Love @ Po Leung Kuk

Sharing Love

(Chinese Only)為自己而跑

保良局馬錦明中學自2017-2018 年度開始推行Poma Run 計劃，鼓勵師生每週四放學後一起街跑，藉運動推廣「正向教育」。學生莊騏駿（阿駿）自小性格文靜，一直對運動缺乏興趣，升中後參加了Poma Run 計劃，才讓他真正「動」起來：「當時全級同學及相識的朋友都參加，所以就跟大家一起玩。」就這樣踏出第一步。為挑戰而跑「街跑」聽起來輕鬆，其實要求不低：路程從學校籃球場跑出大街，最少要完成一至兩公里，對沒有運動習慣的阿駿來說，實在有點吃力：「記得有一次太陽很曬，那時步速還未穩定，又熱又累，眼見其他同學已經跑遠，當時有點絕望，幾乎要放棄了。」幸好他做了另一個決定，「但我仍然渴望下次可以跑得更遠，所以必須完成這一次鍛鍊，最後我沒放棄，一直跑到終點。」那一次堅持，成為了阿駿成長的起點。在教練的指導和老師的鼓勵下，加上恆常的鍛鍊，阿駿從只能跑完一圈，到現在已可完成全程三圈，即大約三公里。一年後，他更獲得全年個人參與獎第二名，「以前我對做運動沒信心，自從取得銀牌後，我認為我可以做到！」真正收穫的，遠遠超過一面獎牌—— 如今阿駿更加入了柔力球表演隊，連帶讀書的心態也更積極，難怪他不忘初衷，「之後我會繼續參加 PomaRun，想獲得更多獎牌和增強運動能力。」那就繼續跑下去吧！

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.”

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。」

(CHINESE ONLY)運動是……打開心窗的匙

Cathy 2 歲時，因家庭問題入住保良局家舍。性格內斂的她不太擅於與人溝通相處，朋友不多，說話不多，直至遇上了欖球，徹底打開了她的世界。欖球是種簡單的快樂Cathy 從小熱愛運動，自學了乒乓球、籃球等。偶然一次看見別人在球場上打欖球，便被這項運動吸引。透過本局與香港欖球總會合辦的語文培訓計劃，Cathy 自2013 年起接受欖球訓練，並獲資助到海外參加欖球活動及文化交流，一步步成為青年欖球錦標賽的香港代表。回想當日看見別人在球場上作賽的畫面，她表示，「感覺欖球帶給運動員的快樂是很純粹、很簡單，也是我喜歡欖球的原因」。欖球帶我遊歷世界年僅18 歲的Cathy，已經代表香港到過多個國家參加欖球比賽，如去年8 月到老撾參與亞洲欖球總會20 歲以下亞洲七人欖球賽，她坦言︰「我從來沒有想過我有機會可以代表香港到世界各地作賽，這個夢想對以前那個小女孩來說，有點遙不可及，但現在我覺得我可以」。運動是種共通語言去年9 月，Cathy 獲選到訪日本觀摩2019 年世界盃欖球賽，學習頂尖運動員的技術，並與來自世界各地超過一百名年青運動員交流。雖然母語不同，但他們對欖球的熱愛卻打破了語言的限制，成為了他們之間的共通語言，讓她認識了來自泰國，甚至是約旦的朋友︰「以前的我不太自信，但欖球讓我變得健談，使我認識了更多的朋友，謝謝欖球擴闊了我對這世界的想像」。

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.