Cover Story
Generali staff at the OneSky Family Centre
The Human Safety Net: Partnering with OneSky to Bring Better Future for Vulnerable Children By Josi Chiang, Head of The Human Safety Net, Generali Hong Kong Behind the glamorous lifestyle portrayed in movies in Hong Kong, there are many unseen vulnerable families living in poverty, family members squeezed in the city’s notoriously tiny ‘coffin homes’. According to the latest Poverty Situation Report 2020, more than one in five Hong Kongers, or 1.65 million people, are living in poverty; measured on an income of less than HK$4,400 for one person, or less than a combined $16,000 for a three-person household. Poverty has
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significant consequences on children’s growth and development, and it might even hinder their future opportunities. At Generali, living in the community is one of our core values. From that, stemmed The Human Safety Net.
The Human Safety Net: A Global Movement The Human Safety Net (THSN) is Generali’s global movement of people helping people. Our mission is to unlock the potential of people living in vulnerable circumstances, so that they can transform the lives of their families and communities. In Hong Kong, THSN focuses on supporting families with young children. We believe parents have the largest and most long-lasting impact on children. Therefore, with the aim of benefiting children, especially during the fundamental ages of 0 - 6 where the foundations of development are laid, we seek to support parents with young children between 0 - 6.
Partnering with OneSky With this aim, Generali has partnered with OneSky - an organization that aspires to create a better future for vulnerable children in Hong Kong while strengthening family ties, creating community connections and expanding the capacity of caregivers. The OneSky Family Centre, situated in one of Hong Kong’s poorest areas, Sham Shui Po, provides a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment for children aged 0 - 6 and their parents to learn and play. With state-of-the-art facilities, children are able to develop cognitive, physical and socio-emotional skills that are necessary for their growth. The OneSky Family Centre also offers parenting skills workshops, consultation and referral services for families. Through workshops and consultations, OneSky educates communities and caregivers on the OneSky’s Responsive Approach, a tested method proven to have a positive impact on a child’s development.
