Pillars of Work under Our Local Programme

Nutrition and Health

A balanced diet is the basis for the development of children’s intellectual and physical wellness. It is also crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty across generations.

Support for Special Education Needs

Timely encouragement and emotional support are crucial to grass-roots children with SEN and their caregivers, while accessible and affordable support to them are particularly essential.

Experiential Learning and Learning Support

Grass-roots children need to have the chance to enjoy diverse and inspiring resources and opportunities for learning, as well as positive family and social relationships to overcome deprivation.

Emergency Relief

World Vision Hong Kong responds swiftly to crises such as COVID‑19 and the Tai Po Fire by working with partners to support vulnerable families and children, strengthening resilience and bringing hope in times of hardship.

Nutrition and Health

A balanced diet is the basis for the development of children’s intellectual and physical wellness. It is also crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty across generations.

Nutrition Matters – parent-child consultations and workshops

Research has found that local grass-roots children generally have imbalanced diets compared to children of the same age, and their consumption of dairy products, vegetables and fruits is particularly insufficient. The programme Nutrition Matters provides local grass-roots children and parents with one-on-one nutrition consultation with registered dietitians, and delivers a series of talks and workshops focusing on the link between different children's health issues and nutrition. Through the programme, registered dietitians share knowledge and practical tips on nutrition with children and parents to help them develop good eating habits. They also inspire parents to create nutritious, affordable dishes that are suitable for the cooking environments of grass-roots families, so that the children can receive balanced nutrition and grow up healthily.

We picked 14 dishes designed by child and parent participants of Nutrition Matters, and invited registered dietitians from our valued partner, Hong Kong Community Dietitian Association, to contribute to the editing of the cookbook – Nutrition Matters. You are welcome to download the cookbook (in Chinese only) and try making these dishes to ensure healthy eating for you and your children.

Consultations and workshops for SEN children and parents

World Vision and our professional partners specifically respond to the situation of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) by showing parents that the consumption of too much high-calorie, high-sugar, or processed foods can negatively affect brain chemicals, emotions and behaviours of some SEN children who experience problems with concentration and hyperactivity. We also introduce an experiential learning workshop especially for SEN children to integrate the "five senses" (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell), allowing them to recognise and try different types and colours of food, while helping them manage their emotions and behaviour through balanced nutrition.

Training on nutrition and distribution of nutritious food

World Vision and its partners deliver diversified and nutritionally balanced ingredients, selected under the guidance of registered dietitians, to local grass-roots families with financial difficulties. Messages about nutrition and health are also shared, allowing the families to access nutritious food and learn to choose, mix and match different types of food wisely to improve their eating habits. Grass-roots parents who participated in the programme reported that the types and portions of food their children consume have increased, and they have gained more knowledge about health and nutrition.

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Support for Special Education Needs

Timely encouragement and emotional support are crucial to grass-roots children with SEN and their caregivers, while accessible and affordable support to them are particularly essential.

Sports classes for SEN children

Together with our partners, World Vision gathers a team of specialised SEN sports coaches to conduct sport classes, opening opportunities for local grass-roots SEN children to take part in professional sports training. This will let the children strengthen the upper and lower limbs, jumping ability, coordination, ability to perform, flexibility and athleticism, thereby helping them build their confidence and communication skills, and discover their potential.

Play therapy services and training for parents

World Vision believes that parents or caregivers are the most important counsellor to their children. In addition to providing professional play therapy services to local grass-roots SEN children in collaboration with professional partners, the programme also trains the parents or caregivers of grass-roots SEN children about the principles and techniques in child-centred play therapy, as well as parent-child communications and interaction skills. The programme enables parents or caregivers to assist their children in managing stress and building self-image, while improving parent-child relationships in daily life. At the same time, it helps parents or caregivers relieve stress and manage their own emotions.

Drawing instructor certification course

Parents or caregivers who take care of SEN children are constantly under immense mental stress. Some of them have to leave their jobs to take care of their SEN children at home, and the situation is particularly serious for grass-roots families. World Vision and its partners use painting as a medium to help parents or caregivers of underprivileged SEN children relieve stress, rediscover their own potential, and enhance their confidence and self-worth. At the same time, we organise training for them to become certified painting art instructors, enhancing their ability to earn and improve their families’ financial conditions.

Fostering Inclusive Education in Schools

Adolescence is a pivotal stage for cultivating empathy and embracing diversity, and schools provide the key setting for inclusive education. In partnership with local organizations, World Vision implementing SEN inclusion talks and dynamic campus activities in primary and secondary schools. These efforts seek to build awareness of SEN among students, teachers and parents, break free from stereotypes, and help create a supportive environment where differences are valued and classmates can learn and thrive side by side.

Public Education and Community Inclusion

Children with SEN and their families can only experience genuine inclusion in a barrier-free community when society embrace inclusiveness and be open and supportive as a whole. Together with our partners, we share message of inclusion through community carnivals and diverse media platforms, inspiring everyone to take part in fostering a culture where SEN inclusion begins with each of us."

To promote public education on SEN, World Vision has launched the campaign "Let the SEN Be Heard". Through the sharing from SEN children and their carers as well as companions, we hope to encourage the public to abandon stereotypes about SEN children, recognise their uniqueness and value, and work together to build an equitable and inclusive community. Click here to visit the webpage of "Let the SEN Be Heard" (in Chinese only).

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Experiential Learning and Learning Support

Grass-roots children need to have the chance to enjoy diverse and inspiring resources and opportunities for learning, as well as positive family and social relationships to overcome deprivation.

Parent-child relationship therapy

Due to limited living space, conflicts can easily occur between parents and children from grass-roots families. World Vision provides a series of Parent-child Relationship Therapy training for parents with children aged 2 to 10. The training aims to equip parents with skills to relieve stress and counsel their children, helping themselves and their children better manage their emotions, and promote better parent-child relations. A number of participating parents say that after applying the principles and techniques learnt in the training, they have noticed that their children have become less temperamental and can calm down more easily.

Board game groups for children

World Vision organises board game groups for children, allowing underprivileged children to show their emotions, express their feelings and thoughts through board games, thereby improving their ability to learn and communicate with others.

Parent-child activities

World Vision organises different parent-child activities, including visits to organic farms, movie days and music shows. In addition to the broadening of horizons, parent-child relationship is also promoted as local grass-roots families may enjoy family time.

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