簡介: 為探討老化、年齡歧視和孤獨等問題，永康老人中心 透過一連串的互動藝術創作活動，凝聚一眾長者。本 刊物記載了這個為期兩個月的活動成果。 看似是平凡的藝術活動，在不平凡的新型冠狀病毒肺 炎疫情下發生。活動在2020年10月和11月期間展開，因 此，很多時候需要遙距進行。我們以郵遞方式或藉著 永康的定期送餐活動，把美術工作包送給長者進行創 作。藝術家洪瑩瑩和翻譯員詹潔瑩合作無間，透過打 電話、WhatsApp P視像、或於送餐時在門外與老友交 談聯繫。 此刊物記錄了整個過程，保存活動期間的一點一滴。 希望透過藝術創新及可持續的力量，展示出華人長者 的堅毅和喜悅。
Introduction: This booklet is the outcome of a 2-month project residency with Wing Hong Elderly Centre developing a series of creative and collaborative activities with ser vice users at the Wing Hong Centre, with the aim of exploring themes of ageing, ageism and isolation. The project took place during October and November 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant many of the activities had to be adapted to be conducted remotely and activity packs were delivered together with the weekly food delivery ser vice or by post. Together, artist Alaya Ang and translator, Stefanie Chim, worked closely with the elderly through phone calls, WhatsApp video calls and visiting some by foot, speaking to the elderly members at their doorstep. This publication is a look into the process and a preser vation of the delicate experience of life during lockdown through their eyes, that aims to illustrate the strength and joy of the Chinese elderly with the creative and sustaining power of art.
永康老人中心: 永康老人中心於1989年成立，是一個非謀利慈善 團體，致力提升格拉斯哥華人長者的健康及生活質 素，與他們共同迎接和慶祝退休後的豐盛人生。 中心座落於 122 Hill Street， Garnethill。自 2005年1月起 以日間中心形式服務拉斯哥華人長者，協助他們解 決生活所需，提升他們與社區的聯繫，減低孤獨 感，協助他們獨立生活。 中心每星期舉行四天午餐會，提供富營養的中式午 餐予中心長者會員。除了協助他們解決日常生活所 需的問題外，中心舉辦各式各樣的活動，如一日 遊、文化活動、興趣工作坊等，提供機會讓長者融 入多姿多采的社區文化活動。 此外，中心致力推廣良好的跨世代關係。在某些情 況下，永康會與長者家人緊密聯繫商討一些有關長 者生活的重大決定。中心亦會協助有需要的長者申 請入住庇護所、療養院，為長期或末期病患者申請 相關住院服務。 目前，永康是蘇格蘭唯一一間每星期安排四天午餐 會給華人長者的日間中心。
About Wing Hong Elderly Centre: Founded in 1989, Wing Hong Chinese Elderly Group (also known as Wing Hong Elderly Centre) is a nonprofit charity organisation that celebrates the lives of Chinese elderly in Glasgow, with the aim to improve the health and well-being of the older people. The Centre based in Garnethill, 122 Hill Street since January 2005 functions as a day centre, ser ving the needs of the older peoples’ lives by reducing loneliness and isolation, maintaining and improving their independence. The Centre provides a lunch club four days a week, the lunch club ser ves Chinese meals which helps to meet the dietary and nutritional requirements of its users. In addition to offering advice and undertaking casework, the centre provides a variety of activities such as day trips, cultural events, hobby workshops etc. which enables the service users to participate in the social and cultural life of the city. The group also promotes good intergenerational relationships. In some cases, the staff work in close contact with their family who are concerned with
major decisions. The Centre also helps the older people with admission to sheltered housing and nursing homes, terminal illness and long-term hospitalisation. At the moment, Wing Hong remains to be the only day centre in Scotland focusing on the well-being of Chinese older people that is open four days a week with a lunchclub for its members.
活動簡介: 此項活動是由永康和格拉斯哥藝術學院社區參與組 GSA Community Engagement 共同協商籌辦。我們有 藝術家及翻譯員短期駐場的構思，是因為想服務提 供者與長者及永康員工有更長的時間彼此認識、互 動和建立關係，從而令大家能更投入參與，更深入 體驗這項別具意義的創作活動。活動的目的是希望 參與者能夠藉著活動，與更多人及社會聯繫起來， 協助他們融入社區生活。此外，亦希望創造一個渠 道來展示和分享永康和長者的人生體驗和生活點 滴。 這是永康與格拉斯哥藝術學院社區參與組首度合 作。受疫情影響下，很多長者未能如以往一樣親身
來永康聚首，與員工或其他長者交流或進行活動。 面對防疫社交措施重重限制和困難下籌備活動， 充滿挑戰。雖然如此，我們視長者的健康為首要考 慮，堅持嚴格遵守政府防疫指引下進行整個活動。 我們從活動中與長者互動學習，獲益良多。我們期 望能發掘更多持續合作發展的機會。 此活動由國家博彩獎 National Lottery Awards for All 及 格拉斯哥藝術學院社區參與組贊助。永康嚴格遵守 政府防疫指引下進行整個活動。 About the project: This project started off as a discussion between Wing Hong and GSA Community Engagement around developing creative activities with and for their service users. This developed into the structure of a residency, providing an ex tended time for interaction and relationship building, through which we hoped the project would offer a space for genuine and meaningful engagement between a creative practitioner, the ser vice users and the Wing Hong team. The aim of the project was to improve social inclusion and connections between the ser vice users and to open up and celebrate the personal narratives and
experiences of the Chinese elderly and Wing Hong in Garnethill. With the impact of Covid, these themes became even more poignant with ser vice users unable to visit the centre and socialise with each other as often. This project is the first partnership between Wing Hong and GSA Community Engagement. We have learnt a lot from the process, from working together and in response to Covid restrictions, and look forward to exploring how this partnership can continue to develop in the future. This project has been funded by National Lottery Awards for All and GSA Community Engagement.
新冠肺炎疫情下的支援 : 突如其來的疫情使許多機構面臨前所未有的挑戰。 永康也不是例外，因著疫情的發展與政府的限制 來作出相應的改變。一方面盡量保持與長者的聯 繫與關顧，另一方面，要作出改變及新措施來迎 合長者的需要。 作為社會中最脆弱一群的主要服務提供者，永康 在疫情下跟從政府指引，保持開放運作。 當大部分團體活動需要暫停的時候，許多永康的 服務仍然沒有中斷。當中包括健康推廣咨詢、福 利待遇支援、家居(門外)探訪、輔導、接送、殯 儀安排及喪親、一般翻譯與查詢服務等，永康透 過電話、視像會面或門外造訪作安排，服務無間 斷。另外，永康推出新服務及額外支援。在充滿 不確定性和不安的疫情環境下，永康預見長者面 對持久的隔離及社交距離對其身心的影響，因此， 提供一系列新的舒緩措施：
• • •
協助購買日用品 送餐 協助領取藥方、藥物
以電話、視像通訊及Whatsapp 等，每天與長者們聯繫。
• • •
確保長者生活健康狀況良好； 確保長者有足夠的食物及生活所需； 提供最新的疫情資訊並提醒他們保持良 好衛生習慣的重要性
永康另設立了一個 Whatsapp 短信群組。長者會收到 最新、重要的資訊。 總括來說，永康認為讓長者知道在疫情下他們沒有 被孤立忘懷，是為重中之重。我們一貫的服務和關 顧仍然在你左右，並無間斷。
Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has put many organisations in unexpected situations and Wing Hong had to make changes to their operations, adapt and develop new activities to meet the needs of their users, while still trying to maintain the same level of care as before. As a vital service to the most vulnerable members of the community, the Wing Hong Centre remained open throughout the pandemic while operating under the government regulations and guidelines. While most events and group activities at the Centre had to be put on hold until restrictions ease, many of these services including health advocacy, welfare benefits support, home (doorstep) visit, counselling/ befriending, transport service, funeral arrangement/
bereavement, general interpreting services, general enquiries were still being carried out through telephone, video consultation and doorstep visits. During this time of uncertainty, Wing Hong has aimed to provide comfort and reassurance during these difficult times as long periods of self-isolation and social distancing will take its toll on vulnerable service users’ health and well-being. The Wing Hong Centre began introducing additional services including helping with grocery shopping, meal package delivery, picking up prescriptions and medicines and delivering. Staff members kept in touch with the older people by telephone or video calls and WhatsApp everyday: • Checking their situations and wellbeing. • Checking they have enough supply of food and essential consumables. • Keeping them updated with the latest information of the coronavirus, and continuing to remind them of the importance of maintaining good personal hygiene.
A group chat was organised for participants to receive important messages or news update. All in all, it was important to assure the older people that they have not been left alone during this pandemic and that they are able to still access the services and care of The Wing Hong Centre.
溫秀蓮
Sau Lin Chow
Sau Lin is 72 this year but she continues to learn. She enjoys the process of learning, for example, knitting and baking. Sau Lin has worked hard taking care of her children in the past. Now in her retirement, she participates in different kinds of activities arranged by Wing Hong and other recreational centres. She has since made new friends and learnt somenew skills such as the Tai Chi fan exercise and dancing. Some of her hobbies include practising Chinese traditional martial art Tai Chi online. She also likes to read the Chinese news and magazines, dance and enjoys making paper crafts. Sau Lin also enjoys travelling and taking cruise trips with her friends. She feels very pleased and satisfied with her retired life, spending the time to take care of her grandchildren.
Advice: Have a proper time schedule for their life, take rest and work at a proper time. Understand the nature, love our environment and support environmental protection.
埾镡
Cheung Cheung
Mr Cheung is the Chairman of the Wing Hong Elderly Centre and is often seen dropping by at the Centre. He is 82 years of age this year and arrived in the UK, to Birmingham in his twenties. Family life is of paramount importance to him. He remembers a time when he was alone in the UK while his then girlfriend was still in Hong Kong. They continued to stay in
touch, and their relationship continued despite being physically apart. Mr Cheung eventually got the blessings from her family and they were finally able to be together in the UK 5 years later, where they got married. Mr Cheung feels very thankful for his marriage and children and enjoys the family life. Advice: Stay alert of people, because they may harm you intentionally; but do not intend to harm others. Be honest, reliable, considerate and generous. Love and care for each other.
何麗珍
Lai Chun Ho
Lai Chun came to the UK in 1978, and have been working in restaurants. She has been in the UK for 48 years and was living in Oban before moving to Glasgow the past 3 years. Lai Chun is 74 year old. During lockdown, she continues to be in contact with her children via calls and Whatsapp. She is happy that her children are caring. Her daughter-in-law also helps her to order food and grocery online and arrange for delivery to her home. Lai Chun enjoys cooking. In her time at home, she exercises for 20 minutes daily, makes her own breakfast and cooks something she likes to eat. She also makes 3D crochet crafts of beautiful crochet roses, peaches, strawberries and trees.
馬桂清
Kwai Ching Ma
During lockdown, Kwai Ching enjoys watching Korean dramas and does some exercise at home such as walking the staircase. She enjoys travelling and feels happy when she is able to join her sisters to travel around cities such as London and Holland. Kwai Ching emphasizes the importance of finding friends here in the UK, in supporting and helping each other. She recounts her experience of the fire at The Glasgow School of Art 3 years ago and how she had witnessed it from her window at The Glasgow School of Art when it was far. She did not expect the fire would have escalated as it got closer to her home
and melted her windows. Kwai Ching took only a few belongings with her and could not return back to her flat and was put temporary accommodation for many months. She couldn’t have survived those period without her friends’ and family’s support. Advice: Take good care of your health, to be optimistic and happy, and work together to make a peaceful world.
黃麗華
Lai Wah Wong
Lai Wah continues to very energetic even in her retirement years. She is 71 this year and volunteers at the nearby food bank and charity shop.
She also believes in an attitude of learning and has been sewing handbags and backpacks since picking it up at a class in the Chinese recreational centre. Lai Was enjoys cooking and feels happy when she is able to learn new culinary skills from Youtube videos. She shares her recipes and exchanges cooking ideas with her friends. Some of the food she enjoys making include Hong Kong style pineapple bun, Chinese steamed roll, Ma Lai Go, Chinese rice dumpling. Traditional duck confit being one of her favourites. On one occasion, she made hundred of Chinese rice dumplings for The Dragonboat Festival to share with her son in London and her friends. We caught up with Lai Wah (left) and Julita (right), and did one of our art sessions together via video-call. Advice: No matter what life throws at you, stay positive and be happy!
彭太
Julita Pang
Julita is an Indonesian-Chinese and is able to speak Cantonese, English and Indonesian. Julita teaches flower arrangement and also takes dance lessons. She likes to travel and enjoys taking photographs during her travels. Julita has many friends all over the world whom she is still in close contact with. Majority of her late husband’s secondary school classmates migrated to different countries, but they continue to organise reunions every two years. She recounts fondly how there were more than 1000 participants in Hong Kong last year.
During lockdown, she continues to be in contact with her family and friends via online platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp. She also enjoys watching Korean dramas in her spare time. Advice: Enjoy life as a fool.
梁藍田
Lan Tian Liang
Lan Tian has a skilful hand in knitting and enjoys woollen sweaters and beanies for her family. She also enjoys reading the news, playing mahjong and taking strolls. She feels blessed and thankful for what she has and is happy to be a part of Wing Hong, to have lunch delivered regularly and to meet and chat with other older people at Wing Hong. Advice: Be thankful, contented and patient.
李漢申
Hon Sun Lee
Mr Lee enjoys being by the riverside. He sometimes rides the bicycles or travels by bus. Mr Lee has also been dropping by to the Wing Hong Centre weekly where he catches up on the Hong Kong news on cable television and the newspaper. Mr Lee likes listening to Cantonese songs when he is home. He is thankful for the fresh air, food and clean water in Scotland that he gets to enjoy daily.
李素蘭
So Lan Lee
So Lan enjoys sight-seeing and also writes Chinese blessings and wishes during Chinese New Year. So Lan feels very blessed and thankful that she is well provided for and has everything she needs in her retiring life. So Lan enjoys sharing and chatting with friends and staff in Wing Hong. She also insists on walking to the Centre and not by car in order to keep herself physically fit and well.
胡麗芳
Lai Fong Wu
Lai Fong has an outgoing personality and performs in Chinese opera, singing with an interest group in a cultural centre weekly. The Chinese opera interest group has been established for over 20 years. She also enjoys hiking and going out with friends for day trips. During lockdown, she watches TV, keeps in contact with her family members and friends living in and out of the UK via Whatsapp and social media. Lai Fong feels blessed and thankful with what she has and enjoys living with her family, daughter and grandchild. Lai Fong (right) is with Lai Chun Ho on a video call with Alaya and Stephanie is one of the art sessions and catch-up.
Advice: Hope the young Chinese know more about Chinese culture. Make the world peaceful by understanding more about different cultures and beliefs.
麥蓮英
Lin Ying Mak
陳嬌
Kiu Chan
Lin Ying Mak and Kiu Chan are Wing Hong’s staff and come in weekly to clean the centre. Kiu has two children she brought up in the UK and Lin Ying does Tai Chi in her free time. She also has a stable life now since coming to the UK in 2004.