A study of the livelihood of children living in poverty

108 Pages·2012·7.49 MB·English

A study of the livelihood of children living in poverty

Research Report

Joinily conducted oy

Society for Coramunty Organization
and
Department af Social Work and Socia Administration

‘The University of Horg Kong

2002

A sticy of ke fyenoad af Chil

iain poverty

‘Table of Content

Acknewedgment
Responsible Suoervior and Students for ine Researen Project
Ergish Summary

Sagemae (Chinese Summary)

(Chapter Ore: nvosiuction
Chapter Two: Literat.re Review.

Craples Taree: Reseach Recomale

‘Chapter Four: Research Objactives.

Chapter Five: Research Des gn

‘Chapter Sik: Gualltatve Research Findings
Chapter Seven: Quantitative Research Findicgs.

tons
Chaptes‘Ten Hi
(Chapter Eleven: Ganctusion

ight cf Recommended Areas ior Further Staves

Lisi of References.

Appendic |: Ext
Appsndix I: Inter)
Appendix It Chert's profile in Qushtaive Research

Sched e for Samn-Siructural intersew,

Aperdix IV. Structured Guanitativa Qirstionnsnre for Parents
CRIA ERS

Argercix V: Nutrition cg sneat f

By
Appendix Vi Structured Quanttarve Questionnalls for Childran
CEPOL CRA SI eENT

‘Appandx Vil: Growth Charis o° Boys and Gris

Appendix Vil! Background Information of Cases.

Appendix IX: Newspaper Clisings

f Atcles Fram te Convertion on The Rights of The Chile
A study ofthe fvelcad o” Chega nrg in poverty w

Responsible Supervisor and Students for the Research Project:

Project supervisor:

ur Yong Yu Cheung
Lecirar

Department of Sociat Work & Sociel Administration
Tha University of ong Kong

Project members:

Master of Social Work (2600-2001, FT} Year # elLdents
Depertmen: of Social Work & Sosis! Administration
‘Ve University of Hong <ong

Mr Lal, Kom Kui Gary
Mr, Lau, Sk WI Michal
Wr: Loe, i Yar

rb, Sl Fung Ee
Miss Tan. Wat Ling

lisa Tul, Kars Poi len

Mr. Sin, Chiu Hang Benjamin

Szeto, Wang
Miss Yeung, Sze Stun Ciera

Miss Vip, Sze Nga Esther

Project Advisors:

Mr. Ha Hei Wei,
Direc,
Society for Commurity Orgenization

Miss Sze Let Shan,
Community Crgarizer,
Soctoty for Community Organtezztion
A sty ofthe livaihgad of Chlkiran fixing in poverty v

English Summary
Intreduction

‘According to a study conducted by the Hong Kang Council of Social Service (2000), it
raports that by year 1998, one-fifth of Hong ong chikiren tiving in Inwincome households,
These families usually managed to earn a salary of about $10, G00 per month for 4
household members by then. Some of them might be employed with a lawer rate ar even!
nempioyad, Others mnfght have been the recipienta of Comprehensive Social Securty
Assistance, Thesc limited financial resources could not pess'bly be sufficient ir providing
a decent living environment, significant educational rego irces, such as computers, and
adequate nutrtionat intake. Most of thaze parents have to spané long worléng hows in
their jobs and could not provide sufficient tine and suppor for tet children. This situation
wourd, in tum, greatly affect the physical, psychologicas, intellectual and social
development of children. Without good fundamental support at this essential
developmental stage, children would easily be deprived of the opportunity t0 explors and
develop thelr potentials to contribute themnealves tc the society whoa they ance grow up.
Moreover, this would be a burden on the econcmic development of cur scciety at large.

In onder‘o study the influences on chilcren’s development under deprived circumstances,
fhe Society for Community Organization conducsed 3 research project together with
Departmant of Sacial Work and Socal Admiristration, the University af Hong Kong, an the
livethood af Hang Kong children ing in poverty. It aims 31 arousing public cance and
advocating for polley changes pertaining ‘0 children's watfare,

Research Objectives

In this siudy, #8 have explored the possible factors and impact of poverty on chidren’s
Ife in six major ways: 8) ving environinest, 2) education, 3) time of interaction with
parents, 4} nutition end health, 6} sociat Ife and erational development and, 61 social
Value and perception, As the Convention of the Rights of Child of the United Nations has.
‘been introducod to Hong Kong since 1994, we astimate that thare would be gaps existing
between the intemationel standard of the Rights of Child snd the present livetinood ot
children from loweincome [ainilies in Hang Kong. Policy recommendations will be drawn
accordingly.

Methodology

Both qualitative and quantialive research methacs using purpose sampling were
employed in this study. Through the Society for Community Organization, we could
successfully Interview 62 children agad & to 15 living in different househols in three old
urban areas, namely, Sham Stui Po, Kwun Tong and To Kwa Wan. Households were
‘shosen under the criterfa that they are supported either by Comprehensive Socist Sacurity
Assistance or by a monthly income not more than HK$2,600 per each hausehald member.
Home visita were made at the intial phase of our study to explore the general living
conditions and difficultes encountered as a reference for our design of questionnaires.
‘A guey of tre tvlicod of Chiliron ing sn poverty i

Prior te cur quaiitatve ant quereitative investigations that were commenced in the last
week of me same ‘ronth, 2 filst test had been onnducted in early February 2007. The
investigation continued urt! early Api! 2001,

Ten interviewers have bean involved In our sticy and all of Giem were the first year
students oF Master of Sole’ Work from the University of Hong Kong. Quantitative
inlerwiews were nanied out at cur department of the University of Hong Kong. Qualitative
‘ones were conductec through individual inserviaws in the offce at Society fer Comsmuntty
Organization in Sham Shu. Po anc ia.a church at Kaun Tong, Both icoations were all in
‘the viciniy of the places whera ‘he chiléren were iii,

ing comouler softwares NUDIST Vivo

Qualitative avd qualitative data were analyzed
238 (SPSS) version £0.0 respectivaly,

1.1 and Statistical Package for ine Social Sek

‘Qualitative Research Findings

ent
1s the aspecl thal is vancemed most, as stated by the cleidren

Living Enviract
Poor Thing envirapmient
living in private Zale

Mar, ina, aged 4
"My Raf is voy smal. My mother anc acy ust te boing eu in@ vage.*

Wing, mate, aged 8
“there ars many kinds of anils in the bulaing (Animals? For example? Cats, mice,
cerirosches, saldor .. {How do you Sze! atou! dis?) Yoo! any, and they scare me, 1S
what wil you do} | ust hide mysetfin my bed! with ny head covers uncer the qui.”

Ho, ae, aged 10
Is gonsrated fiom soldering neanty end i cists ma from dole

Tung, mie aged 10
“The tandiord ofthe fa brings cys ack to play mabjong and poker wants during weekend.
HS very nolsy, my imine ara Sever cannot sar the sound at the television.”

Eduoation Resources
Bevause of financial probier, the children may nave dificulty i getting sufficient
eclucational rescurces and they shoved worrlas about the sluatan:

Wah, fowl, ager! 72
"Nr pai ofgisssas wes bought ia Hfaetand Chine. We dont have money to buy one in Hong
Kong because giessos in hare a expensive. ip eayopia has became more sexi0> NOW.
(Hove you thought of tuying a new one?s" Nu, iS exaansive, amd just tke my pair of white
shoes, they have already broken, tw {haven ald anyane”

Qua, male, aged 10

Qvesons quot ede sion a enue sues ated Ly
A-Study of the ielinnod of Chiron Lvig in pavarty a

My moter said she didn't nave money. { am only ailcwed ta join Hinse fes-okchage
Stores, but F canna find any oF which the aiming ls stable.”

norance on Sopietal Trends

‘Gwing to the edueationat level, their parents are stil felling their childran about the
outdated ideas of “good careers’, which may have already been unskilied in contemporary
society:

Bun, mle. aged 12
My parents lokl me io have @ job of ‘weering suit and te, carving briefcase.”

‘Soclal Recreational Activities
any children lacked of soc al and recreational acthities and fat at they woe bored, They alsa
‘expretsed that their parents did act spend enouga time with Erem:

Hing, mae, aged 10
“18s boring. No one plays with me... My parents do aot briny me cur tp play. Just ga to
sloop water Fam boro.”

Yee, female, aged 10
"DWhat 9 you wa if voy are ylven ona srt wir Laie a pian) i went te chet mare
with my garents. Ady father goss to wark sa exry...(How about your mather?} She is
always af home, but she isso busy doing housenre,”

Brorassion of Needs
WRT understanding the financial pressure, many ctildren tend to suppress their needs,
even though these needs may be very busic for most childres

Man, male, aged 4
“ries you mother ever bought you tays?} No (Have you asked bar to de. sot?) No. # just
Coulit be 80 nanthearted to request. Just gave up whi ! thought of our poverty.”

ized Community Resources
‘of resources, the children of most families seldom make use af

community resources,

Jmpael of Spousal Relationships on Ghilgien,

Only a few children reveated inet thors were conflicts between thelr parents. As observed
during home vists, hawever, this phenomenon is quite prevailing. This is also confirmed
by the experience uf the soclal worker working with these families. Chidren might have
dificulty ta relieve the pressure from it.
A. stusy of the vet ood of Chitrer vig in poverty vt

Quantitative Research Findings

‘Tha factors that we heve investigated in our study inckide the ving environment, soctal
‘fe siuations and the laval of self-esteem,

diving envionment
Zonseming the Iling erwvionment, four main aspects were considered as dissatisfied by
the chicren ac follows:
eg east, —Preni of haran eating bad or Bo:
7.4%

Fire -condiion

‘Aig ventlation was the top problematic issue in children’s mind, followed by the general
hygiene and the toilet condition. The ares available for personal activity (mevirg area)
‘was tho fourth majar cancer.

‘ak life

‘Bodil activities during weekdays (before and after schoo!)

We asked the children to repost theie time spent ir the following activites per day during
weekdays before and after school, The activities batong to four different catagories: 1)
Social activites wall friends oF classmates; 2) social activities with parents; 2) utiization of
community resaurcos; 4) saltary activities

— Social Activities Never engaged
[Seclaleethlties with friends or lassmatas
[eo Play wir fiends

le “Chat unin trends ancror classmates
[Sdial activities with parents
Boe a et art

‘imhtor of commmiily rasouroas
‘© Doing and revising homework ot cornmuniy| TE

| More than Z Rours spent |
| on the follawing activities
during woekdays

From the above table, 66.7% of the interviewed chikdren were deprived of using
‘communty facilities. Their parents spent leas time ta play and supervise homework for the
children than chatting with them, Gvar ore-fith of the children were heving no social
actives with friends and classmates. On the other hand, more than 30% of the ehikiren
A stuey of the Ivotioss of Children fvirg in sovery ie

could only engage in solitary activities at home, such as playlng alone and watching
television, without a company,

Social Activities during weekends und hofikays
We asked the chitiren to raport the time they epent in the following sctivities during
ind holidays In the previous month.

_ ‘Soolal Activities “i. Never engaged}
paren 402%

fat (god with paris

Having audor acviles wih paras

Vin pares aesamaanying Avg el sty

Having slaoo action with Wend an bese]
Visiting fiends! anvlor cessmeies" horns

‘Studying with Gassmates anovor fiends teqeiher
Having outdoor acivites with sibings
“Joining ecivites organized by school
‘Joining activites organized by community canler

Social fife of the children wos very restricted duting weekends and holidays as indicated
by the high percentage (over £0%) of sal engaging fs acivlies wilh friends ar classmates
oF joining programmes in schoo’ or community centers.

Around 40% cf the children have never baer to 9 Chinese restaurant ar fas-food
restagrants with their parents in the previous month

Findings of Nutrition and Health

Ee result indicated that chitdren in poverty tad an inleke In cereals and vegetables that
was just slightly below the standard items, whereas thoy had a signticanty low intake of
mik, Neverthetess, for other items, Tike meat and fruis, they were within the standard
range of a balanced diet, Trai growth chart alse demonstrated a normal distituitan of
thoir weights.

___Sett-esteom
A saiPastaem test with 20 items was designed to measure self-esteem in five differen
dimensions, namely, global, social, family. academic and body. This was adopted and
oulfied from a joval research conducted by the Boy's and Girls! Clubs Assocation of
Hong ong ir 1997 to study the same aspects amongst senior primary students from
diferent schools. Therefare, thls fs @ useful reference for comparing the level of self-
tasteem for the children from different eoovamic strata. It helps to explore sigaficant
factors that ight possibly be govern'ng the establishment af this core characteristic.

‘The valuas of the total scores on the scale obtalned from our respondents ranged from 42
to 82 and the mean value waa 64.99. Among tha 52 respondents, 73.1% of them were
reported with self-esteem som above 60 (the maxiium score af the scale Is 99: the
sminimura is 30).
A siuey of the bvathgad of Cildvan rngn power’

Comparing with the local findings by the Boy's and Gis’ Glubs Association of Hong Kang
in 1997, the average Saifestesm score of their respondents was 63, which was higher
than that of our survey. Movsover, 84% af heir respondents hhad scores highor than 60.

lations Observed
'@ aroas that show significant agsociations in the correfation analysis:

‘These ar

= The fving envitcrmont of chien ans thelt self-esteem
+ Thsir eocicl Me with classmates ard their saf-osteem

+ Their academic performace and their ealt-esteem

+ Their soltary acitvies and theYr saif-esteem

Discussion
2) ncivicua! perspective
a)__Livinn envizoam

Chidiea in our stud)
dimensions:

with their Sieg envionment in twe different

+) Size of living area per respondent; Cn averaga, they have only around 40 square feet

per head, thus severely isiting the amgunt of area for the’ activities at home;
‘conéitions: Bad air ventiation and hyylene are the two main aspects that
oshering the chileren most

As a rasuli of the above deprivation of respondents’ living environment, treir physical
hesith might be reget vely affected and their physical growth might be Minderad as well

Thay seldom have social He during schooldays and weekends and extra-curricular
aciviies held by school or ccomunity conters. They are mainly engaged in solkary
aches in confined living ensiranment. This would limit their sneial development and
negatively affect their selF-eetean

¢__Time of interaction with parents
Parenis spending &me in socializing with childisti as well as in parenting are far from
adequate accordig ta the findings in our study. This would make fem more vusnerable to
psyche lngical and behavioral oroblems,

di__Educstianal resources
Becavse cf the financls! constraints, the chien are deprived of having computers end
tutorial lessons that may, obvarwiee, facilitate their tearing process, As a result, this
‘would invitably affect their educational performance,