Reversal of life│The relocation of the head of Su Ucun Village has turned into a neighbourhood to continue the old neighborhood

Community topics

Written by: Lu Nuojun

2021-02-26 09:00

Last update date: 2021-02-26 09:00

In recent years, many new housing estates have been built in various districts. The living environment has improved greatly compared with the past, but the relationship between neighbors has become more and more indifferent.

In Cheung Sha Wan Su Uk Village, some organizations have implemented the "Builder Leader Plan" before they moved in, organizing a group of old and new neighborhoods to serve as "Building Leaders," hoping to continue the old neighborhood relationship and give play to the neighborhood's spirit of mutual help.

Some of the building directors acted as the "observatory" to collect all kinds of information, and some became the chairman of the mutual committee, helping the neighbourhood at the same time, unknowingly making their lives more complete and fulfilling.

So Uk Village is one of the early housing estates in Hong Kong. It has been demolished and rebuilt in recent years and completed the occupation.

(Photo by Lu Nuojun)

Su Uk Village is one of Hong Kong's early "low-rent housing". The old village was built in the 1960s and cleared in phases in 2006. By 2016, the first phase of the new village was completed and started to be occupied.

Xiao Runping (Aping), 67 years old this year, moved to the new village as a solitary person five years ago. She has been the head of the building for a period of time, and she is responsible for "collecting numbers" for the neighbourhood. She is also the "observatory" in the village. "He has a good understanding of the trends and needs of the neighborhood in the village.

Regardless of how active and active Ah Ping is now, she has gone through a difficult period in the past.

In the past few years, he experienced bereavement, divorce and daughter married

"I have lived in Tuen Mun for more than 30 years. I originally thought that a family of three could be transferred out of the city. I know that in two years to three years, the adult life has changed a lot." Ah Ping pointed out, originally wishing to relocate. After the Kowloon area, it was convenient to take care of her mother living in Lok Fu, but when she moved to the house, her mother was old and suddenly passed away; within one year of moving into Suwu Village, Ah Ping had divorced her husband, married her daughter, and Dealing with the issues on both sides made her feel very conflicted. She also changed from a housewife to an elder living alone. She frankly said that she was anxious, "all felt sad."

"Having a husband who eats well at home and lives well, after the divorce, after a few years of saving and using the sun, I feel very upset."

"Head of Building" in Aping Su Uk Village

Ah Ping recalled that the second phase of the housing estate was still under construction when he first moved into the village. The house was surrounded by construction sites, and there were mosquitoes in addition to "noisy and dusty", and the living environment was disturbing.

"At the time, the housing estate has an entrance. After picking up the key, you will see "Street Station" when you go up." The street station she said was a gathering place for housing estates set up by a group of Salvation Army social workers. If you write down and help people apply for the elderly electricity and gas fee reduction plan, you can just bury it. In fact, I really want to help, but I don’t know how to start.” Starting from the street station, Ping and the social workers slowly built trust, and again With their assistance, she handles occupancy and decoration matters; she also goes to the street station regularly every day, and gathers with a group of neighbors to play the table game "Magic Bridge", gradually becoming familiar with each other from not knowing each other.

"It's like I'm going to die, and I think I need help first when I am in my 80s and 90s, but it turns out that I really want help. It's not age."

"Head of Building" in Aping Su Uk Village

Applying for washing machine for hidden elderly

"I have lived in Tuen Mun for decades and I don’t know it’s a street station. I haven’t had any contact with social workers. It’s as if I’m dying to face each other. In my impression, I’m in my 80s and 90s, but I really want someone to help. It’s actually not based on age.” Ping pointed out that she started with beneficiaries and later took volunteer courses with many neighbourhoods. At first, she didn’t recognize herself as the “building manager” and felt that “the first floor The responsibilities of "long" seemed to be too great, but then I discovered that daily conversations with different villagers had helped many people unknowingly.

For example, I have tried to apply for washing machines for hidden elders and recruit them to street stations to open their hearts. I have also tried when an administrator found out that one of them had passed away in a neighborhood living alone, and told Ah Ping that she would report it to the social worker.

"Sometimes at night, there will be discounts when you are busy. If you are a member, you will have a cash coupon and free chicken wings and rapeseed to send you out of the group."

"Head of Building" in Aping Su Uk Village

The joy index changed from negative to 8

Under the epidemic situation, many social workers and even housing estate street stations have to be suspended, and the role of building managers has become more important.

Over the years, Ah Ping and Yiban neighbourhoods have gradually formed a community network. Each of them has different expertise and roles, such as specializing in home repairs for neighbourhoods. Aping knows the needs and current situation of villagers best. They searched for discounts on "sales numbers" in the district. Last year, the whole city "pushed masks" and a group of neighborhoods also made a smooth transition due to Aping's information.

"Sometimes at night, there will be discounts when you scream. If you are a member, you will have a cash coupon and free chicken wings and rapeseed to send you out of the group." Because she was afraid of being rude, she didn't dare to speak, so Ah Ping Now she is more willing to help people. She frankly said that when she first lived in Suwu Village, her happiness index was only zero or even negative, but now it has eight points. "Return two points until the epidemic is over, and return to the street station before adding it back." Said with a smile.

Strengthen the resonance of the old and new Suwu people

The "So Uk New Village New Feelings-Sham Shui Po New Estate Social Capital Development Project, implemented by the Salvation Army and funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund, aims to connect the residents of the old and new So Uk Villages and strengthen the "old Su Uk" And the "new Su Uk people" have a sense of sympathy with Su Uk Village and their neighbourhood feelings between each other; and then set up a "mutual help family network" to support newly moved elders living alone and two elderly families, and promote the role transformation of participants. To strengthen the ability of sustainable development, the "Building Length and Layer Length" system is one of the projects.

Project Director Peng Zijian pointed out that at the beginning, when we wanted to recruit the owner of the building, the neighbourhood responded coldly. They were worried about "doing a good job on behalf of the building." Later, they learned that the "building leader" is the core volunteer. Acknowledge this identity.

The role of the head of the epidemic room is more important

"When a new housing estate is opened, everyone knows three things. Many elderly neighbors are widowed and lack support, or families who have gone to public housing first because of the substandard housing. They use their savings to deal with housing problems. In a while, everyone will be well. Helpless.” Peng Zijian said that even some residents who moved into So Uk Village from Hong Kong Island did not dare to leave their homes because they did not know the community around Cheung Sha Wan. About 60 building leaders in the village could play a supporting and caring role in the epidemic. During the raging period, the building manager is even more important. "When you buy masks, you will send them to everyone. It may be so simple. There is a neighborhood who likes to send pictures of elders. The elderly neighborhood is really easy to suffer. If there is finally warmth under the epidemic, even if it is not When I met at the street station, there were people who were concerned about it.” He also pointed out that he hoped that the neighbourhood could eventually form a mutual aid society, and even if the plan was completed in the future, the community network could still be consolidated and maintained.

As early as 2003, the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund carried out different social capital development plans in the form of building managers. Since its establishment, it has funded 109 building managers’ plans and trained more than 6,000 building managers. It hopes to support every household in the village through the role of building managers. The needs of the community, as well as connecting neighbourhoods and weaving a network of mutual help in the community.

According to the "Social Capital Effectiveness Evaluation" conducted by the Fund in 2019, the building owner has been verified as the most effective social capital development model.

In view of the remarkable results, the Fund expects to further expand the building master program to a number of housing estates, including newly completed housing estates, and train more than 2,600 building directors in the future.

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