As we have seen in the news this past year, child abuse and neglect happens daily across our city, in families, schools, residential care, and across all neighborhoods and socioeconomic groups. Hong Kong is facing a child protection crisis.
Every child in Hong Kong has a right to be protected from all forms of abuse. At Mother’s Choice, we serve over 100 children at any one time. These children, who are currently not living in a safe, loving, and permanent family, are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and they deserve the highest level of care, protection, and respect.
Working in the child welfare field is not easy. Our teams step into the most difficult moments in the lives of infants, children, pregnant girls, and families. We accompany our clients in hospitals, in courtrooms, and in their own homes. In a residential care setting, the amount of work that goes into smoothly and safely providing a home for babies and children is a great task as we operate 24/7, keep running rosters of trained and committed childcare workers and volunteers, with the added complications of keeping them safe from COVID. It takes courage to continue to serve with such dedication and love, putting children at the center of everything we do.
It is so important to stand up for children, but we can often feel helpless, not knowing what to do when our heart, body, or mind is telling us that a child we know may not be safe. We can all support and encourage one another to take small action steps to see children protected:
First, we can educate ourselves. Mother’s Choice extends an open invitation to complete our online child protection training, which at its core reminds us how to prevent, respond to, and report child abuse. This training is completed by our staff, volunteers, and foster families as part of equipping teams to uphold and embed our child protection standards and values into their work, practice, and hearts.
We can also take notice of the vulnerable children around us, especially those in families who are isolated and alone. Befriending and walking alongside a struggling family, including young single parents, can make a world of difference to a child’s sense of safety and security.
Our child protection activities at Mother’s Choice help us build a team that values and prioritizes the safety and best interests of children. To find out more about our commitment to child safeguarding, please visit our Child Protection page or email info@motherschoice.org.
We believe it takes a village to raise a child. When our community joins hands together, we can create safe, child friendly environments where every child is respected, protected, and heard.