感謝 香港社會服務聯會 代表於 2018年1月25日探訪本家舍董事會，為家舍提供香港社會福利界的最新資訊，並關心我們運作上的挑戰，以及舍員所面對的困難。

他們亦就機構管理作出了經驗分享，讓我們獲益良多，希望日後繼續與社聯的同事保持緊密聯繫，讓家舍建立具問責性、有效率、具成效、及能照顧社會需要的工作團隊。

It is 5pm and at a temporary shelter for homeless girls, the kitchen is bustling. A team of teenagers are preparing dinner for themselves and their peers, part of the daily routine at the home, in a tower block on a public housing estate in Tsing Yi.
The lodging is run by Home Care for Girls, a non-profit organisation, founded by Sister Agnes Ho. The place provides a safe and caring environment where troubled girls can seek compassion and stability away from problematic family situations.Elf Wong Ching-ying, who manages the care home, said teenage girls were referred to them by social workers.“They are unable to stay with their families for different reasons,” Wong said of the home’s residents, aged between 14 and 18.

Home Care for Girls receives funding from Operation Santa Claus, the annual charity campaign jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.“These girls are secondary school students. They face family problems and are in dire need of a place that can provide them with stable accommodation so that they can focus on their studies,” Wong said.

The service provides homeless girls with accommodation at HK$1,640 monthly for up to one year. The girls will return home if their family problems are resolved in that time.Others may transfer to long-term government residential care homes if their troubles persist.Apart from their basic needs, the girls’ social and emotional development is also taken care of at the home.
“Some girls don’t even know how to make the bed when they just arrive,” Wong said.“We teach them how to lead an independent life, and to cook, to help them grow up,” she said, adding that counselling services were also available to help the girls deal with their emotional problems.The teenage residents have a daily routine at the home, where members take turns to cook and do chores.“Our home is more than about beds, sofas, TVs ... Family-like peer support, and the care provided by the staff here are also very important,” Wong said.A former resident said she saw the place as a warm shelter.“It feels like home to me,” the 23-year-old, who identified herself as “Man”, said.Man said she had a troubled relationship with her elder brother, and she was referred to the organisation in 2011 after the death of their mother.She has recently finished her studies. “I want to be a social worker,” Man said, adding that she was inspired by the home’s staff and hoped to help other girls.Minnie Li Au Kam-ping, chairwoman of Home Care for Girls, said she believed the girls and the community as a whole could benefit from their service.“When you help a girl, you are shaping her future and helping her with her family,” she said.“This group of homeless girls, though small in number, are also part of those neglected by society,” she added.

SCMP website:  http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2120884/home-away-home-provides-care-and-life-skills-troubled-girls

不知大家的聖誕假期怎樣度過呢？
一班舍員在這個普天同慶的節日也過的相當充實！
先有慶祝冬至，邀請何修女回來一起打邊爐；
繼而有尖沙咀扶輪社邀請我們食聖誕午餐；除夕夜又一起去葵芳倒數。實在太開心?
但我們不淨止玩樂喔！在這個月我們還幫兒童配對基金籌款，在尖沙咀1881 慶唱聖誕歌，此外，我們還製作聖誕卡送給義工們；還有一起幫家舍籌款！
實在是多姿多彩的假期。
我們知道能夠有這麼一個愉快的聖誕節，實在不是必然，好多謝各位義工、捐助者的善心支持，我們才可以「有得玩」、「有得食」、「有得學」，常常感受到滿滿的愛！
祝各位2018年開開心心?

蒙香港海港扶輪社的贊助，我們今年繼續舉辦一年一度的「關愛日」。舊女們滿臉笑容回到這個家，更有義工、舊職員和關愛的支持者到來，與各位「關愛之家」和「延愛之家」的舍員一同度過愉快晚上。

當晚美食豐富，更有眾多遊戲及獎品讓舍員兢逐，有的抽到不同種類的禮物，感到驚喜，看見她們的笑容笑得很燦爛，整晚氣份都相當熱鬧。

2018新的一年來臨，在這祝大家新年快樂，身體健康！

2017年關愛之家的步行籌款再次順利完成，我們非常榮幸能邀請「富豪國際酒店集團」執行董事兼首席營運官楊碧瑤小姐和「相信愛基金」創辦人趙式芝小姐作主禮嘉賓。當日場面温馨熱鬧，何修女由內地特意寄來紀念品送予主禮嘉賓，就是由痲瘋病人親手編織的草扇。有舍員帶領表演跳舞和花式跳繩隊以帶動熱鬧氣氛。當天共有148人來參與在其中，感謝各位對家舍的支持！
關愛之家在沒有政府資助，全靠社會大眾的捐款支持，是次步行籌款的收益將會用於家舍的運作上支持家舍服務，多謝大家熱心捐助！希望大家日後繼續支持我們！

我不再害怕 也不再擔心

關愛之家 給我護蔭

勇敢去越過 每一個關口

譜出愛的歌 跟你合奏

給我勇氣去克服種種困難 不會怯懦

相信我有毅力去繼續堅持 陪伴我渡過

以真愛去教導我關心我 溫暖在我心窩

感激你 珍惜我 在我身邊鼓勵我 我

不再害怕 也不再擔心 關愛之家 支持我