Ms So, a student in the Integrated Employment Service Basic Barista Certificate Course, is a carer who primarily looks after her daughter, currently in her final year of secondary school, and her husband, who has a chronic illness. She and her husband used to run a business together, but during the pandemic, her husband had a medical emergency that required major surgery. This situation affected her daughter's academic performance, causing emotional instability. After her husband's surgery, Ms So had to shoulder all the financial and family responsibilities alone, putting her under tremendous stress. The business eventually collapsed, leading her to apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) for sustenance and seek short-term food assistance to alleviate financial pressures during the waiting period.
As her husband slowly recovered, Ms So wanted to bring a fresh change to their lives. While receiving food assistance, she found out about a coffee course starting at the Lei Muk Shue Integrated Service Centre. Given her husband's love for coffee, she was inspired to consider opening a café someday, which led her to enrol in the Centre's Basic Barista Certificate Course. In these classes, she was able to momentarily set aside her everyday worries and focus on acquiring new skills. Through the course, she rediscovered herself, made new friends with her classmates, and expanded her social network by sharing stories beyond the classroom, finding new joy in her life.
With the course completed, and as her husband still requires long-term care, Ms So is not able to work full-time. However, with the Organization's support, she is currently working as a part-time homework tutor. She plans to pursue full-time work and start a new chapter in her life once her husband's health improves enough.
About Blessed Food - Short-term Food Assistance Service