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自二月初「心意行動」收集口罩及防疫用品，再分發予有需要人士，然而新冠肺炎疫情持續，影響香港社會嚴重，公司倒閉裁員，不少市民面對失業，打工仔手停口停，生活受到很大的影響。近日，不少聖公會學校教師及教堂教友向「心意行動」表示，有不少低收入家庭因父母突然失業或開工不足，令家庭出現經濟困難，三餐不繼，需要緊急援助。   「心意行動」現期望透過緊急援助，幫助有需要而又未能受惠於現時福利服務的聖公會群體，包括教友、學生及其家庭，提供短期緊急現金或食物援助，以支援其生活所需。由於需求殷切，「心意行動」現呼籲聖公會群體內的弟兄姊妹伸出援手，透過心意行動平台，捐贈現金或超市禮券，以便送予有需要的家庭，以愛心攜手面對這困境。各牧區、傳道區及弟兄姊妹可透過心意行動電話：8209 8122或心意行動Whatsapp號碼：5263 5850，向負責社工陳宛儀Poline或計劃幹事陳蔚軒Michael查詢捐贈安排。

Young people may feel confused and lost in their journey of growth, before realising and getting closer to their goals. On 11st January, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council’s Loving Arts Youth Academy held a graduation concert, “Seek”, which let young people express through music and dance the ups and downs they encountered when pursing their dreams.   The Bittersweet Pursuit of Dreams Established in 2017, the Loving Arts Youth Academy was sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to organise a 3-year “Loving Arts Youth Development Scheme”, which aims to groom young people through music, dance and counselling services. The scheme has recruited 1,800 members, held music, dance, physical and aesthetic classes and activities which had a total turnout of 28,000, and provided 4,900 sessions of counselling activities.   Over the past 3 years, the academy has formed 17 band teams and 35 dance teams, composed 16 songs, and held an array of large-scale artistic events.   The concert used “to seek” as the theme. Life is a continued search, like a maze filled with uncertainties. While pursuing your dream, one may experience ups and downs. The more you are able to appreciate the ups and downs, the more you will be able to learn, find hope, and yourself. Having encountered these processes and feelings, students of the Loving Arts Youth Academy depicted their relatable experiences onstage.   Touching Moments after the Show Since July 2019, the academy has been preparing for the show, such as arranging intensive training and rehearsals for youth members who were selected for performance. Mr Abraham Shek, Executive Committee Member of the Welfare Council, and Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, were invited to officiate at the show. The youth member then kickstart the show with a spectacular dance performance that showcased the youth in pursuit of their dreams, which made an impact on guests.   The youth members did not only feel grateful for the show’s success but also had different feelings and experiences during the whole journey. Fu Nam-hei (傅南希), a dance enthusiast from the team, said she learnt to persevere and have faith to reach for their dreams. Another team member, Lam Wing-yee (林詠怡) met many good friends with the same passion, and realised that she enjoyed performing onstage after the show. “When looking back 10 years later, I will have no regrets for my youth. Thank you, “Seek”, for the opportunity!” Lam added.   Ms Billy Tam, service supervisor of Loving Arts Youth Academy, thanked staff for their joint efforts in grooming young people through music and dance. “We are really touched to see young members’ growth and transformation. Although the show and scheme have ended, the academy will continue to organise more professional art training and activities for the youth as so to help them grow and explore their potential,” Tam said.   Please visit the academy’s website (https://www.lovingarts.hk) or call 2633 2231 for the latest news and enquiries.

Convenient transportation and comprehensive community facilities To be completed in 2022 for first batch of 1,600 underprivileged families   Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (the Welfare Council) announced today their cooperation in developing a large-scale transitional social housing project, United Court in Tung Tau, Yuen Long. The project is conveniently located with minibus and bus routes nearby, while taking only 10 minutes to walk to West Rail Line’s Yuen Long Station or Long Ping Station. Upon expected completion in early 2022, it will provide a comfortable home for 1,600 underprivileged families and ultimately benefit 5,000 families. United Court will provide opportunities for residents to engage with the surrounding community, mutually benefitting one another, making it a distinctive transitional housing project in Hong Kong.   Apart from United Court, SHKP also announced that it will develop transitional housing at two other sites, respectively in Kam Tin South and Kwu Tung town centre. The three projects will span close to 400,000 square feet and provide 2,000 transitional flats in total, benefitting over 6,000 families and giving more than 20,000 people a comfortable home.   The 300,000-square-foot United Court is located on Yuen Long Kau Hui Road near Shan Pui Tsuen. Apart from lending the lot for a minimum of eight years, SHKP will work on preliminary project planning and basic site formation, and provide property management consultancy upon completion. The Welfare Council will be responsible for project planning, construction, operation and management, and for providing residents with a variety of people-oriented community services.   Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Vice-Chairman Michael Lai said, “The Welfare Council is glad to announce at the start of the year the collaboration with SHKP to develop this very meaningful transitional housing project, United Court, to help address the overcrowding living conditions of 1,600 underprivileged families. We estimate that up to 5,000 families will eventually benefit as they move in to United Court before being allocated public housing.”   Mr Lai added that United Court would feature people-oriented, engaging and harmonious community design, planning and facilities, including social enterprise stores and weekend markets, providing residents with diverse community engagement opportunities. The Welfare Council will introduce a first-of-its-kind Well-Being Index that would promote healthy living habits, positive energy and confidence among residents. The Welfare Council will also provide residents with services based on their physical, mental and spiritual health, in the hope of developing a systematic service operation model unique to community housing.   Sun Hung Kai Properties Executive Director Adam Kwok said, “SHKP understands the keen demand for housing in Hong Kong. We have therefore leveraged our resources to help improve the living conditions of underprivileged families. Earlier, SHKP had lent some village house flats in Tuen Mun to Yan Oi Tong via The Hong Kong Council of Social Service to develop into Green Garden, a transitional social housing project. The success of Green Garden has given us the confidence to take on a larger-scale transitional housing project.”   He continued, “Adhering to our spirit of Building Homes with Heart, we believe the United Court development will become a role model for transitional social housing projects. We hope it will bring much warmth to families in need via this transit residence that can help them prepare for a better future.”   Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan said, “Through the concerted efforts of many sectors of the society, the announced transitional housing projects, including the 8,000 flats announced earlier and the 2,000 flats announced today, have together achieved our goal of building about 10,000 transitional housing flats in the coming three years.”   He expressed his gratitude to the organizations and companies involved for their support of, and contribution to, transitional housing, and said he hoped the community would continue to support such efforts to provide enhanced living opportunities for people in need. He said that having a comfortable home and a good job is the key to social stability and that the government would continue to look for sites to develop housing to provide a long-term solution to Hong Kong’s housing shortage.   Five unique features of United Court: Convenient location, comprehensive facilities, neat site and short completion timeIt takes only 10 minutes to walk from the conveniently located United Court to West Rail Line Yuen Long Station or Long Ping Station. The location is also well connected by bus and minibus routes. Comprehensive community facilities near the project include grocery markets, large-scale shopping malls, secondary schools, primary schools, kindergartens, and cultural and sports amenities.The site has a proper rectangular shape and does not require government involvement in building large-scale infrastructure, such as roads. It is estimated that construction can be completed by the end of next year, while the project will be ready for move-in by early 2022. Spacious, people-oriented designThe Welfare Council will provide people-oriented design, services and activities. It will make good use of public spaces to offer leisure, recreational, sports and children’s facilities, including a 10-metre-wide central promenade, so that residents can exercise and develop healthy habits. United Court will also provide diverse participation and engagement opportunities for residents. Markets and social inclusionUnited Court is all about social inclusion. Weekend flea markets will be held on a regular basis. The Welfare Council will introduce social enterprise stores, a community kitchen, shops selling daily necessities, barter trade shops, and so forth. These initiatives will not only provide bargain options for residents, but also enhance their interaction with surrounding community for mutual benefit, and to establish a harmonious and inclusive neighbourhood. Well-Being Index for physical and mental healthThe Welfare Council has over 50 years of experience serving the residents of Yuen Long and would introduce a first-of-its-kind Well-Being Index for United Court, which will assess the physical, mental and spiritual health of residents before they move in, during their residency, and before they move out for big data analysis and the data will facilitate their provision of services. Improved work competitiveness and employment assistanceSHKP and the Welfare Council will provide residents with appropriate vocational training, and SHKP will leverage its experience in developing the district. SHKP now manages over 70 residential and shopping projects in Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun, with about 3,000 property management staff. In the coming three to four years, about 400 new staff will be hired. Eighty percent of them are frontline roles. The Group also has several development sites, which require a lot of construction workers. SHKP is happy to consider giving priority to the residents to fill the job vacancies, if they are willing and the right fit can be found.   SHKP was one of the first property developers to develop in Yuen Long and has steeped experience in the district for over 30 years. The Welfare Council has provided different community services for the district in Yuen Long for more than 50 years and has a deep understanding of the community and a comprehensive service network. SHKP started collaborating with the Welfare Council in Yuen Long in 2016. SHKP donated a site located near Yuen Long Station to the Welfare Council to develop Hong Kong’s first cross-generation integrated social service facility, which provides for a special-need child care centre, a youth hostel, an elderly home and other amenities.

In the afternoon of 5th January, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council and Diocese of Eastern Kowloon jointly held the “Angels’ Candlelight Bless Hong Kong Charity Concert” at Verdant Art Centre of Diocesan Boys' School. In his speech, Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Welfare Council Board of Directors, said the concert aimed to raise funds for the Welfare Council’s child bereavement counselling service and stroke rehabilitation services, as well as the pastoral care services of Diocese of Eastern Kowloon and Holy Carpenter Church. Thanks for the Loving Angels who pitched in time, capital and effort, the concert successfully raised over HK$3 million.   After months of social unrest in Hong Kong, Dr Donald Li said the “Angels’ Candlelight Bless Hong Kong Charity Concert” was intended to spread positive energy and blessings among Hong Kong people. He hoped we could remain confident in the future as angels always bring light in dark times. Dr Donald Li also praised S.K.H. churches, schools and social service units for their joint effort in organising the concert. In the days ahead, he hoped more beautiful souls would support our missionary work in order to change lives of the needy.   Comprising 17 performances, the concert opened with impressive dancing and singing by the “singing angels”. The “Angels’ Candlelight” was organised into 2 parts: the first half, “Vocalize” by S.Rachmaninoff, was rewritten and performed in Chinese; while the second half, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten” by J. S. Bach, was performed in German. The highlight of the concert was a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong, the Rt Revd Andrew Chan, the Rt Revd Dr Timothy Kwok and Dr Moses Chan, Chancellor of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (the Anglican Church of Hong Kong), and the concert closed with a hundred-strong choir comprising members of theH.K.S.K.H. Collegium Musicum Sacrum, various church choirs, Diocesan Choral Society and DBS Symphony Orchestra singing Handel’s “Messiah”.   The Rt Revd Dr Timothy Kwok, Bishop of the H.K.S.K.H. Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, one of the representatives from the organiser, was indebted to the concert’s Music Director/Conductor Jimmy Chan and Artistic Director Rao Lan for their participation in the concert. He also thanked Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, for her fabulous performances and dedicated efforts as she did not only initiate the event but also helped find sponsors and performers. Last but not least, he was grateful to Diocesan Boys' School headmaster Ronnie Cheng for offering free performance venue. The concert would not be made possible without their support.   Funds raised by the concert will go to support different services. One of the beneficiaries will be the Welfare Council’s non-subvented child bereavement counselling service. Approaching bereaved children who actively seek help or through referrals from hospitals, social service organisations or schools, the service provides bereavement and emotional support to children and teenagers aged 3 to 18. Its social workers or counsellors offer grief counselling services to the service users through different means of intervention, helping them deal with a loved one’s death. The service also organises various activities to encourage mutual support between bereaved families and improve existing interactions and relationships.   Another funded project—the S.K.H. Stroke Rehabilitation Charity Fund—was established in 2015 by the Welfare Council, which aims to support stroke patients not affordable to high fees to undergo prompt rehabilitative treatment so that they can get back on their feet as soon as possible. From 2015 to November 2019, the fund has already subsidised 80 stroke patients to undergo rehabilitative treatment. Out of these patients, 80% of them could reintegrate into the community and 90% of them reported improved self-care ability and mobility after rehabilitation services.   Diocese of Eastern Kowloon’s pastoral care service projects including the spiritual care project and life education project will be also funded. The spiritual care project aims to develop devotional and spiritual care infused with S.K.H. characteristics to holistically and diversely promote integrated spiritual care. It hired a spiritual mentor to arrange spirituality workshops, group activities, talks, individual sessions and retreats for church members, and supported the Church of St John the Baptist to renovate its retreat camp and garden. The life education project combines the assistance provided by the S.K.H. churches, schools and social service units to offer holistic care and parental education activities focused on starting life education at home. The project will consolidate the service experiences of H.K.S.K.H. Calvary Church, H.K.S.K.H. Holy Cross Primary School and the Welfare Council and promote its services to parishes and mission churches of Diocese of Eastern Kowloon so as to enrich lives.   Situated in Hung Hom, the H.K.S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Church provides missionary services to S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Secondary School, S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Primary School, S.K.H. Fung Kei Primary School, S.K.H. Fung Kei Millennium Primary School, S.K.H. St. Timothy's Primary School, Holy Carpenter Community Centre, Holy Carpenter District Elderly Community Centre and Holy Carpenter Guest House. Pilot schemes by S.K.H. churches, schools and social service units are often introduced at the Holy Carpenter Church. While supporting people in need through various service projects, the Holy Carpenter Church organises different parenting courses, parents’ support groups and on-site services for schools. Other than that, it also teams up with social service units to hold fellowships and activities for people from various parishes to spread gospel. 

香港聖公會福利協會及香港聖公會東九龍教區將於2020年1月5日(星期日)下午3:30假拔萃男書院葉傑全音樂廳舉行「天使燭光  祝福香港慈善音樂會」，目的為香港聖公會福利協會的兒童哀傷輔導服務和中風復康服務，以及聖公會東九龍教區和聖公會聖匠堂的牧養工作籌募服務經費。   活動邀請到著名聲樂家陳晃相擔任音樂總監及饒嵐擔任藝術總監，並有鄺保羅大主教、陳謳明主教、郭志丕主教、鄭慕智博士及多名資深歌唱家及聖公會人士參與演出，齊心為慈善出力的同時，為香港獻上祝福。   現誠邀各位踴躍贊助支持活動，共襄善舉，讓有需要人士的生命得到轉化，活動內容及贊助方式詳情請參閱活動單張 (按此下載)。  

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