Bringing it all together

Principal Simon Tso describes how partnerships with the Federation are helping to provide opportunities for underprivileged students. Many of his students at the De La Salle Secondary School NT, in the northern New Territories of Hong Kong come from mainland China.

Hidden talent and special needs

About one-sixth of the students at the De La Salle Secondary School NT have special needs. “We give them emotional and social support but often it is not enough, especially by the time they are at senior high school. Indeed, some are not able to complete their studies.”

At times of crisis, such as the covid-19 pandemic, children with special needs or those from low-income families can suffer badly. Nevertheless, connections with the Federation can sometimes give them opportunities to explore their potential and make plans for future careers. “Some even revealed outstanding abilities through taking part in HKFYG programmes. We see their hidden talents and so they grow in confidence and understand their own value.”

Coping with crisis

Whatever confidence many Hong Kong students have, it was to be shaken this year. “Class suspensions began in Hong Kong in early February 2020 when online learning had to begin quickly. Difficulties for many students began, especially for students who cross the boundary to come to our school.”

Students with no computers at home could borrow school iPads. “The school had about 150 to lend and 50 more students benefitted from the iPad-borrowing Scheme but since many learning materials were videos, students from low-income family then faced another problem: sharing limited data bandwidth in cramped family homes.” For many, arguments and conflicts resulted, aggravating an already dire situation. Principal Tso discovered a solution: the HKFYG scheme called Bandwidth support for E-learning at Home. “It provided us with free SIM cards valid for two months to give to needy students. Not only did they make better online learning possible but they ended fights with parents and siblings over scarce resources.”

Social worker support

Speaking of how Federation programmes helped his school during conflict of a very different nature, Principal Tso remembers the way HKFYG school social workers offered emotional support during the height of the protests in 2019. “Apart from our students having strong bonds with class teachers and support from them, school social workers, Maggie and Amy, coordinated very effectively and revealed strong professional ability at times when they had to handle differing opinions among students who had various perspectives. As a result, the students upgraded their ability to listen and understand.”

Enduring spirit

Principal Tso believes it is crucial for schools to collaborate with partners. “Schools don’t have sufficient capital, human resources or equipment whereas HKFYG’s network brings together a wide range of diverse, useful resources. These can benefit individual growth and inspire lifelong planning and I trust that HKFYG’s beliefs and spirit will endure.”

More details School Social Work Unit

wmc.hkfyg.org.hk/ssw