1. I have never heard about TREATS, who is TREATS?
2. Who are TREATS’ target groups?
3. What is Integration?
4. Is Integration important in Hong Kong?
5. Why is Child Integration so important?
6. How TREATS assist children with all abilities to integrate in the community?
7. What is the achievement of TREATS?
8. What is the organization structure of TREATS?
9. Can I be one of the TREATS volunteers?
10. Can I join the TREATS’ Programmes?
11. Will TREATS arrange training or talk to companies / schools on integration?

1. I have never heard about TREATS, who is TREATS?

  • Established since 1979 and a registered charitable organization in Hong Kong and a member of Community Chest of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
  • We are the prioneer charity in Hong Kong that focuses on children social integration and provides essential integration opportunities for all children in Hong Kong.
  • Our vision is to give every child the chance to live and participate in an accepting and integrated society.
  • We use the unique medium of experiential learning, games and a variety of activities to bring together children, youth and families from varying backgrounds and with differing abilities, providing them with opportunities for equal participation and interaction, learning appreciation and acceptance of one another, developing personal and social skills.


2. Who are TREATS’ target groups?

All children, youth and families, especially those:
  • with mental, physical, emotional and social challenges
  • with multiple challenges and learning disabilities
  • new arrivals & ethnic minorities
  • from single parent families
  • from families living in poverty


3. What is Integration?

Integration means to respect of others. Three major components:
  • Appreciation
  • Acceptance
  • Equal Participation

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4. Is Integration important in Hong Kong?

According to UN Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), all children have the same rights, regardless of their background and abilities. The guiding principles include non-discrimination; adherence to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and the right to participate.
  • As an international city, Hong Kong has highly developed on the welfare of child survival, health care, and education. However, there are about 920,000 children who are aged 14 or below in HK and it is estimated that 300,000 of them have special needs, and/or come from low-income families.
  • Over one-third of our children are facing isolation and all sorts of discrimination in the society every day. Their right to development and participate is one of the biggest challenges of our children facing nowadays.
  • Moreover, there is no reliable data and statistic about children integration and social exclusion in Hong Kong. We are even lack of data and statistics for children with disabilities.


5. Why is Child Integration so important?

  • We believe every child has the chance to live and participate in the society.
  • We believe this is our responsibility to nurture an integrated generation with appreciation, acceptance and equal participation.
  • Through integration education, the general public can have better understanding of people with differing abilities and learn to appreciate of diversity, thus eliminate discrimination and prejudice.
  • By integration programmes, the special needs and underprivileged children not only can enhance their self-confidence and social skills, but can also develop social network in the community.

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6. How TREATS assist children with all abilities to integrate in the community?

  • We use the unique medium of experiential learning, games and a variety of activities to bring together children and youth with schools, families and the community.
  • In February 2008, we commissioned the Centre for Child Development of the Hong Kong Baptist University to conduct the first local study - “Impact and effect of integration experiences on the young generation of Hong Kong”.
  • The study found that over 90% of the children learn to accept and appreciate others and thus eliminate discrimination after participated in TREATS integration programmes.
  • The study has confirmed the experiential integration programmes have positive effect on children, especially the typical participants.
  • Through the integration programmes, typical students have better understanding towards the concepts of integration and equality, more than 90% of participants have different level of self-enhancement.
  • The study also showed that the communication and social skills of the students with special needs have also been enhanced. Since the typical children and children with special needs work as a buddy in the programmes, they are more willing to accept children with disabilities and hence reinforce the effect of integration.
  • For more details of our Programmes and Services, please refer to What We Do

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7. What is the achievement of TREATS?
  • We are the pioneer on children integration programmes and services. We use the unique medium of experiential learning and games to bring together children and youth since our establishment.
  • We believe integration education begins from childhood and we are the sole organization to provide systematic integration education curriculum for schools in Hong Kong.
  • In 2009/2010, we served more than 130 schools and organizations with over 90,000 children and youth through our integration services.
  • Research showed that first-hand experience; early and socialized contact between different groups could facilitate the promotion of integration and elimination of prejudices and discriminations.
  • All our programmes and services are based on the above principles to provide a positive and long-lasting integration experiences.
  • In December 2006, we launched its first local research "Integration in Hong Kong" to investigate the views of the public on the subject of integration. Another study which focused on the 'Impact and Effects of Integration Experiences on the Young Generation of Hong Kong was completed in February 2008.


8. What is the organization structure of TREATS?

  • We are a small, proactive charity with simple organization structure. All our staff members are directly involved in service provision.


9. Can I be one of the TREATS volunteers?


10. Can I join the TREATS’ Programmes?

  • Our programmes are mostly opened for schools, organisations and companies.
  • If you want to know more, please kindly contact us on 2889-1332.


11. Will TREATS arrange training or talk to companies / schools on integration?

  • Yes. We have been providing professional talks, training and workshops to organizations, corporate and schools.
  • Please contact us on 2889-1332 for more details.

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