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To realise the full potential of women and to assist those who are less fortunate, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited established a new social enterprise, Grace On Hands. The project combines training, job placement and retail service. Low-income individuals are trained to become craftswomen before they are assigned jobs and placed in retail service for extra income. To celebrate the launch of Grace On Hands, made possible by J.P. Morgan, the Welfare Council held an opening ceremony on July 13, where guests and service users witnessed the birth of the social enterprise and propagated its social significance.   The Welfare Council was honoured by the presence of its officiating guests, Under Secretary for Home Affairs Ms Florence Hui, SBS, JP, and J.P. Morgan Chief Administrative Officer, Asia Pacific and Senior Country Officer, Andrew Butcher, at the opening ceremony, which was held at the H.K.S.K.H. Kowloon City Children and Youth Integrated Service Centre.   Grace On Hands is a new initiative by the Welfare Council that aims to help women from low-income backgrounds develop an interest in handmade goods and build careers out of it, thus achieving independence. Close to 40 women have started producing crafts for Grace On Hands since it started operating in January. In her welcome remarks, Welfare Council Director Dr Jane Lee thanked the various sectors which supported Grace On Hands every step of the way, especially J.P. Morgan, whose cooperation with the Welfare Council demonstrates the powerful relationship between the commercial and social service sectors.   Under Secretary for Home Affairs Florence Hui voiced her approval for Grace On Hands, pointing out that echoes the government’s labour policies by providing grassroots women with employment opportunities, and to develop skills, thereby supporting the development of society. Hui offered her well-wishes for the social enterprise.   J.P. Morgan’s Andrew Butcher said, “Grace On Hands offers those less fortunate the chance to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, leading them out of their familial roles onto new career paths. Under the guidance of the Welfare Council, we believe this project will become a platform for the growth of creativity and financial sustainability. We trust that the project will encourage all sectors to work together to solve social issues, and to push for more collaborations between the commercial and social service sectors to benefit local social enterprises and entrepreneurs.”   Accompanied by Dr Lee, the officiating guests launched Grace On Hands with a simple but significant unveiling ceremony. Welfare Council's Social Innovation Project Manager, Lillie Ching, then showed participants Grace On Hands’ online store.   Four Grace On Hands apprentices were later invited onstage to share their experiences with other participants. All four come from low-income backgrounds and are from mainland China. They were housewives living on their husband’s meagre earnings, and had a difficult time adjusting to their new lives in Hong Kong. After joining Grace On Hands half a year ago, they have been empowered to supplement their families’ finances and expand their social networks, thus leading more fulfilling lives. One apprentice, Ah Ying, said she felt her world grow much bigger, way beyond the four walls of her flat, after she joined the programme and made new friends.   Following the ceremony, apprentices wowed guests with their crafts during the exhibition. Find out more about Grace On Hands at http://goh.skhwc.org.hk and be wowed, too! From now until August 31, you can get a 15% discount on your purchase from the online store. Dial 2533 1245 for more details or visit http://goh.skhwc.org.hk for more details.

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Close to 40% of students reported feeling anxious about their decisions Only 30% are confident that they have chosen the right path   The Welfare Council’s Career Counselling Project conducted a survey between January and March this year to identify the needs of candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) so the Welfare Council can provide more adequate services for them. The Welfare Council held a press conference on July 11 to announce its findings.   A total of 2,059 students from 20 schools took part in the survey, which looked into major considerations – self-awareness, environmental awareness, decisiveness and action plan – when students cope with the release of HKDSE results. The survey was designed by professional social workers and included 20 hypothetical scenarios related to the release of results. Participants of the survey were asked to rate their own performances during such scenarios. The results were calibrated by the social workers.   Students scored higher in terms of self-awareness and environmental awareness at 62.8 and 60.5 respectively, but lower in terms of decisiveness and action plan at 55.6 and 49 respectively.   Social worker Kwong Ho Kuen, who oversaw the study, said if candidates are to come up with a comprehensive plan on their journey after the HKDSE, they will have to bear in mind all four considerations. The findings show that most students believe they are aware of their own interests, abilities, characters etc., and have a certain understanding towards continuing education or job placement, but do not have the confidence to make immediate decisions or plan for the future.   Upon further analysis, the Welfare Council found that only 33 percent of candidates were confident that they had made the right choices. In the hypothetical situation where a candidate scored two points less than expected, only 28.77 percent of respondents said they would know what to do, and only 23 percent said they were comfortable with handling interviews right after the release of results. Kwong explained that these findings reflect some of the candidates’ failure to come up with appropriate action plans. And while respondents regarded themselves highly when it came to self-awareness, less than half of them, or 48.32 percent of them, had clear life goals.   Service Director Ms Seiko Lee suggested that students make the best use of the days leading up to the release of results to plan for the big day, so it would go more smoothly. This includes planning for three possible situations, including one that the candidate scores higher than expected, one that is lower than expected, and one that is just as expected, so students would know what courses to pick. She pointed out that planning ahead would reduce the anxiety brought upon by nervousness, and allow candidates to make the right choices when the time comes.   Ms Lee also reminded candidates to prepare for interviews by rehearsing, in both English and Chinese, self-introductions, five-year plans etc. She also suggested that students fully consider their options before making their decisions, plan accordingly, and keep themselves informed by looking at various university brochures. She said the social service industry can help by organising more activities such as the mock release of results, mock interviews etc. to help students better prepare themselves.

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自2010年起，新加坡每年均舉辦「亞洲老年創意論壇」(Ageing Asia Innovation Forum)，而是年的論壇已於4月14日至4月15日順利舉行。今年論壇以“Operational Excellence In Ageing-In-Place For Developers, Operators and Investors”為主題。，吸引超過450位來自19個國家和地區，包括:美國、荷蘭、芬蘭、日本、澳洲和香港等地的長者服務營運者參與，互相交流營運經驗及分享心得，合力推動整個銀髮業務的發展，共同應對人口老化之需要。   福利協會助理總幹事岑家雄先生應邀擔任主講嘉賓，跟眾多來賓分享復康照顧的創新意念，包括揉合了音樂治療元素和傳統認知障礙訓練的另類介入方法，為輕度至嚴重認知障礙症患者提供非藥物治療。岑先生亦闡述福利協會如何將此介入方法按長者的不同背景及需要加以完善，發展至適用於居住在社區和院舍的長者及年長教友。   另外，福利協會於會場內的展覽場地設置服務推廣攤位，藉此介紹福利協會的服務，及展示福利協會出版有關照顧長者的書籍，包括:《眾樂樂–揉合音樂元素於現實導向及懷緬治療》實務手冊、《伴你同行 老年痴呆症照顧培訓教材套》、《從心出發─老年痴呆症全人照顧手册》及《長者競技遊戲集》。參加者反應熱烈，不少來自不同國家的參加者對福利協會的服務表示興趣。   論壇亦設「第3屆泛太平洋老年照顧創意大獎」(3rd Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards)選舉，今屆共收到來自15個國家，共120個參選方案，共同競逐8個獎項的最佳活動大獎。經大會遴選後，最終有54個方案進入決賽，當中福利協會有10份方案成功獲選入圍，是今屆最多方案獲選入圍的機構，實在可喜可賀! 福利協會的10個入圍方案簡介如下：   「最佳活躍晚年活動」 1.<拍‧長‧聲>健康計劃：西環長者綜合服務中心與香港大學護理學院合作，透過攝影活動鼓勵長者走出社區及定期參與有益身心的活動。   2.「中西友‧樂回家」：由聖馬太長者鄰舍中心主辦，內容包括一系列以懷舊玩意為題材的活動。首先透過主題分享令參與的長者回憶他們兒時愛玩的小遊戲，憶起兒時往事，令他們重拾童年的快樂，繼而由專業劇團帶領一班長者及小學生籌備以懷舊玩意為題的話劇表演，藉以推動長幼演出者的溝通共融。另外計劃又舉辦「兒時玩意大笪地」活動，讓參觀者體會到懷舊玩意帶來的歡樂。   「最佳認知障礙症照顧計劃獎」 3.「長者益智學堂」：由福利協會培訓學院負責統籌，於福利協會旗下的長者服務中心推行，運用「以人為本」的原則，將實證為本的運動與認知訓練小組結合，為早期至中期居住於社區的認知障礙症患者提供有系統的訓練。   「最佳康健活動」 4.「匯結愛心網、共建康健城」：由福利協會社區醫療支援服務網絡透過多元的健康管理介入模式，提升參與者對疾病及醫療風險的認識，並按個人需要，度身訂造合適的活動，提升長者的參與動機，協助他們身體復原。   5.「健腦操」：為期兩年的研究計劃，由福利協會道程專業培訓中心(長者事業)推行，探討健腦操對改善輕度認知障礙長者認知情況的效用，並透過健腦操的推廣及舉辦培訓活動，促進長者及護老者關注及增進大腦健康。   6.「至FIT動感健身操」：由將軍澳安老服務大樓物理的治療師推行，為結合了協調及心肺功能的訓練課程。參與的院友只需安坐於椅子上，有節奏地重覆8個簡單動作，便可取得訓練的效果。此運動班進行6個月後，大部份院友的運動耐力均有所提升。   「最佳家居照顧服務經營者」 7.「越野先鋒保身安義工探訪計劃」:由香港聖公會西環長者綜合服務中心主辦，計劃安排社工聯同義務註冊中醫師為義工們提供保健知識及技巧培訓，以裝備義工成為保健大使，為有需要的長者提供心靈輔導及長者保健的知識及技巧。計劃旨在加強坪洲區內獨居長者及二老共住戶的社區服務支援，同時擴展義工團隊及發揮他們的專長。   「最佳復康經營者」 8.「長者生活通-手機程式應用計劃」：由福利協會康健天地(觀塘)舉辦，以智能手機程式為媒介，為居於社區的長者提供認知程式訓練，推動長者及早關注和管理個人生活模式的獨立能力，令他們能更加自主、更具能力感和信心於社區中生活。   「最佳支援居家安老產品」 9.「護老也輕鬆-護老者社區支援計劃」：樂民郭鳳軒綜合服務中心利用多元化介入手法，如音樂治療、園藝治療等，支援長者及護老者，促進他們的身心靈健康及協助他們在社區「居家安老」。   「最佳銀齡建築」 10.聖公會竹園馬田法政牧師長者綜合服務中心翻新工程: 福利協會發展部及竹園馬田法政牧師長者綜合服務中心合作為中心進行全面翻新工作。項目以“健康、喜樂、和諧”為主題，讓長者關注到全人健康的重要。在環境設計方面，為帶出熱情和活力的元素，中心採用白色配以橙和紅兩種暖色為主色，營造充滿朝氣的氣氛；在設計細節方面，加入了不少長者友善設計概念，為長者帶來安全、舒適及和諧的環境。   經論壇參加者互選及大會的專業評審下，福利協會獲頒兩大殊榮。樂民郭鳳軒綜合服務中心的「護老也輕鬆-護老者社區支援計劃」勇奪「最佳支援居家安老產品」大獎而培訓學院的「長者益智學堂」奪得「最佳認知障礙症照顧計劃獎」，成績為人鼓舞!