Plan International Hong Kong Provides Learning and Psychological Support to Children Affected by Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire — Cash Assistance for 300 Students and 2,200 Stress Relief Packs to Support Children
Dedicated to striving for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls, Plan International is deeply regrets the tragic Level-5 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. We are particularly concerned about the long-term impact of disasters on children’s education and emotional well-being, and have therefore launched an immediate emergency relief to deliver timely learning and psychological support.
The affected children not only witnessed the destruction of their homes and lost cherished toys, books, clothing, and school supplies, but may also suffer the immense trauma of losing relatives and friends. Their familiar daily routines are disrupted, leaving them in a state of insecurity and instability, and making them vulnerable to anxiety, insomnia, and other emotional distress, making both academic and psychological support essential.
Last week, Dr. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong, visited five schools in Tai Po to meet principals, teachers and school social workers. Staff reported that some affected children were experiencing nightmares and heightened anxiety. In response, and in collaboration with partner organisations, including Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service, as well as school social work teams from the Tai Po Young Men’s Christian Association and Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian, we are distributing 2,200 specially designed Stress Relief Packs to children aged 3 – 6 across the district. Each pack contains colouring pens, a stuffed toy or other toy, a set of parent-child stress relief leaflet, caregiver emotion support tips and greeting cards.
On 9 December 2025, Dr. Kanie Siu led the first distribution with our Programme Team. “We always place children’s mental health and education at the heart of our work,” she shared. “I am truly thankful to the public for their swift and generous donations, which enabled us to support affected families at this critical time. Our team has been working tirelessly for days to help alleviate the anxieties of affected children as soon as possible. Today, delivering the Stress Relief Packs and seeing the children’s smiles deeply moved me; I felt every support and love transforming into the strength to help them regain hope. I have also been deeply moved by the solidarity shown by principals, teachers, and social workers across the district as they come together to support these children.”
The children’s faces lit up with smiles as they received the Stress Relief Packs, showing particular delight in the toys inside, which helped ease their post-disaster anxiety. Our Programme Team gently guided the children to read through the stress relief leaflet, showing them simple ways to ease their negative emotions. Surrounded by care and love, the children soon relaxed and smiled again.
Distribution of the remaining packs to children in need will continue over the coming days. At the same time, to ensure that learning is not interrupted, Plan International Hong Kong is providing HK$2,000 cash assistance for each eligible student through local kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. This support will help affected students purchase essential learning materials and ease the financial burden on their families. To date, applications have been received from over 50 schools, with nearly 300 allocations already distributed.
Last week, Dr Kanie Siu visited five schools in the Tai Po district, delivering HK$2,000 for each eligible student to school representatives for onward distribution. One school expressed heartfelt gratitude, noting that Plan International was the first non-governmental organisation to provide support to the affected students.
To further address the emotional needs of children, Plan International is also preparing to hold emotional support workshops at kindergartens in Tai Po District, using clay modelling and interactive storytelling to help young children express their feelings, rebuild security and identify those needing further professional care.
In the wake of the Tai Po fire, while the community has demonstrated solidarity through generous donations and active participation in volunteer work, it is equally important to ensure children’s safety and safeguard them from secondary trauma during post-disaster relief activities. Plan International Hong Kong urges the public, volunteers and organisations to note the following.
Children under the age of 18 are not recommended to be involved in volunteer work at disaster sites. Psychiatrist Dr Chan Kwok Ling, Phyllis, explains that children’s cognitive and emotional development is not yet mature enough to process the distressing scenes and emotional impact of a disaster. Exposure at such an early stage can lead to long-term psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. For this reason, volunteer work should be undertaken exclusively by adults to avoid placing additional psychological burdens on children.
At the same time, Plan International has observed reports on social media indicating that some adults have solicited contact details from secondary school student volunteers and subsequently sent them inappropriate messages. Parents and schools are encouraged to remain vigilant and safeguard children from any form of harm. Adult volunteers must strictly adhere to codes of conduct by avoiding any inappropriate interaction with any minor, including disaster-affected children and underage volunteers, and by refraining from requesting personal information or social media details. Any behaviour that breaches these standards should be stopped immediately and reported to the relevant authorities.
Organisations responsible for recruiting volunteers also bear a critical responsibility to ensure rigorous identity checks and data protection. All adults who may come into contact with children should have no criminal record, and any personal information collected must be handled with the utmost care. Recent cases have shown that individuals with criminal records have attempted to obtain volunteers’ identification documents under false pretences. To prevent such incidents, organisations must implement robust vetting procedures and safeguard sensitive data at every stage.
Plan International Hong Kong will continue working closely with community partners to offer comprehensive care, and we call on society to join us in safeguarding children so they can heal, feel safe once more and step confidently towards a brighter future.
