Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Center Continues to Assist Families Affected by the Tai Po Fire

Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Center continues to care for residents and students affected by the fire at Tai Po Hong Fuk Court. To help affected students focus on their studies with peace of mind, the Hong Kong Center established the "Tai Po Hong Fuk Court Student Assistance Fund". Starting in December, Dharma Drum Mountain monks from the Hong Kong Center have been visiting schools in Tai Po—including Buddhist Tai Kwong Chi Hong College, Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Primary School, Sam Shui Natives Association Huen King Wing School, and Tai Po Baptist Kindergarten Wan Tau Tong Estate Branch—to provide scholarships to students.



On December 1, more than ten volunteers from the Hong Kong Center were invited to the "seen Lau" interim housing in Tai Po, which shelters families affected by the fire. They assisted in organizing residents' living spaces, hoping that these families could quickly settle into a stable life. On the morning of December 6, the Hong Kong Center held a "Peace of Mind Workshop" at its Lai Chi Kok venue, inviting clinical psychologists and experienced social workers to lead sessions on emotional first aid and self-care after a disaster.

In addition to financially supporting students living in Tai Po Hong Fuk Court and alleviating the pressure of school-related expenses of the affected families, Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Center pays special attention to the emotional and spiritual needs of students. It provides two supportive programs for primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong: "Grandma Hug" and the "Campus Mindfulness Program".

In accordance with the school's needs, elderly volunteers from the Center are arranged to spend about half an hour with students during lunch and after school to listen to their concerns, offering a safe and understanding space to relieve their stress and anxiety. Through brief guided mindfulness exercises, students follow audio instructions to relax their body and mind, stabilize their emotions, and improve concentration. The goal is to help students and teachers face sudden life changes and emotional stress with greater inner stability.

Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain, said: "Disasters are closely connected to everyone's life, and each of us has a responsibility to care for disaster-affected areas." After the fire at Hong Fuk Court, more than 100 affected households were temporarily accommodated in the "seen Lau" interim housing. Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Center stated that it will continue to provide long-term support according to the affected households' ongoing needs, accompanying them through these difficult times.





◎ Original text in Chinese and photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Hong Kong Center
◎ Translation: Patricia Yang 
◎ Editing: Keith Brown