A Brighter Tomorrow

Being Neighbourly x Susanna Lee, One Sky

Author/ Being Neighbourly
13 June 2025

As they celebrate their lustrum in 2025, OneSky continues to provide relief for low-income families with children.

The charity’s vision is a world in which all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. It was born from the personal experience of Jenny and Richard Bowen, who adopted a toddler from a welfare institution in southern China in 1997. The little girl they adopted showed symptoms of developmental delays and was emotionally shut down. However, with a year of loving attention and care, she transformed remarkably. Inspired by this experience, Jenny, a former screenwriter and independent filmmaker, founded Half the Sky in 1998, which eventually evolved into OneSky for all children.

Since its inception, OneSky has trained more than 116,000 caregivers and benefited over 394,000 vulnerable kids. The charity operates through four offices across Asia: China, Vietnam, Mongolia
and Hong Kong.

“In Hong Kong, we focus on supporting children and families living on the margins by offering caregiver skills training and providing a safe, educational play space for children to grow and learn,” says Susanna Lee, Executive Director, P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development.

The Centre is situated in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, and is dedicated to supporting underprivileged children between the ages of 0-6 and their families, many of whom face economic hardships and live in substandard housing conditions.

“Through offering high-quality, child-centered education and caregiver support, our programs and services are designed to support young children from vulnerable families to grow and thrive in a safe and comfortable environment.”

The charity equips caregivers with Responsive Care training, which involves “observing, interpreting and responding to a child’s needs to foster secure attachments and trusting relationships between caregiver and children”. This approach, says Lee, supports the healthy development of children across various domains, including physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional growth.

OneSky Hong Kong also operates a community living room that offers a spacious activity area for low-income families, a recharge space for caregivers, a playscape for children and a social gathering spot for the elderly, while a Community Cafeteria is designed to provide nutritious and affordable meals, fostering health and creating a welcoming space for caregivers to connect. “Additionally, we have a Napping Room designed to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for rest. This allows both children and their caregivers to recharge after engaging in classes, enjoying meals and spending the entire day at the center.”

At the crux of OneSky’s offering is a profound understanding of the pressures that many face in today’s Hong Kong, derived both from years on the job and findings from surveys, such as the one it commissioned from the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Hong Kong Baptist University’s School of Continuing Education last year.

“Out of the 297 members interviewed, 87.6% indicated they needed to spend more time and energy caring for their children than expected; over 60% expressed concerns about the costs of raising children, and more than half stated that the duty to care for children made it difficult to balance other responsibilities,” shares Lee.

“We observe that caregivers of young children often find themselves caught in the multiple pulls of parenting, economic pressures, and self-worth, and insufficient community support exacerbates their stress.”

“Manpower and resources are always stretched thin because the needs from vulnerable families in the community are immense,” says Lee. However, the charity’s sustainable model whereby the community actively supports itself offers some relief.

One example is that of ‘Auntie Cath’, who started her association with the charity when she became a member of the community during the 2020 pandemic.

At the time, her eldest son, Lee relates, had just started kindergarten, while her younger daughter wasn’t yet in school. Cath needed a place where the children could play, so when she spotted OneSky hosting a street booth, she didn’t hesitate to approach them.

Cath admits in a translated email, that she was grappling with the stresses of motherhood: Breastfeeding felt exhausting, her temper often fired up, and she doubted her ability to care for her children properly. But joining OneSky marked the beginning of a transformation for her. The space and parenting workshops offered her more than just activities. “They became a sanctuary for reflection and growth,” she says.

“With OneSky’s support,” says Lee, “Cath immersed herself in workshops and activities designed to help caregivers like her. She gradually learned how to manage her emotions and approach parenting with patience.”

OneSky also brought friendships into her life, with fellow mothers and caregivers becoming her community. Says, Cath: “The social workers were particularly impactful. “They took the time to care about me and listen to my concerns. It eased so much of my stress. I used to scold my son all the time. Now I interact with him differently.”

Lee says that the charity’s signature parenting training programme equips caregivers like Cathy with essential skills, and, once caregivers complete the training and an internship, they have the opportunity to become community helpers at the Centre. “Since our inception, we have trained over 850 caregivers, and more than 50 have become OneSky community helpers, working alongside our Early Childhood Development (ECD) trainers to care for children at the centre.”

“This demonstrates the vital role community members play in supporting and sustaining our initiatives,” Lee continues, “as they directly contribute to the success and longevity of our programs.”

In 2024, OneSky introduced flexible, short-term respite care services to help caregivers during unexpected or urgent situations like illness or to care for family needs, reducing family stress and preventing unsafe circumstances.

Looking forward, Lee says that OneSky will continue in their work to uplift the lives of marginalized children, ensuring that every child has the chance to reach their full potential. On the ground, this means continuing their collaboration with other NGOs, organizations and schools to share knowledge and provide outreach training for caregivers.

“By improving the standards of caregiving through these partnerships, we ensure that services remain accessible and effective within the community.”

What is the best thing about the work that you do?

“The best thing about the work that we do is seeing the positive changes in children and families,” says Susanna Lee, Executive Director, P.C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development.

“It is incredibly rewarding to support caregivers through their challenges and witness the joy of children laughing and playing happily at the Centre.”

“Watching them thrive and improve through our programs and activities is truly fulfilling. Additionally, seeing caregivers find a sense of sanctuary and relief at the Centre makes the work even more meaningful.”

OneSky
P. C. Lee OneSky Global Centre for Early Childhood Development,
G/F-2/F Wing Shing Building,
25-35 Castle Peak Road,
Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong.