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Youth paint, elders enjoy (LIFE+)

Goldfish scoop. Cat’s cradle. DIY slingshot. Do these ring a bell? Probably not for the younger generation, unless they have taken part in Anchor Children with Elders (ACE) Art 2023.

“I’m grateful to the elders for all they have done for Hong Kong. Without their contributions, children nowadays, including me, wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the wide choice of entertainment and games. We’re so blessed,” says Tong Shun-hei, a P.5 student at S.K.H. Ling Oi Primary School, after learning from his grandparents that toys were a luxury during their childhood. “That said, they had a great time playing with their homemade toys. So, I’m making my own ones and I’ll try to buy less.”

Shun-hei is among the 1,700 primary students from 13 schools who have joined the ACE Art 2023, organised and sponsored by Mighty Oaks Foundation and Chinachem Group respectively. Currently in its 7th year, the programme invited young participants to paint their grandparents’ stories on tambourines under the theme of “neighbourhood leisure in bygone years”. The non-governmental organisation comes up with a different theme and canvas each year, but the core idea of getting the little ones to talk with the seniors in their families remains unchanged.

After the winners were selected by a panel of judges, including Donald Choi, CEO of Chinachem Group, who was in the same role last year – all the art pieces were then gifted to elderly centres in districts where the participating schools are located. To fully capitalise on the hand-painted tambourines, dance workshops and videos prepared by students at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, additional features of this year’s edition, were also made available to encourage the recipients to exercise. “You have to anchor people in their own family before radiating out to society. If you’re close to the elders in your own family, then you’d be able to form relationships with those in the neighbourhood,” explains Poh Lee Tan, the founder and director of the Foundation.

With a focus on the wellbeing of golden agers, the Foundation aims to help them live with dignity, purpose, hope, and love. Considering herself an elder, Poh Lee has seen many peers in the community who are lonely and marginalised, some even isolate themselves thinking society no longer needs them. “I’m still contributing, and I’m sure people of my vintage would like to continue to contribute. But sometimes they aren’t given a chance, they aren’t asked for their stories,” says Poh Lee.
“When you spend a little bit of time with them, they’ll start to blossom and their stories come out.”

So, how to bring the silver-haired out of their shell? The key is intergenerational integration.
“When a young person comes and engages with you, something magical happens,” Poh Lee beams, stressing that it is a win-win approach benefiting both generations.

Cheng Tsz-kiu, this year’s champion who studies at The H.K.C.W.C. Hioe Tjo Yoeng Primary School, was elated by the chat with her grandma that eventually went beyond the programme theme. “My granny recounted the amusing anecdotes about her early motherhood years raising my father. I enjoyed hearing those stories a lot!” Realising others’ stories can be a source of inspiration for her artwork, the 10-year-old artist vows to keep her heart and ears open. “I hope I can hear more stories from people around me as their sharing will expand my perspective. That will enable me to create more artwork.”

While children are unsurprisingly the centre of attention in most families, it can be easy to overlook the needs of the older generation. Intergenerational integration is a powerful way to tap into our shared experiences and to build connections, finally leading to a more cohesive and inclusive society. “Family harmony means community harmony, and community harmony means societal harmony,” Poh Lee concludes as she stares into the future with optimism.

LIFE+

Mighty Oaks Foundation Provides Relief to Elders During Hong Kong’s Fifth Wave (ACAP Bulletin)

Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific Bulletin (July – August 2022)
Teresa Tsien (Senior Consultant, Mighty Oaks) and Poh Lee Tan (Founder, Mighty Oaks)

Many of us aspire to grow old gracefully. Yet for some, growing old can be the hardest experience of all. At Mighty Oaks Foundation, we believe that every elderly person deserves to live with dignity, purpose, hope, and love. However, due to social, economic, and cultural circumstances, many elders are neglected and misunderstood.

The mission of Mighty Oaks is to create an age-friendly society by transforming lives and communities through innovative intergenerational programmes that build connections and friendships between the old and young.

The fifth wave of the pandemic hit Hong Kong hard in late January 2022, when there were many more COVID-19 infections and deaths in the following two-month period, compared to the entire period since the pandemic began in early 2020. Our healthcare system and mortuaries were overrun and unable to cope. Very strict social distancing measures were implemented. We quickly stepped in to address the plight of vulnerable elders who lack family support and community networks.

With support from many donors, sponsors, partners, and volunteers, Mighty Oaks alleviated the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of vulnerable elders under the Mighty Oaks Community Programmes:

  1. 2,800 COVID-19 rapid antigen tests were distributed to elderly homes most in need.
  2. The Mighty Oaks Care Packages Programme benefited 8,500 singleton elders with 293,700 face masks, 8,770 (boxes of 3) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, 8,000 toilet rolls, 3,000 bottles of sanitizing liquid, 8,500 bags of rice, and 9,500 packs of non-perishable food.
  3. To help singleton elders who suffer mentally and emotionally from their isolation and fear of venturing outdoors, the Mighty Oaks Chat With Singletons Programme encouraged 160 young volunteers to make multiple telephone calls to 380 singleton elders over two months. This provided cheer and light-hearted relief, emphasizing the need for the young and old to engage and communicate.
  4. To improve the mental well-being of under-privileged elders and children, the Mighty Oaks Expressive Arts Therapy Programme partnered with 15 elder facilities and 4 primary schools to use arts to express emotions and relieve stress related to the fifth wave of COVID-19. 200 participants experienced enhanced social interaction and mutual support.
  5. The Mighty Oaks Home Improvement Programme offered sanitizing services to 150 singleton elder households with an anti-bacterial protective coating that kills 99.9% of the COVID-19 virus. 2,300 singleton elder households received essential home appliances of their choice, such as blood pressure monitors, rice cookers, fans, and kettles.

The work continues throughout the year with Mighty Oaks Programmes, including Anchoring Children with Elders (ACE) Academy, ACE Talks, and ACE Art, where our philosophy of Anchoring Children with Elders connects elder facilities with nearby schools, encouraging youth to better understand and communicate with elders.

At Mighty Oaks, we have been blessed and are very thankful to have the support of so many individuals and organizations that enable us to continue our mission of transforming lives and communities through intergenerational activities that benefit our elders.

For more information on Mighty Oaks Foundation, please contact us at info@mighty-oaks.org.

Active Aging Consortium Asia Pacific Bulletin

新冠肺炎|恩橡基金會製音樂短片 為院舍長者打氣 (HK01)

新冠肺炎疫情未平,本港安老院舍亦謝絕探訪減低感染風險。

恩橡基金會表示,近日與業餘音樂愛好者合作,製作音樂錄像《並肩同行Walking Together》,讓居於院舍的長者在孤獨中感受到市民大眾的關懷,同時向院舍的工作人員致謝。

基金會表示,影片有200位人士向長者和院舍同工致謝,並由14位業餘音樂家,在自己家中填詞和製作音樂,而今次影片亦找來2歲到90歲人士拍攝鼓勵短片。

《並肩同行Walking Together》是由前任及現任匯豐職員組成的WayRock,改編自張學友的歌曲《真情流露》,而音樂錄像會上載至youtube及恩橡基金會的FB專頁。

恩橡基金會近期及未來兩個月支持長者的活動,包括:已向長者及社區有需要人士派發5萬個口罩、收集了超過2,500份自製禮物送予安老院舍的長者、超過2,000名小學生自製了以粵劇為主題的小袋送予長者、鼓勵大眾在家自製曲奇餅,送給在安老院舍辛勤工作的工作人員。

HK01

耆趣童樂館開幕活動多 跨代共融 尊重帶給長者 (Sing Pao Daily News)

【本報港聞部報道】恩橡基金會昨日宣布耆趣童樂館正式開幕,希望「耆趣童樂五月天」的多項活動,可以進一步增強長者及年輕人的跨代共融,讓大家進一步認識長者對社會帶來的貢獻,並獲得更多的尊重,而大家亦可以享有更豐盛的生活意義。

關愛長者攝影比賽

耆趣童樂館位於市建局旗下保育活化項目的文物古蹟內,由恩橡基金會擁有及營運,目的是促進家庭之間跨代學習。基金會創辦人陳寶莉昨日在致辭時感謝市建局的信任及捐款人和義工的支持,期望成為連繫香港每所安老服務機構及其附近的學校的平台,讓跨代共融帶來個人層面、社區層面以至整個社會的改變。

社會福利署署長葉文娟是耆趣童樂館開幕禮的主禮人,她認同恩橡基金會的理念,即創意(Creativity)、溝通(Communication)、品格(Character),跨代共融更與政府近年推廣的信息一致。她更讚揚社會上有心人用自己的資源創立恩橡,將愛與尊重帶給長者。

恩橡基金會的「長幼跨代共融」(ACE)社區計劃旨在鼓勵學生與長者通過共同學習建立關係。長者們喜歡從年輕人的角度重新看世界,樂於投入有意義、有成效的活動;學生們能學會同理心、耐性、包容和社交技巧,以及打破對長者的成見。跨代共融社區計劃包括長幼學堂、長幼共融學會及跨代藝術。「耆趣童樂五月天」的活動包括總冠軍GrandChampions關愛長者攝影比賽,通過表逹藝術表揚長者及他們的貢獻。

Sing Pao Daily News

小學生老友記上課 齊做掛飾繫長幼情 (Sing Tao Daily)

【家長八達通】近年不少機構都有舉辦跨代共融的活動,不過,大多數都是一次性質,未能建立較深厚的關係。Elsie知道,致力於改善長者生活的恩橡基金會,一七年起舉辦「跨代共融社區計畫-長幼學堂」,通過小學生和「老友記」共同上課,例如學繪畫、音樂,甚至種菜等,提升自信及互相學習,推行社區的跨代共融。Elsie早前就跟天水圍的中華基督教青年會小學師生,到區內的博愛醫院戴均護理安老院,看他們學做寫有祝福語句的掛飾。「長幼學堂」課程的概念是配對同區的小學和老人院,每次分別有十五位學生和長者參與,以一對一形式合作學習,但亦會因應學校或院舍要求,調整人數,例如今次青年會小學跟戴均護理安老院的課堂,就各有十二名學生和長者參與,他們在六節課堂中,學習拼貼、塗顏色、繪畫、學打如意結等。最後一堂的畢業禮,長者更會穿上畢業袍,帶上四方帽,跟同學仔接受證書;典禮更有小型展覽,跟學生家長和院友家人,分享他們的作品。

Elsie當天參觀時,就看到小朋友和「老友記」,根據藝術家導師黃綺琪(Eilish)示範,兩人一組,合作打「如意結」。過程中,小朋友和長者要分別按住繩子,再往不同方向拉緊、打結,少些合作和方向感也不可以。當中有些組別很快完成,有的組別則要多試幾次,不過大家很有耐性,慢慢做,最後順利完成任務。

由於該堂接近課程尾聲,參加的小朋友都繪畫了心意卡或畫作,送給自己的「拍檔」留念,好像三年級的何穎妍,就製作了一本迷你書,書中記錄了她和九十一歲拍檔陸婆婆的異同,例如大家都喜歡吃魚和水果,又指陸婆婆的畫工很好,又會教她讀生字,跟婆婆相處得很開心。她跟Elsie說,在「長幼學堂」中,除了學到如何做掛飾,最重要是知道如何照顧長者。「跟老人家相處時,要小心些,因為太大動作,可能會弄傷婆婆。」

以中國人說法,隔三年就有一個代溝,但這講法在「長幼學堂」內,似乎不成立。九十一歲的黃婆婆笑說,跟小拍檔溝通得很好,最巧合的是,她拍檔的名字,跟孫兒的名字相同,所以相處起來特別有親切感。

聽恩橡基金會項目經理溫碧琪(Peggy)講,「長幼學堂」在一七年九月開始,至今已為二十四所小學和院舍作配對。她指最初試行該計畫,是有見很多外國的學校,會讓學生到老人院參與活動,而很多報告指出,即使有輕度或中度認知障礙的「老友記」,見到小朋友時會感到開心,所以想在香港推行類似活動。

Peggy表示,「長幼學堂」有別於其他跨代共融活動,是活動時間較長,有些學校或會在聖誕或新年,安排學生到院舍探訪,但只是一年一次,而「長幼學堂」則是五至十節的課堂,學習內容由小學和院舍決定,恩橡基金會就安排導師和交通等。在課堂正式開始前,基金會也為學生設簡介會,讓他們認識老人院的環境、如何和長者相處,甚至角色扮演,讓他們了解長者在生活上的困難。

「計畫的概念是為同一社區內的學校和院舍配對,因即使同一屋邨內的學生和院友,一年可能也見不到一次;加上社會面對人口老化問題,新一代小朋友又常對着電話,少跟人面對面談話,何況跟家中的祖父母溝通?」Peggy也希望通過活動,消除小朋友一些謬誤,例如覺得老人院的長者很悶、不開心、有異味等。

Peggy透露,以往的畢業禮常有「眼濕濕」場面,反映大家建立感情。「曾聽過有老師分享,指有同學在課程結束後,不捨得長者,私下曾跟父母到院舍探『老友記』;又試過有長者進了醫院,竟有小朋友和父母去醫院探望,這些都是之前無想過的。」

首次參與「長幼學堂」的導師Eilish表示,在教授過程中,看到長者和小朋友學習交流。「曾試過有個環節是讓長者和小朋友隨便畫,為讓大家有交流,所以要一人一筆。但當中有位長者因有聽障,無反應,只自顧自畫畫,小朋友也不知如何做。」她後來看到長者好像在畫一隻雞,於是就擅自幫他加了一隻腳,誰知那位長者卻停了下來,然後洗筆,Eilish正擔心長者是否生氣之際,誰知他再用筆點了相同的顏色,畫另一隻腳,反映用身體語言也可溝通。

「長幼學堂」的學生都是自願參加,不過Peggy表示,基金會希望揀選的學生,是一些因經濟未能參加課外活動,或無自信的學生,期望通過活動,提升他們自信,但人選最後由校方決定。至於參與的「老友記」,則是希望讓一些能力較弱的長者參加,想他們在不用花太多力氣的活動中,感受到關愛。她表示,每個學年完結後,都會舉行「長幼學堂」作品展,現時暫定在六月二十二日,場地未定,有興趣的家長可留意。

Sing Tao Daily

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