Gifts I Received

//vol.14-4 Focus

Personal Milestone “Unlocked” Through Jogging

18-year-old Alex Chen enjoys sports like jogging, volleyball and swimming. Naturally, he did not give a second thought about becoming a member when he first learnt about the regular running programme conducted by HKFYG’s Community Team Sports (CTS) through his teacher at the Pentecostal Holiness Church (PHC) Wing Kwong College. Eventually he heard about the Run 21 Challenge in 2021. Alex decided to participate as one of the 12 running enthusiasts in trying to clock in 124 kilometers in 21 hours, partly out of curiosity and partly as a personal motivation to his own perseverance. By this feat, he together with the other youth were able to raise funds for youth sports development programmes so that all young people, especially the disadvantaged, will be encouraged to participate in sport.

Alex reminisces, “Running is more than just a sport; it has somewhat become a passion for me through Run 21. We had to train a few months before the actual run, as there are 21 Youth S.P.O.Ts centres to cover within the 21-hour time frame.”

Alex is thankful for the experience, where he learnt and gained socially as part of his personal growth, beyond what his textbooks were able to offer. “It was very tiring and difficult (to hit 124 kilometres) in 21 hours. But we cajoled one another not to give up. Our coach told us even if we cannot complete and make it to the end destination, the other teammates should continue to run on and complete the rest of the itinerary as planned.”

Taking Small Steps to Create Real Change

Second-year university student Lo Hoi Yan first learnt about HKFYG’s Youth Volunteer Network’s “Caring to Call – Calling to Care” service through her undergraduate studies in Social Work at Hong Kong Shue Yan University during the pandemic.

The service aims at providing services that cover emotional support, telemedicine services, short-stay accommodation, donations of anti-epidemic materials and career advice to at least 10,000 people in need, including the elderly, disadvantaged families, DSE (Diploma of Secondary Education) students and unemployed youth. This was a worrying trend during the pandemic, where the vulnerable because more isolated. So volunteers like Hoi Yan, were able to provide some sort of support for the needy.

Hoi Yan recalls, “About two to three of us were assigned as a group to do the calls and also house visits. Before going to visit them, we usually called and chated with them about their lives and needs. We visited four to five households within the same day and same district.”

Hoi Yan wishes to encourage other youth to take baby steps to make changes in society. “Taking time to have a conversation with our neighbours is a good and small step to make. We should drop the notion that being a volunteer needs long hours of service. It should be the small efforts we make in adding and contribute to see a real difference in our community.”

Volunteerism Through Daily Life

26-year-old Gloria To does voluntary work rather differently. She enjoys teaching young children how to make desserts. In her free time, she enjoys bringing elderly to the local universities for a visit. In return, they impart to her some of their legacy recipes in making signature dishes. Gloria realizes it is through these activities that the Hong Kong elderly are not some “cold-blooded” and “grumpy” seniors. On the contrary, they are quite willing to share their knowledge once they warm up to volunteers and form a bond.

“Many of these elderly people that we met through the HKFYG’s Youth Volunteer Network’s “Caring to Call – Calling to Care” service started talking to us like we were their grandchildren. I also remember this ‘grandmother’ teaching other volunteers and me to play a traditional Chinese instrument. Eventually, we learned the instrument well enough to play her a birthday song!”

Gloria is thankful that through volunteering, she finds fulfillment and immense personal development growth. She began to see a different side of herself, and approaches life differently to nurture greater engagement.

Getting into the School Team Despite All Odds!

Mrs Victoria Zhang* was initially taken aback, when her boy Craig* was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism in Kindergarten. It was a trying time for her husband and her. Both also had very differing parental styles, which often led to clashes. All three of them were exhausted, and to make things worse, little Craig would often bite her as he didn’t know how to process his difficult emotions.

By chance, Mrs Zhang came upon the HKFYG’s CTS programmes while taking a brief respite at the Tseun Wan Youth S.P.O.T Centre. “I saw the sports programme listings offered by HKFYG CTS. I decided to enroll Craig into a football programme, so that he could improve his Body Mass Index (BMI); make new friends while I have some downtime from taking care of him.”

HKFYG CTC not only offers a variety of sports programmes to train young people; counselling is also imbued to instill values, nurture talents and develop a commitment to service. Through the CTC football programme, Mrs Zhang has notice little Craig is more articulate in expressing himself, as well as applying what he is being taught. He practices kindness, teamwork and being thankful. Even beyond her expectation Craig was selected to be in the school football team, when he entered Primary 1. Mrs Zhang beamed with obvious pride when sharing this point, and hoped that Craig would continue to enjoy playing football, while being an inspiration to so many other SEN (Special Educational Needs) children!

*Names have been changed at the request of the interviewee

Never Giving Up

Daisy Yam was assigned to take up running organised by the HKFYG’s Youth Support Scheme (YSS) Unit, when she was caught shoplifting at 14 years old. This programme is one of the many programmes organised by the HKFYG under the Community Support Service Scheme (CSSS), which aims at providing supporting services to children and youth cautioned under the Police Superintendent’s Discretion Scheme. Arrested youth and their peers are assigned to such programmes to help them reintegrate into the community and to reduce their likelihood of law re-offending.

Her HKFYG social worker, Ms Pauline Ho shared her impressions of Daisy. “Daisy is actually a cooperative and obedient girl. I shared a few programmes and activities which she could to participate in, such as leadership camps and swimming lessons. She agree to go for all of them. Her mother was initially worried about her asthma. But she managed to overcome this, and even stayed on to be a voluntary running coach to other youth ranging from 12 to 17 years-old, even after her offence was waived after a two-year social worker’s counselling.”

Daisy who is now doing her Year Four Business Administration studies at Hong Kong Baptist University felt that her juvenile offence turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“Without that impulsive act then, I would not have known how to get over my boredom at home. Neither could I have imagined what I would be like now. I hope my simple sharing will encourage other youth to be courageous in taking the first step to try something positive of their hearts’ desires, such as running was for me. Even if I didn’t do well initially, I never gave up and continue to work on my weaknesses.」

Maintaining a Good Heart

21-year-old Nick Tong was always inspired by the fighting choreography executed in Hong Kong action films. His instinct was to use his fists to retaliate when faced with conflict during high school. After one fight, he was assigned to the Police Superintendent’s Discretion Scheme and received support from HKFYG, where he was reconnected with Mr. Ki, his current social worker.

Meeting Mr. Ki was not new for him, as he participated in a cycling activity that Mr. Ki had previously organised. Mr. Ki recalls, “Nick was very different when I met him as a younger boy at our cycling programme, versus when he reached his late teens and his juvenile offence happened. But deep inside, I know he still has a good heart.”

Mr. Ki encouraged Nick to take up muay thai classes and also roped him in to help distribute food to the elderly, and he has been a regular since then. Overtime, Terry saw Nick’s dedication and how has better emotional management and became more mature in dealing with others. Nick is doing a High Diploma with the Hong Kong Design Institute in Filmmaking now.

Taking More Time for Reflection

17-year-old Vanessa Zhu was caught beating up another youth in early 2021, which resulted her being assigned to the Police Superintendent’s Discretion Scheme and receiving support from HKFYG’s Youth Support Scheme subsequently.

She shares, “I was quite exasperated initially when I was placed under this Scheme, but when I was then exposed to programmes and counselling support, I found it more helpful then I expected. I am grateful to HKFYG for providing medical assistance and helping me cope with my health issues. I am also learning from my counselling sessions with my social worker that I should always reflect on various perspective and consider the feelings of others.」

Vanessa expressed gratitude to the HKFYG for giving her the opportunity to try different activities, especially the expressive art programme as part of the integration phase. She is also thankful to her social worker, Roger Lam for his constant reminders towards self-appreciation, strength searching* and keeping a positive mindset towards adversities.

Vanessa is currently undergoing a Foundation Diploma at Lingnan University.

*Strength searching is a social work practice theory that emphasises people’s self-determination and strengths.

Catching Up on Lost Time

35-year-old Ah Fung* took drugs and was addicted for ten years, before deciding enough was enough. He shares, “It was great initially, to be elusive and in a ‘carefree’ state of mind when I first began my drug addiction in my late teens. But the addiction grew and grew, where nothing seemed to give me the same ‘high’ as before.”

What eventually shook Ah Fung out of the drug abuse was the constant support received from the HKFYG social workers. “Leo Sir talks a lot of sense by asking if this is the lifestyle I wish to lead forever? What about going after my dreams and doing something worthwhile?”

With this constant encouragement, Ah Fung was resolute to leave his company of friends who are also drug abusers and instead pursue the necessary certifications to be a lifeguard. With determination blazing in his eyes, Ah Fung only wishes to stay focused and catch up on lost time.

*Name has been changed at the request of the interviewee

Affirming the Human Connection

26-year-old Julia* first learnt about HKFYG and its various programmes when she was in Secondary One. She had an enjoyable time and fond memories of the activities organised, so it is of little surprise that she would continue improving herself through the short-term courses provided by the HKFYG. But what really touches Julia and constantly draws her back to the Federation is also the human connection. As a single parent with a four-year-old boy, daily life can be challenging at times. HKFYG’s strong social work foundation and support have been great for Julia and her son, Bob.

“My social worker, Wako will constantly check in on me. She is worried about me, especially about my emotional state. I can feel that she is unlike other social workers and genuinely cares, and it feels like family.”

Julia’s advice to Hong Kong youth is not to be constantly afraid of being ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. “Youth tend to be easily labelled by others. If we eliminate such biasness, there will be lesser extreme actions taking place. We must be courageous to take small constructive steps to move forward and not have any regrets.”

*Name has been changed at the request of the interviewee

Kindness Begets Kindness

24-year-old Ah Keong* never forgets the crisis and family support services extended by the HKFYG when he was 15. “My school environment then was rough. I was often getting into fights as a gang member. When I was hauled up to the police station for the second time, I needed to sign some legal documents and I also needed to attend court sessions with my parents. My parents and I were clueless about such procedural details. I was able to receive supporting services from the HKFYG. I am so grateful to the HKFYG’s social worker, Suki who is more like a friend to me. She understands my feelings and her advice is never like nagging.”

Ah Keong heeded Suki’s advice and went back to school to finish his secondary education. He now holds a stable job working in the shippingindustry, and has often volunteer with the HKFYG to distribute food and necessities to the elderly since turning 18.

His advice to other youth? “Hang out with the right group of friends who are able to make a positive impact in your life.” He also thanks the HKFYG and his parents for standing by him during his offending.

*Name has been changed at the request of the interviewee

Service Before Self Virtually

21-year-old Giann Ho first got to know about the HKFYG’s Easy Volunteer matching platform easyvolunteer.hk through her current studies as a nursing student at the Caritas Institute of Higher Education. “I had to fulfil some credits as a volunteer in my course, and I decided to search for a suitable organisation from the matching platform. It was great because it brings together volunteers and service opportunities. From this platform, my classmates and I managed to volunteer by distributing necessities and food to the elderly during COVID-19.”

The HKFYG’s Easy Volunteer matching platform is devised by the Federation’s Membership and Volunteer Unit. Established in 2014, it connects volunteers and groups that provide service opportunities, so that volunteers are not limited by time and place. One can search for suitable volunteer service opportunities, practice the spirit of helping others with actions, and integrate love into life.

Giann is grateful with the match, where she could even plan virtual exercises for the elderly to participate. “It was not an easy time for everyone to be grounded at home during the pandemic. I thought of the elderly as my own parents and grandparents who are not tech-savvy. So my classmates and I tried to engage them in simple ways and allowed more time for them to figure out the technical issues.” Giann wishes to encourage everyone to use and adopt new technological ways to fulfil “service before self” acts.

Persevering on!

15-year-old Deborah Cheung has been playing volleyball for eight years and is currently in the school team at Kowloon Truelight School. When her coach told her about the V. Cares Youth Volleyball Training Programme organised by HKFYG’s CTS this year, she thought it would be a great opportunity to improve her technicality.

“It was a complimentary programme. My parents thought it was a good idea for me to participate in as many of these activities as possible, rather than for me to be at home. I also wanted to learn how to improve as a libero (ie. back-row defensive specialist for indoor volleyball).

“The highlight of the four-month training programme was going on this three-day, two-night camp where we had to stay together with other teammates. Most of us did not know one another, except four of them being my current schoolmates and from another affiliated school. It was during this camp where I learnt to get along with different girls of different personalities from so many different schools. There was a night some of us stayed up late and had heart-to-heart conversations. A great bond was forged.”

Things did not always go smoothly during the V.Cares programme. Nearing the tournament’s finals – the programme’s finale highlight – one of Deborah’s teammates contracted COVID-19 and had to be isolated. They also lost in one of the semi-finals. All these setbacks kept Deborah and her teammates on their toes by staying focused and determined to win the championship, which they eventually did. There were tears of hard work, camaraderie, and sacrifices but they were worth it all.

“I would encourage every youth to participate in these programmes organised by HKFYG. For me, joining the V.Cares Programme allowed me to work on my foundation and also character-building. Even my parents notice I’ve changed for the better through the participation in these programmes.”