顧他人，投入集體活動，甚至有同學會喚他作「阿哥」。「雖然他不善表達，但也一樣有喜怒哀樂，教導軒源不重在經驗，請待他以真，相信軒源會感受到的。」今日林太與家人都會定期探訪軒源，回想過往一同生活的片段，她十分清楚：「軒源雖不擅表達，但內心是很愛錫我們的。」往日軒源一聽到嫲嫲的腳步聲就會跑來擁抱：現今每週一次的探訪環節，他依然表現出滿心雀躍期待。手握感謝信，林太與斌Sir、洪姑娘再次感謝彼此的耐心、努力與信任。或者軒源未必能夠將「愛」與「多謝」宣之於口，他的步伐，他的笑顏，未必需要事事說白，看見軒源的生命改變，他們已經心有答案。

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)研發痛風新療法與「吸金」細菌

(Chinese Only) 菠菜、三文魚、蝦等等食物，是痛風症病人要「拒諸門外」的誘惑，否則進食後令體內尿酸過高，只能靠打針或服藥治療，但有一定風險及副作用。保良局羅氏基金中學多位學生與其他學校組成聯合隊伍，研究出痛風症治療新方法，於「國際遺傳工程機器設計競賽（iGEM）」中擊敗了多間本港及世界知名大學，成為其中一間獲得金獎的學校，是首次有香港中學隊伍獲得此殊榮。人體難以自行排走尿酸，尿酸濃度過高會形成晶體，令關節腫大和疼痛。研究團隊中有學生的親友因有痛風問題，故開始此項研究。經研究各類文獻及進行實驗，團隊發現可以利用大腸桿菌大量複製經基因改造的消化酶，再抽取此消化酶並注射進另一可食用益生菌，痛風患者進食後消化酶可協助排走尿酸，亦無副作用。團隊期望未來，可朝藥物製作方向研究。另外，保良局何蔭棠中學與其他學校組成的聯校隊伍「Hong Kong JSS」亦在今次iGEM 中獲得金獎。同學們發現香港地少人多，「魚菜共生」耕種方法近年越受歡迎，但經常出現重金屬累積超標的問題。研究隊伍對大腸桿菌進行基因改造，將其變成能吸附重金屬的生物，他們讓大腸桿菌的金屬硫蛋白過度表達（over-expression），及將排走重金屬的運輸蛋白（cusF）基因敲除，令大腸桿菌吸收重金屬能力大增，從而首創出細菌過濾器「B-CAD」，並於實驗證明細菌過濾器能以低成本減低魚菜共生系統中的重金屬水平。

如針刺的痛如棉暖的情（Chinese Only）

Chinese Only

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.