Building Foundations for Success

Childhood is a crucial stage in any person’s development. Unfortunately, children from underprivileged backgrounds often lack opportunities to explore, grow and reach their full potential, perpetuating the cycle of poverty across generations. To address this pressing issue, the Club’s Charities Trust spearheaded KeySteps@JC, a comprehensive initiative that brings together the health, education and welfare sectors to create a stimulating and nurturing environment for children aged six and below.

At its heart are the KeySteps@JC Hubs, which have recently been expanded into five districts with high rates of child poverty, namely Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. These first-of-a-kind community centres serve as platforms for extended learning, fostering a network of support for young children, parents and schools.

The Hubs are an integral part of the Club’s ongoing efforts to serve the community, providing equal learning opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds and all abilities. Through collaboration across multiple sectors and use of innovative methodologies, KeySteps@JC Hubs offer well-equipped community spaces that promote the healthy and holistic development of underprivileged children. Leveraging data analytics, they also provide teacher and parent training, as well as support for families.

Since its inception in 2017, KeySteps@JC has been delivering comprehensive assistance to underprivileged children in 32 kindergartens in Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long districts. In 2022, the project’s services were expanded to Kowloon City, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. In its latest phase, KeySteps@JC aims to benefit over 70,000 children and their parents, along with approximately 280 schools, by 2027. Moreover, the project offers valuable insights for child development policy planning.

Through KeySteps@JC, the Club continues to have a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children and families, fostering a brighter future for all.