22 Jun 2024 In recent years, the mental health of children in Hong Kong has become a growing concern. According to a survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's medical school, 24.4% of respondents reported experiencing at least one mental health issue in the year prior to the survey. Alarmingly, nearly half of the caregivers were unwilling to seek professional help, highlighting the urgent need to address the emotional well-being of the next generation. In response, the Hopewell Junior Volunteers Programme organized once again six sessions of "Expressive Arts Experience Workshops" and an Expressive Arts Fun Day.
Hopewell Holdings Limited ("Hopewell") is partnering with St. James' Settlement for the eighth consecutive year to co-host the “Hopewell Junior Volunteers Programme”, aimed at supporting the mental health of primary school students. Following the recent "Board Game Workshop," we used artistic creation to achieve therapeutic effects, helping students alleviate emotions and stress, and improve their overall mental and physical health. The workshops utilized various forms of art to express inexpressible feelings and thoughts, allowing students to develop self-awareness and explore their inner needs.
To help students understand emotions and artistic creation, the program also organized guided tours of two exhibitions for 40 students from the S.K.H. Tsing Yi Chu Yan Primary School and the Po Leung Kuk Chan Yat Primary School before the summer holidays. The exhibitions included a multimedia exhibition at Oil Street, as well as the M+ exhibition in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Guided by docents, students deepened their understanding of the artworks and the stories of the artists.
On June 22, eight volunteers joined around ten students from S.K.H. Tsing Yi Chu Yan Primary School for a guided tour of the Oil Street exhibition, where they learned about the exhibits and the artists' narratives while experiencing immersive visual and sensory effects. The activity was conducted in small groups, allowing students to interact and get to know each other better. By viewing the sound art exhibition "encounters: oi! oi! oi!," they rediscovered forgotten sounds in their daily lives, embarking on a multi-sensory journey. Additionally, from a historical architecture perspective, they learned about this Grade II historic building, which transformed from staff quarters and storage space into a vibrant artistic venue. |  |