Since September 2016, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council has launched its Pilot Programme for Training in Childcare for Grandparents. The Tung Chung Integrated Services and Western District Elderly Community Centre recruited 40 grandparents for the programme, 37 of whom have successfully completed it. Last Saturday, the Welfare Council held a graduation ceremony cum celebrity sharing session at the David Li Kwok Po Community Hall, H.K.S.K.H. St. James’ Church to recognize participants’ effort and achievement. A veteran artist, Mr English Tang, was also presence in the ceremony to share the joys of caring for his grandchildren.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Keung Choi Yin, service director of the Welfare Council, pointed out that the Welfare Council organised the first phase of the Pilot Programme for Training in Childcare for Grandparents with the support of the Lotteries Fund and Social Welfare Department, teaching grandparents how to take care of newborn babies. Participant’s family members were invited to witness the wonderful moments of the grandparents in the ceremony. Keung hoped that family members could recrognise the efforts put in by grandparents to achieve a loving family with intergenerational harmony through mutual trust, acceptance, appreciation and tolerance, and a mutual concern for new life within the family. A short video of the grandparents listening attentively to their instructor and sharing learning experiences with the guests was also screened.
One of the participants, Mrs Yip said that she enrolled for the programme in preparation for the birth of her twin grandchildren. The programme did not only teach her skills of looking after newborn babies and how to communicate effectively with her son and daughter-in-law but also showed her varied childcare techniques and baby care products. Her daughter-in-law has since shown more trust towards her. Knowing the pressures faced by today’s parents, she hoped she could help alleviate their burden and allow them to focus on work.
On the other hand, a retired couple, Mr and Mrs Lam, also successfully completed the programme. Encouraged by their daughter, the couple applied for the programme to enrich their knowledge in childcare so that they can better take care of their little grandkid. Ahead of the programme, they were worried about not knowing how to bathe her daughter’s baby properly but now they are well equipped. “When we were young, we had to work hard to make a living and spent little time with our children. We do enjoy looking after our grandchild after retiring,” Lam added. He also praised the programme for its practicality, making him feel more confident in caring for his grandkid.
Ms Keung Choi Yin, service director of the Welfare Council, presented Certificates of Graduation to the participants who felt happy for completing the programme. The Welfare Council also invited a veteran artist, Mr English Tang, to share the joy of taking care of his grandchildren in the celebrity sharing session. As a grandpa of three, Tang’s youngest grandkid was born in January 2017 and he is experienced in caring for and communicating with little kids. More than that, the ceremony featured four booths introducing eco-friendly nappies and baby products as well as organic food and hand-made soap suitable for the elderly and children.