Playtimes HK Magazine October 2017 Issue | Page 46

Phyllis Marwah plays with children in the Child Care Home
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Break the cycle
Every year, over 7,000 girls face crisis pregnancies in Hong Kong,
according to the HKSAR Census and Statistics Department.
“All too often, these girls - some as young as age 12 - have
been forced into something they don’t understand, and they’re
not equipped with the decision-making tools to step away
from the situation they’re in. Many come from broken families.
Crisis pregnancy is often a generational, cyclical problem that is
hard to break,” says Phyllis Marwah, who co-founded Mother’s
Choice 30 years ago in response to the alarming number of
pregnant teenagers facing the darkest crisis of their lives alone.
Meanwhile, there are over 3,600 children living in residential
care, and at least another 600 waiting in at-risk situations for a
residential care placement. These children are far more likely to
experience physical, mental and emotional issues, according
to worldwide research. The girls are more likely to face a crisis
pregnancy. “Without the support and resources pregnant teens
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INTERESTED IN LEARNING ?
ABOUT PROJECT BRIDGE
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Bridge Info Sessions thro
Mother’s Choice runs Project
,
will take place on Wednesday
the year. The next session
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Chi
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Cho
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0pm at Mother'
October 18th 2017, 7pm-8:3
Mid-Levels, Hong Kong).
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Roa
en
Care Home (5 Bow
her’s Choice Foster Care
For more information, call