Annual District Highlights

District Highlights 2024-25

Fostering a Caring Community by Strengthening District Support Networks, and Supporting Elders, Persons with Disabilities and Carers in Need

To echo the theme “Walk with Carers” of the Care the Carers Campaign, the District Social Welfare Office (DSWO), in collaboration with Yao Yueh Chinese Music Association and various community stakeholders, organised the “Love Yourself, Love Your Family, Love Together” Thanksgiving Day for carers at the TWGHs TungPo on 13 October 2024. Through performances by musicians, elite athletes and a sand artist, coupled with a variety of relaxation and experiential activities, the event entertained over 500 carers, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Participants were relieved of daily stress, and informed about available community resources through the programme.
The DSWO allocated funding to district elderly centres, rehabilitation service centres, and family service units for the implementation of cluster-based community projects. These initiatives focused on providing dedicated support for the elderly, PWDs and their carers, while promoting mental health awareness, benefiting over 3 200 service users and residents of the district. The DSWO also teamed up with family and rehabilitation service units to launch the “Joyful Kiddo” support programme, which provided activities for 250 children with special needs and their families. Additionally, in collaboration with district rehabilitation centres and stakeholders, the DSWO organised the “Love to Bazaar” Talent Fiesta at Plaza Hollywood. This event showcased the diverse abilities and talents of PWDs, fostered inclusivity, and promoted mental wellness and support for carers, benefiting over 1 000 people, including PWDs and members of the public.

Promoting Positive Values, Enhancing Family Resilience, and Inspiring Youth to Embrace Positivity and Care for the Community

The DSWO, in collaboration with more than 30 district stakeholders, promoted positive psychology and happy living through the “Happy Life Community Health Promotion Project”, which included activities such as “Happy Coach”, “Happy Kids”, “Happy Ambassadors”, as well as community education programmes, seminars, and sharing sessions. This project served over 17 000 participants in total. In addition, the DSWO funded children and youth service units in Wong Tai Sin and Sai Kung Districts to organise sports, arts and music activities aimed at strengthening whole person development among over 800 children and youth. These activities enhanced their interpersonal relationships, teamwork skills, mental health, and resilience. The DSWO also facilitated Youth Outreaching Services in both districts to jointly organise a basketball competition for their service users on 27 December 2024. With eight teams participating, the event successfully provided a platform for young people to connect, share experiences, and strengthen the cooperation spirit across district boundaries, thereby promoting positive youth development.

Promoting Cross-Sector Collaboration by Assembling Community Resources

The DSWO and Sik Sik Yuen continued to implement the annual Care and Love Project, extending collaboration with three local hospitals and trained over 100 volunteers to promote mental health among over 2 500 elderly persons and carers in the district. In partnership with the Tseung Kwan O (South) Collaboration Network and the Tsui Lam Service Collaboration Alliance, the DSWO co-organised the “Good Persons and Good Deeds” Award Event, and the “Happy Together in Tsui Lam” programme to raise awareness of a wide range of community social services and foster a spirit of mutual support among neighbours.
To encourage volunteerism within the community and commend the contributions of outstanding volunteers and teams in the district, the DSWO held the “2024-25 Outstanding Volunteers Award Ceremony and Sharing Session”. 90 volunteers and 33 teams were honoured for their dedicated service to the community. Furthermore, in collaboration with the “District Services and Community Care Teams” (“Care Teams”), the DSWO provided training to enhance team member’s skills in identifying singleton and doubleton elderly households, as well as carers of elderly persons and PWDs, and in making referrals to welfare service units for follow-up support, with a view to strengthening the community’s safety net.