Bring equal chances for children from low-income families and new arrivals
The Caring Company Scheme has been matching a number of partnership projects between the business and social service sectors. On 6 May 2006, a community visit was specially arranged to see two partnership projects of this kind. We hope to inspire more ideas for collaborations between business and social service sectors. The two projects aim at helping children from low income or families of new arrivals for better life chances and development.
Project 1 – Services for Children from Low Income/New Arrivals Families (CPA Australia - Hong Kong China Division and Services for New Arrivals and Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong)
CPA Australia - Hong Kong China Division has partnered with ELCHK Tuen Mun Integrated Youth Services Centre since 2003. They have arranged different activities, e.g. mini-carnival, outings, visitations and camps for the children living in Tuen Mun district. Low-income families children could have more exposure through participating these activities. As there are quite a lot low income families/new arrivals in the district, ELCSS-HK, CPA Australia and other caring companies also design integration and developmental programs for them.
Apart from the services offered by ELCSS-HK and CPA Australia, the participants also understood more about the living environment of the vertical interim housing residents and how the childrenare longing for widening of their horizon.. The needs of children in poverty and ways of involvement by the business sector was also shared.
Project 2 – Caltex Project Chance (Chevron Hong Kong Limited and The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong)
Organised by The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong and sponsored by Chevron Hong Kong Limited, Caltex Project Chance is designed to assist children from low-income families in Hong Kong to break through the barrier of poverty by enhancing their self-esteem, emotional strength, confidence and resiliency in dealing with daily hardships. Through different programmes under this project, volunteers from Chevron Hong Kong Limited have broadened their horizons and have better understanding on children's needs.
Besides, the project has successfully applied for the matching grant from the Partnership Fund organised by Social Welfare Department, so as to increase the number of beneficiary to 300 children in three years time. The project also include parents of the children. Apart from enhancing the children development, the project also aims at establishing better family relationship. The parents shared with us that their children have improved a lot in academics and self esteem, after joining the project for a period.