Overview September 2020∣Youth Hong Kong
Changing normality
• COVID-19 has changed the world and young people are bearing the brunt of its impact.
• 新冠肺炎全球肆虐，為大家的生活帶來翻天覆地的 轉變，年輕一代更要適應學習及工作的新常態。
• Hong Kong’s experience is paralleled by a global phenomenon and a return to normality recedes with each new wave of viral infections.
• 跟其他國家的抗疫工作一樣，香港社會的復甦情況 跟疫情變化息息相關，每次出現新一輪疫情爆發， 社會各界都深受影響。
• In order to face the future with optimism we all need to • 然而，我們應該懷著樂觀的心態，勇於面對未來的 embrace change and the unexpected with enthusiasm. 挑戰。
Health, learning, economies and wellbeing have all been hit hard by COVID-19 this year but there are glimmers of light as the world adjusts to uncertainty and change. Innovation in science and technology is blossoming and despite social isolation and school closures, flexibility in attitudes and responses has resulted in the discovery of alternatives to normal modes of communication, schooling and working. Yet, not everyone has been able to switch seamlessly and wherever one looks, this has created a particularly acute situation among lower-income families and affects 4
both students and workers. This underlines the sharp digital divides that exist in Hong Kong and around the world. Indeed, a recent survey from the Society for Community Organization reported that despite the community’s best efforts about 40% of Hong Kong’s grassroots children are without computers at home.1 In response to the crisis, the Federation launched several programmes including supporting 100,000 underprivileged students with SIM cards and data plans as well as stepped-up hotline and online counselling.
