Our Treasure - Photo Exhibition for the Deprived Children 2004

前言

沒有悲情的控訴，沒有刻意的粉墨，這本書的孩子們只是以他們最真實的生活面貌來表述他們的生命，讓我們看到同一城市的兩個世界。

在香港這華麗富裕的都市，孩子該都是矜貴驕人的寶貝，可是在舊區的街上，卻看到用小手撿紙皮維生、努力在板間房尋覓學習空間的小孩子，面對崎嶇前路，他們奮力前進，他們是如斯落力演活生命。這些孩子的奮發拼搏，更彰顯兩個世界的距離是何其大! 都是寶貝，為何命運如斯不同?

不少成功人士談起成功之道，總少不了小時候曾住板間房、兼工讀書等幾項辛酸往事，社會認為這是成功必經之路，所以對於今日香港貧窮問題，大家的想法是肯捱就可以。可是，香港今日的貧窮懸殊狀況，告訴我們背後有著更多肯捱卻捱不過去的人。況且今日香港又是否如同往日?

今日的香港擁有雄厚的資本，致力追上時代步伐，建設科技及知識型經濟，這些對三十多萬赤手空拳在底層努力掙扎的孩子們來說是何其遙不可及，他們有一顆熱誠的心，有一份本能的拼勁，但他們有沒有公平機會?

我們應該感謝這些孩子們，他們勇敢地站出來為我們呼喚香港的良心! 我們更要感謝義工們及畢馬威會計師事務所的支持，他們為孩子們燃點希望，也為這炎涼的都市，燒了一把暖火，期盼凝聚更多有心人。

香港社區組織協會主任何喜華 2004年11月20日

Preface

No sentimental appeal, no calculated polish, this book depicts the daily lives of children living in a city in a bipolar world.

In an affluent metropolis like Hong Kong, our children, our little angels, should have a world of opportunity opening up to them. This is, however, a one sided picture. In many suburban areas of the city, hundreds of our children earn their living sorting through rubbish bins collecting cardboard and attempting to study in deplorable conditions in tiny cubicles. Ahead of them are all the trials and tribulations of life. These children must strive every day to find a better life against all the odds. They are but 'angels' with a different fate.

While tracing their road to success, quite a number of distinguished people recall their lives in cubicles or were forced to work while studying. It seemed that hard struggle was the only possible road to success. Hong Kong, however, is no longer what it used to be. There are many who are willing to persevere but are defeated in the face of the widening disparity between rich and poor.

Hong Kong is a wealthy and modern city with advanced technology and a knowledge based economy. It's hard to imagine that over 300,000 of our children are deprived of any access to these advantageous resources. They have the enthusiasm, they have the perseverance, but very few opportunities come their way.

We wish to thank all the children who are reaching out to the people of Hong Kong. Thanks also to the volunteers and to KPMG, who ignite hope in our children and bring them warmth and happiness. Let us hope that we are not alone.

Ho Hei Wah, BBS Director of Society for Community Organization 20 November 2004

香港社區組織協會(社協)簡介

社協是一個非牟利的社會服務機構，成立於一九七二年，經費主要來自外國教會、香港公益金及個人捐贈。

三十多年來，我們目睹香港社會的發展及經濟成長，但在工作接觸中，我們仍深深感受到低下層市民的困苦。他們默默工作，為口奔馳，卻仍未能有尊嚴地生活，也未能分享社會發展的成果。繁榮背後，隱藏不少被遺忘的社群：居住環境惡劣擠迫的籠屋居民、租住殘破失修的私樓租客、獨居老人、舊型公屋居民、新移民、貧窮兒童、露宿者、低薪工人、聲音微弱的普羅市民……等等。他們多年來一直是社協的服務對象。

我們深信人人都應有平等的權利，而均等的發展機會及一個社會資源合理分配的制度是保障市民權利的基礎。多年來，我們透過社區組織及社會行動的方法，組織團結基層市民，爭取改善民生政策及提昇生活質素。

我們工作的背後只有一個簡樸的信念：建立一個仁愛、平等及公義的社會。

Introduction to Society for Community Organization (SoCO)

SoCO is a non-profitable welfare organization which was set up in 1972. Its funding comes from overseas churches, the Hong Kong Community Chest and donations from individuals.

For more than 32 years, we in SoCO have witnessed the various changing faces of Hong Kong's social and economic transformation. During our daily work, we deeply feel the hardship faced by those from the poorest levels of our community. People who worked quietly over the past decades and survived by living from hand to mouth and yet, they now neither live with dignity nor share the fruits of economic development. Under the surface of prosperity lives a community that has fallen into oblivion. In cramped and crowded cages and dilapidated private tenements are found, lonely old people, residents in old public housing estates, new immigrants, children living in poverty, street-sleepers, low-paid workers, and common people whose voices are not heard. They have long been the targets for our service.

We firmly believe that every one should have the same rights. We are also convinced that an equal chance of development and a system which reasonably allocates social resources is the basis for protecting citizen's rights. For many years, we have organized people at the grassroots level through community organization and social action to fight for policy change and a decent living standard.

Behind our work lies a simple belief : to establish a society in which human dignity is respected and social justice is upheld.

兒童權利工作計劃簡介

近年香港貧富縣殊的情況日益惡化，基層每天面對生活困境，最受影響的是小孩子的生活質素及發展機會，兒童成了貧窮率最高的組群。在這日新月異的富裕社會，我們看到三十多萬小孩子掙扎求存，二萬多蝸居籠屋板房，他們要在床上做功課，要撿紙皮為生。社協於2003年以聯合國《兒童權利公約》的理念：「每一個兒童均享有權利，不因其種族、膚色、性別、語言、宗教、政治、或其他見解、民族、族裔或社會出身、財產、傷殘、出生或其他身份而有任何差別。」在政策倡議、組織、服務及社會參與幾個層面，協助貧窮兒童改善生活及爭取發展機會。

1.政策倡議及行動方面：倡議制定兒童發展政策，委任兒童專員，在教育、房屋、福利及健康等方面支援貧窮兒童的健康成長。

2. 組織：社協社工外展舊區探訪貧窮兒童，提供服務及培育兒童，發掘潛能及提升權利意識。

3. 服務及社會參與：(www.soco.org.hk/children/q7_content.htm)

3.1 兒童啟蒙天使計劃 - 招募義工以一對一形式為貧困兒童提供學習、社交及資源方面的援助。

社協於2003年8月開展該計劃，現有150名來自不同專業的啟蒙天使為150名貧窮兒童提供至少一年義務支援，引領兒童認識社會資源，跟進社會步伐，提升學習及處事能力。不少受惠兒童因而改進學習能力，提高自信心及擴闊生活眼界，最重要是體驗社會的關懷。

3.2 社區學習中心 - 招募義工為貧困兒童提供免費功課輔導及開辦興趣班

社協於2000年開始在深水?開設社區學習中心為貧困兒童提供免費學習班及借用學習用品，中心每天開放，有過百義工長期支援，每年支援過千貧困兒童為他們增進學習機會及發掘他們的才能。

3.3 兒童扶貧基金 - 透過個人或團體捐款或捐贈物資，為貧困兒童提供緊急生活救濟、家居物資及戶外活動機會。

Introduction to Children Rights Project

Facing the widening disparity between rich and poor in Hong Kong, the poor struggle each day to survive. Living standards and development opportunities for their children are sadly compromised. There are more than 350,000 children living in poverty. Among these, some 20,000 children are living in extremely deprived conditions in cubicles and bedspace apartments. They have to do their homework on their beds and earn their living at night collecting discarded paper, cartons and tins, in the centre of affluent Hong Kong. In the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that "each child has his or her own rights irrespective of the child's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status", SoCo has focused on the task of improving life for children since 2003 through:

1. Policy initiation SoCO advocates the formulation of policies for children and the appointment of a commissioner for children's affairs to support the growth and development of disadvantaged children in terms of education, housing, social welfare and health care.

2. Organization Outreach social workers from SoCO visit disadvantaged children in suburban areas to explore children's potential and raise awareness of their rights.

3. Community Services (www.soco.org.hk/children/q7_content.htm)

3.1 Child Mentorship Scheme

Mentoring children through tutorials, social contact and community resources on a one to one basis. SoCO launched this Scheme in August 2003 and currently has 150 mentors from various professions mentoring 150 children for a period of not less than one year. Mentors enlighten the children by introducing them to community resources, raising their learning and problem-solving skills, boosting their self-confidence and broadening their horizons.

3.2 Community Learning Centre

Providing children with study support and offering interest classes. SoCO opened a community learning centre in Sham Shui Po in 2000. With the long-term commitment of over 100 volunteers, the centre is open seven days a week. Disadvantaged children can enrol in study groups and borrow study materials free of charge. The learning centre supports over 1,000 disadvantaged children every year.

3.3 Empowering Children Fund

Seeking donations in cash or in kind, the Fund provides emergency financial aid, household resources and outdoor activities for disadvantaged children.