On the agenda December 2020∣Youth Hong Kong
Project Change • Psychosocial counselling and legal support are provided by Project Change for arrested protesters.
• 蛻變計劃（Project Change）為被捕青年提供心理 輔導及法律支援。
• Dr Pauline Sung-Chan and Brian Wong share with us their objectives to support young people no matter what their political views or perspectives are.
• 宋陳寶蓮博士及黃裕舜先生跟讀者分享他們計劃以 青年為本、不分政見立場的宗旨。
• Their targets are youth under 25 arrested because of the social incident.
Immense stress, anxiety and emotional turmoil follow arrest and the mental health and wellbeing of participants are priorities at Project Change. “Our goals are to advocate a non-partisan, de-politicized, youth-centred approach,” explains Brian Wong. He says the Project fills a gap in existing counselling services and has staff with relevant expertise to work with lawyers handling the intricacies of the legal process.
• 他們的服務對象為 25 歲以下、因參與社會事件而 被捕的青年。
Family-centered therapy is at the Project’s core with the emphasis on ameliorating tense family relations and increasing parental support. “Our therapists are professionally trained to be sensitive, open-minded and professional,” says Pauline. Family members can only participate with the consent of the young arrestees in alignment with the principle of upholding their autonomy. “The most common hurdle is helping parents or guardians find the right balance in constructive reconnection with their kids and the key is to be neither over-protective nor permissive.” that healing and
“Regardless of political or ideological standpoint, our future generation deserves We firmly believe more than just ostracization supporting these young people ought or lip-service,” says Dr Pauling A mixture of one-on-one Sung. “We offer genuine and group-based therapy is to be an area of concern irrespective support and firmly believe used. “Participants discuss of political standpoint. that healing and supporting and reflect upon past these young people ought to events in Hong Kong in an be an area of concern irrespective of political standpoint.” organically collective manner, but also in ways that would heal, as opposed to exacerbate, the divides that have emerged While outlining the referral process that brings young people to between family members,” Pauline continues. Therapy them, Brian says establishing trust is important but sometimes and support is not only offered to the young people but difficult. “Arrested youths are usually referred to us by someone also their associates, including family members who enroll. whom they know well: school principals, university staff, “Therapy is about restoring agency to the hands of the defense lawyers, social workers or peers who know us.” youth. There can be no agency without family or society.” 30
