Love @ Po Leung Kuk

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.  

(Chinese Only)當自己的孩子被懷疑有特殊教育需要（Special Educational Needs，簡稱SEN）傾向，作為家長當然擔心不已，只要好好把握0 至6 歲嬰幼兒的發展黃金期，情況定可大有改善。保良局在2016 年開展「傲翔計劃」到校學前康復服務，為6 歲以下有特殊需要的幼兒提供到校專業支援，更引入全港首架「學前康復服務專業治療車」。專業治療車由保良局自資營運，並獲得保良局丙申年郭羅桂珍主席捐款支持服務營運，為幼兒提供一個理想的訓練環境。   專業治療車穿梭於港九新界的幼稚園暨幼兒園，為有需要的學校提供支援。保良局言語治療隊長馬嘉敏表示，由於不少幼稚園的校園空間有限，訓練時間與上課時間重疊，難以騰出課室作訓練場地。再者，進行訓練期間需要一個安靜、隔音的地方，專業治療車正好解決有關問題。車身可劃分成兩個小訓練室，同時為兩名幼兒提供一對一的治療服務，以達致治療的最佳效果。 別小看專業治療車的車身小小，車內卻收藏了各式各樣的專業器材，如言語治療訓練圖卡、小手肌訓練遊戲、專注力提升教材、社交技巧玩具、各類圖書等。治療師會因應孩子的需要，配合使用適當的器材進行跨專業的訓練，如大小肌肉、認知、語言及社交情緒等，讓幼兒在遊戲中學習到不同的知識及技能。   專業治療車自營運以來，得到不少家長的正面評價，周爸爸就是其中一位。他在兒子筠霖大約2 歲左右，發現他不願開口說話，又不肯與人有任何交流，經初步評估後發現兒子有自閉症傾向。就讀保良局屬下學校的筠霖，幸得到學校的轉介，輪候數月便開始接受「傲翔計劃」到校學前康復服務，礙於校園空間有限，治療師遂安排筠霖於治療車上進行一系列的訓練。現年4 歲的筠霖持續接受兩年多的訓練後，情況有明顯改善，個性變得活潑多言，樂意與同學一齊玩，非常喜歡校園生活。」 目前保良局傲翔計劃共有6 支專業團隊提供服務，未來亦會繼續與不同學校聯繫，以支援更多有特殊教育需要的小朋友，盼每個孩子都可以發光發亮。

帶著食物援助包來到受助者譚婆婆的家門前，隱約看到鐵閘布簾後的譚婆婆出來迎接。「係咪吳姑娘呀？好耐無見，好掛住你啊！」隨行的吳姑娘熟練的叫我們踏入家門，然後與譚婆婆一起整理桌椅。一坐下，譚婆婆又說，「婆婆唔叻，唔識字，好彩你叫吳姑娘，12345我仲識，我識叫你5姑娘。」兩人相視而笑，彷如老朋友相聚。   譚婆婆也算是保良局的「老朋友」，她2014年開始接受本局食物援助。   譚婆婆每月生活只靠長者生活津貼，女兒多年前已失去聯絡，婆婆現在獨力照顧13歲的孫女，屬跨代照顧個案。譚婆婆早年於地盤工作時弄傷了兩腿膝蓋，關節亦開始退化，近年只能靠拾紙皮增加收入，近月因疫情緣故，婆婆怕感染病毒傳染孫女，因此已放棄了拾紙皮工作，只能在生活上更加慳。她數日才捨得換一次口罩；每天早午餐加起來當一餐；每次到食物銀行拿食物，為了慳2元搭車錢，寧願步行超過30分鐘去領取物資；她常掛在嘴邊的是「希望留多一點給孫女」。   因此，當譚婆婆知道保良局扶弱計劃讓她可以得到額外的食物包時，她萬分感激保良局。「食物包有麵好正！樣樣都齊，幫輕咗我好多！我又可以煮腸仔麵俾孫女食！」婆婆拿著食物包中的超市禮券喜從心來，還興奮的告訴孫女「我哋可以去買多啲腸仔了！」   當我們關心婆婆夠吃與否時，譚婆婆感恩的說「夠了夠了，我不會多取，夠用就可以了。我哋窮，但也有人比我哋更窮，夠用就可以了！」婆婆很少為自己打算，整個傾談過程常常問我們坐得辛苦與否，又抱歉只有風扇沒有冷氣，還叮囑一段時間沒見的吳姑娘早點回工作間，「你早點回去吧，用了你一個小時，食物銀行忙著呢！」   平日分發食物援助時，吳姑娘也會把握機會關心受助者身心狀況，支援受眾物質的同時，也給予他們情緒上的關顧。但因疫情緣故，食物銀行需要支援更多基層家庭，個別關顧時間也相應減少了。吳姑娘知道我們上門訪問譚婆婆，她也特意調時間來見見婆婆，除為了來探探老朋友，也想親手將這食物包送給她，免卻她來回步行之苦。   一個食物包，一小時相聚，一見如故。食物援助紀錄表上是一個名字，背後卻是一個為照顧孫女努力生活的長者故事。分發食物，可以是機械式的工作，也可以是一個雪中送炭的咫尺善行。