Our Small Group Home service has a rich history spanning almost three decades. In April 2023, we warmly welcomed four new Small Group Homes into our fold, expanding our capacity to provide high-quality care to over 90 residents aged 4 to 18 across four districts. This February marked a remarkable transformation at our Wong Tai Sin Small Group Home, where an extensive renovation breathed new life into its surroundings. 8 young residents returned to this freshly refurbished space and have shown a genuine appreciation for their revitalized environment.
Stepping inside this Home, one is immediately struck by the spacious living area, designed to foster shared moments of play and communal dining. The soft gentle lighting, warm wooden flooring, and calming colour scheme create a comfortable atmosphere. What truly stands out is the thoughtful incorporation of a forest theme and the whimsical "tree hollow" design elements, emphasising our commitment to a "child-centred" approach in design.
Forest-Themed Design: “Tree Hollows” as Outlets for Children's Emotions
Ms. Cherry Hung, Service-in-charge of Small Group Homes, highlighted that many of the children and teenagers living in these homes have faced challenging life experiences. They need a supportive environment where they can come to terms with their past, and that's precisely what our Small Group Homes aim to provide. When designing these spaces, we take inspiration from the "Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory". The outcome is a haven of comfort and security, decorated with soft, calming colours and age-appropriate amenities. For instance, our living rooms feature inviting "tree hollows", and the discreet seating areas in the corridors offer peaceful spots where children can retreat, regulate their emotions, or engage in heartfelt conversations with their fellow residents. Furthermore, our Small Group Homes are guided by a "trauma-informed approach", led by a dedicated team of professionals, including social workers, clinical psychologists, counsellors, and House Parents. Their goal is to provide stable attachment relationships, nurturing guidance, and psychological trauma counselling to assist children and teenagers in establishing emotional stability, self-confidence, and fostering holistic development.
The residents, who spend a significant amount of time in our homes, also play a vital role in shaping the design of their living space. Ms. Hung actively engaged with them throughout the improvement process. Both the children and teenagers expressed their desire for personal spaces. During the renovation, we consequently made a special effort to include loft beds, each featuring an upper sleeping area and a lower section equipped with a desk and wardrobe. The railing height is also adjusted according to the child's age, ensuring that each resident has his or her own little haven.
Ching (alias), who is currently in kindergarten, returned home from school with boundless energy and eagerly showed us her favourite spot – her room. "I love my bed the most; it has my stuffed animals on it.” Ching is currently the youngest resident in the Home, and her bed was transformed with a child-centred approach. Ms. Hung shared, “we always design by taking the needs of our youth into consideration. Ching is an active child, so we raised the railing on her bed to prevent any accidental falls during sleep. The bedding, pillows, sheets, and even the comfort doll were all chosen together by Ching and the House Parents. This allows her to take the first step in learning how to take care of her own things. It also aligns with our child-centred and trauma-informed intervention."
The Home is designed around a forest and tree motif. Trees symbolise the growth of the residents from little saplings within the Home, where they receive the utmost love and care, enabling each sapling to thrive and flourish with vitality. The corridor walls feature several tree paintings, each adorned with flower-shaped sticky notes bearing the sentiments and hopes of the residents and the House Parents, whether for themselves or others. Ms. Hung explained that the Home regularly organises activities for the children to express their feelings and share with their fellow residents. In the living room, there are interactive elements as well, including one wall where children can freely unleash their creativity through drawing.
Parental Embrace, Love's Grace: Weaving the Tapestry of Life
Inside the Home, there is also a special little room where Auntie Lee, the House Parent, engage in heartfelt discussions with the residents. This room also doubles as the "Pet Corner", where residents can give the cat a goodnight kiss. As the primary Home Parent, Auntie Lee stays at Small Group Home for five days a week, overseeing the daily lives and meals of 8 young children. She brings her own cat to the Home, allowing the children to develop compassion and a sense of responsibility as they care for the furry companion. She noted, "Ching, who is usually quite loud, becomes gentle and calm when she spends time with the cat. She even encourages other children to speak softly. Another teenage resident, who usually needs reminders to wash his dishes, willingly cleans the cat's food bowl with hot water."
Auntie Lee, whose warm smile accompanies her every word, holds a treasury of unforgettable moments from her role as a House Parent. One memory stands out vividly - during an outdoor gathering, a considerate child graciously offered her an ice cream. For Auntie Lee, it wasn't merely about enjoying the ice cream; it was a testament to the child's remarkable capacity for compassion, reflecting the nurturing environment they experience daily. She also cherishes the moments when the "big sister" seeks her out during tranquil times when the younger residents are sleeping. "We sit in a cozy corner of the home, and she shares some of her heartaches with me. I listen attentively, and hope that she will feel more relieved." Sometimes, hearing negative statements and thoughts from the children saddens Auntie Lee, like when they say, “No one wants me”. She has witnessed their emotional roller coasters and, armed with knowledge of their backgrounds, she empathises even more. Whenever a child yearns for emotional support, Auntie Lee stands unwaveringly by their side, providing a comforting presence.
The work of House Parents is undeniably challenging. Ms. Hung said that the House Parent acts as a “mother” for these 8 children, ensuring that they receive both care and appropriate guidance as they grow. "Being a House Parent is a job where lives impact lives. Due to their own experiences, the residents have various emotions and thoughts. It takes a lot of time and love, along with a balanced approach, to nurture them into developing a positive outlook on life. We are truly grateful to our House Parents for taking on the challenges and caring for a group of residents in need."
