Ms Sze Lai-Shan
Lai-shan SZE graduated from the Baptist University with a Bachelors degree in Social Work (Honors) in 1995 and from the University of Hong Kong with a Masters of Laws (Human Rights) in 2004. She joined SoCO as a community organizer in 1995. Her work in organizing the cage dwellers and new immigrants as well as children rights to fight for their human rights, led to her recognition as the outstanding social worker in Hong Kong in 2005. She was appointed as a part-time member of Central Policy Unit by the HKSAR Government in 2007 and 2008.
SoCO was founded in 1972 and is a registered non-profit making non-governmental human rights organization for the underprivileged.
SoCO’s services assist Hong Kong’s cage and cubicle dwellers, the single elderly, new immigrant women, children living in poverty, street-sleepers, people with mental illnesses, low-paid workers, refugees and ethnic minorities. SoCO also undertakes original social policy research, lobbies Hong Kong decision-making bodies and organizes direct action events.
ABSTRACT
1. Story of the children
2. The need of the children and children rights
3. Brief statistics of HK and children poverty.
At present, Hong Kong has 1,027,300 population of children. Among of them, there are 1.3 million people living under poverty line in Hong Kong. 249,100 of them are living under poverty line[1]. The poverty rate of children is even higher than elderly. Among them, 100,094 are recipients of Social Security, the other are from low income families. 30,000 children are under deprived conditions such as cubicles, cocklofts and roof-top huts, even though in the affluent city like Hong Kong. Their living conditions are so appalling that their mental and physical development are threatened. Many of them are even not willing to let others know where they live and continued to be low in self-esteem that seriously hinders youngsters' development. The inability to interact with the others and the absence of the community resource leads them to a cycle of poverty. Their children rights are seriously undermined.
4. The problems of the underprivileged children facing - Lacking of education resources, housing problems, family support, parenting,etc.
5. The problems of the policy
6. Suggestions
[1] Family income lower than half of the household median income
SoCO was founded in 1972 and is a registered non-profit making non-governmental human rights organization for the underprivileged.
SoCO’s services assist Hong Kong’s cage and cubicle dwellers, the single elderly, new immigrant women, children living in poverty, street-sleepers, people with mental illnesses, low-paid workers, refugees and ethnic minorities. SoCO also undertakes original social policy research, lobbies Hong Kong decision-making bodies and organizes direct action events.
ABSTRACT
1. Story of the children
2. The need of the children and children rights
3. Brief statistics of HK and children poverty.
At present, Hong Kong has 1,027,300 population of children. Among of them, there are 1.3 million people living under poverty line in Hong Kong. 249,100 of them are living under poverty line[1]. The poverty rate of children is even higher than elderly. Among them, 100,094 are recipients of Social Security, the other are from low income families. 30,000 children are under deprived conditions such as cubicles, cocklofts and roof-top huts, even though in the affluent city like Hong Kong. Their living conditions are so appalling that their mental and physical development are threatened. Many of them are even not willing to let others know where they live and continued to be low in self-esteem that seriously hinders youngsters' development. The inability to interact with the others and the absence of the community resource leads them to a cycle of poverty. Their children rights are seriously undermined.
4. The problems of the underprivileged children facing - Lacking of education resources, housing problems, family support, parenting,etc.
5. The problems of the policy
6. Suggestions
[1] Family income lower than half of the household median income