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The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, today (January 26) visited a small group home for children operated by Project Care and celebrated with the kids ahead of the Lunar New Year (LNY).
With the approach of the Year of the Rabbit, Mr Nip brought the children some festive gifts, including a hamper and an album of LNY songs, and joined them in writing red couplets and drawing pictures for home decoration.
"When I visited the kids last July, it was just the beginning of the summer holiday. Knowing that they had been studying very hard, I sent them some diabolos after the visit as I hoped that they could learn to relax and engage themselves in healthy activities," he said.
"When we met again today, I was pleased to note that while the children have shown improvement in studies, they are getting taller as well."
Mr Nip extended his heartfelt thanks to the "parents" and other staff members of the home for their devoted service and provision of a safe and warm environment for the children. He also wished the children good health and further achievements in studies.
The setting up of small group homes is aimed at providing a residential service for children who are unable to receive proper care for various reasons, such as the death or divorce of their parents, illness and child abuses, etc.
The homes are located in ordinary housing units, where the children can enjoy family life under the care of a married couple as their "parents". The ultimate goal of the service is to prepare the children for getting reunited with their own parents, or to map out a long-term welfare plan to help the children secure adoptive families or go on to live their own adult life, in case reunification is impossible.
There are currently 108 small group homes operated by 12 non-governmental organisations, providing over 800 places for children aged four to below 18.
Ends/Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:40
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