GOOD SHEPHERD SISTERS MACAU ANNUAL REPORT January, 0 December 3, 0 Good Shepherd Sisters
Table of Contents Highlight of 0 Staff News Good Shepherd Centre Service Information Programs for Staff Development Funded by the Social Welfare Bureau Activities - Good Shepherd Centre Nonviolent Communication Activities Women s Mutual Help Centre
Highlight of 0 Exchange Visit to Taiwan From June 5th to July st staff of our two Centres visited services run by the Good Shepherd Foundation in Taiwan. This included visiting the following services in Tainan: a baby s home and a home for single mothers. In Chaiyi they saw a shelter for victims of domestic violence and a single parents centre. They also visited a parish community centre that caters for families with handicapped children. In Taichung the staff visited a centre for new immigrant families and a counseling service for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Taipei also has a variety of services run by the Good Shepherd Foundation. There is a shelter service for victims of domestic violence, hostel care for girls who are victims of parental neglect, physical or sexual abuse, a service for foreign brides and a special program for children who have witnessed violence at home to help them to express and process the trauma they have experienced. All agreed that these visits were a rich learning experience which broadened their knowledge and gave them many new ideas. Best of all because everything was in Mandarin they did not need interpreters to help them understand as was the case in visiting Good Shepherd Sisters services in Thailand and Korea. Although they had 5 full days of visits they were not able to see everything and Sr. Therese Thong, Director of Services told them they must come back again to visit services in other cities.
Exchange Visit to Taiwan
Highlight of 0 Enhancing Couple Relationship A special event organized by our Women s Centre in which staff of both Centres participated was an evening for couples aimed at strengthening their relationship and promoting family harmony. It was held in November at the Emperor Hotel and 8 couples participated. At the start of the evening a presentation on Non-Violent Communication was given by our staff in charge of this program. The couples then divided into 3 groups for 3 different activities each of which was led by staff. After a period of time the couples changed to another group so that all present experienced in different ways the skills needed to improve communication. The sharing afterwards, especially by the men, was very positive. The evening concluded with a buffet supper that was enjoyed by all.
Highlight of 0 Partnership Sharing Staff of our two Centres visited our Good Shepherd Residential Services for girls in Hong Kong Marycove Centre, Choi Wan Hostel and Our Lady s Hostel. Sharing of experiences by HK and Macau staff was followed by a buffet lunch, and a chance to socialize. Anti-Trafficking Activity This year to commemorate the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women we designed bus posters to raise awareness about trafficking in children (under 8 year olds) The posters which appeared on the buses of two bus companies were in Chinese, English and Portuguese and were funded by the Macau Anti-Trafficking Deterrent Measures Committee.
Staff News of the Year Speaker Invitation At the invitation of the Taiwan National Immigration Agency Sr. Juliana was one of the presenters at the First Cross-Strait Seminar on Joint Combating Human Trafficking which was held on June 6, 0 and featured speakers from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. The organizers also arranged for the speakers to visit a shelter for trafficking victims run by ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes). Staff Qualification Earned Maria Ko, director of our Women s Centre, and Debbie Lai, social worker of Good Shepherd Centre, successfully completed a 38 hr course in Social Work Supervision offered by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and sponsored by the Macau Social Welfare Bureau. Trainer Seminar in NVC Aris Tam, our staff in charge of promoting Non-Violent Communication, was given the opportunity to attend a 0 day training session in New Mexico, USA. This was the last seminar with Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of NVC, and drew participants from many countries. It was a special opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and also to make contacts with other NVC promoters from all over the world.
Good Shepherd Centre Service Information During the year 0 Good Shepherd Centre gave shelter to a total of 54 persons. At the beginning of the year there were 9 persons in residence. We admitted a total of 45 persons comprising 30 adults and 5 children. Forty-three persons were discharged during the year. The following table gives the reasons for admission: Reasons for Admission Number Unmarried mother 5 Domestic violence 5 Sexual abuse 5 Conflict with family member(s) 3 Mental health problem Discharged from prison Passport problem Abandoned by husband Husband committed suicide Child protection Recovering cancer patient Homeless & living on the street Total 9 In addition to the above our social worker offered counseling to the following cases who did not need to stay in our shelter: Reason for Seeking Help Number Domestic violence 4 Conflict with husband 3 Mental health problem Unmarried mother Total 0
Program for Staff Development Funded by the Social Welfare Bureau May 5 6 A two day workshop on Art Therapy given by Ms. Doris Lam. This was a follow-up to a one day seminar we had last year. Jun 5 July Exchange visit to Good Shepherd Foundation, Taiwan Sept 4 5 A two day workshop on Play Therapy given by Ms Bonita Kwok, a certified play therapist from Hong Kong. Oct 4 A one day workshop with Dr. Ellen Ma, a Clinical Psychologist with the HK Social Welfare Department on Working with children of Domestic Violence Families.
Program for Staff Development Funded by the Social Welfare Bureau Other Staff Training Date Training Jan 4 Jun 4 Supervisor s course Feb 0 Feb Regional seminar on counseling 6 Mar Talk on Aids Prevention Mar 5 Seminar of the Hague Convention on Adoption Apr Jun (3 sessions) Couple & family counseling Apr Talk on suicide & self harm No. of Staff Apr Workshop on how to understand teenagers psychology May 3 & 4 How to assist victims of sexual abuse June 8 & 9 How to assist in a group crisis situation Aug Nov Lessons followed by exchange visit to know more about China 3 Aug 8 Workshop on understanding isolates Aug 3 Law (II) Marriage & Family Sept & 3 Seminar on how to respond to emergency situations Oct Talk on Personal Data Protection 5 Oct 9 Law III Workshop on Domestic Violence Oct Talk on mental health problems Nov 5 Law IV Seminar on assisting victims of domestic violence Dec Talk on Labor Law Dec 4 The Value of Life agency Exchange gathering
Good Shepherd Centre Activity In addition to monthly birthday celebrations and farewell parties for our residents we had the following activities. Feb 4 Yam Cha for staff & residents Feb 9 Chinese New Year Tuen Bai visits Mar 8 Afternoon tea hosted by MOCHA Apr 5 Buffet Lunch at Rio Apr Outing to view the Cheng Ming art display Apr 6 Visit to the Science Museum May Buffet lunch at Star World May 0 Barbecue in our garden May 4 Joined Women s Centre Mothers Day activity Jun 6 Picnic by the reservoir Nov 5 Visit from MOCHA Dec 7 Joined Women s Centre Christmas party Dec 5 Christmas party in Centre
Nonviolent Communication Nonviolent Communication trainings for the year of 0. ` Date Participants No. Jan 7 May 6 Colégio Católico Estrela do Mar Teachers 50 Jan 9 Mar 3 Caritas Life Hope Hotline Trained volunteers 0 Feb Apr 6 Lar de Estrela da Esperanca do Sheng Kung Hui Teen girls Feb - 3 Forum on Four Districts of Cross-Straits Student Counseling Open May 6 Centro de Actividades Educativas da Taipa Parents 0 July 0 Macao Catholic Family Advisory Council - Couples 40 July 3 Good Shepherd Sisters 5 Nov 6 Good Shepherd Centre/ Good Shepherd Women s Mutual Help Centre 60 Dec 6 0 University of Saint Joseph Psychology students 5 Dec 7 Macao Psychotherapy Association Social workers 4 0 Individual sessions 33
Activities of Women s Mutual Help Centre Type of Activity Number Participants (No of Persons) Counseling cases 9 No of interviews 9 Home Visits 0 Hotline calls 48 Small groups 0 Activities for women 76 Birthday Parties 6 03 (5 women & 5 children) Talks 4 69 Activities for children & teens 6 83 Activities for families 86 Interest groups 6 74 Activities for special Holidays 6 Educational visits 4 39 (women 88 children03) 3 (women 05 children 08)
Activities of Women s Mutual Help Centre
Acknowledgments We express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have helped us by their interest and support, collaboration and/or financial assistance. Bishop Jose Lai The Members of our Advisory Board The Macao Social Welfare Bureau The Macau Jockey Club The Venetian Macao Ltd. Mocha The International Ladies Club of Macao Chan Sui Kei Perpetual Help College Mr. Sio Iong Fai Mr. Yeung W. K. All our friends and benefactors and volunteers are remembered in our prayers with gratitude.