Passing on patients' talents, uniting the community
The ‘Share to Care 10' event was held successfully earlier, which was prepared by volunteers from Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH)'s Specialist Outpatient Patient Care Programme – ‘Connect & Cheer'. Now in its tenth year, volunteers engaged in this annual flagship event for five consecutive days showcasing their learning achievements by teaching various handicrafts, and contributing to the community by sharing their crafting skills, so as to connect the hospital with the community and enhance patients' quality of life.
"‘Connect & Cheer' is an extraordinary activity. We hope to assist patients in overcoming their difficulties and rediscovering themselves through various forms of activities," says Li Kin-ling, Social Work Assistant of Patient Resource Centre (PRC) of TMH. Launched in 2010, ‘Connect & Cheer' provides small-group classes for specialist outpatients of TMH. Social workers could observe participants and engage them to understand their inner world.
Ms Li shares a memorable experience from a papercutting activity years ago: Participants were not required to bring tools, yet one lady brought a pair of paper-cutting scissors with her and remained silent for half an hour. Ms Li observed and speculated it has a special significance. After a heartfelt conversation, she learnt the lady's mother, who had recently passed away, had created exquisite paper artwork with this pair of scissors. Once the lady had expressed her feelings, she felt a sense of relief and was finally able to re-engage with the lesson.
The ‘Connect & Cheer' programme offers several major kinds of activities, ranging from singing, photography, postnatal care-taking, jade appreciation, house cleaning to day trips and talks, as many as 60 kinds of activities. Ms Li says it is mutually beneficial that many patients have become volunteers. They can identify patients' strengths and build up their self-confidence through these activities, thereby helping them re-enter the workforce and re-integrate into society.
From participants to volunteers
Around a decade ago, chronic patients who had participated in the ‘Connect & Cheer' programme spontaneously initiated the ‘Share to Care'. This allowed them to give back to hospital and community by sharing the benefits they gained from the programme. It also encouraged fellow patients to overcome the challenges of their illnesses, promoting the spirit of ‘cultivating interests, enjoying fun, gathering strength, and walking alongside illness'.
"‘Share to Care' not only signifies mutual support and understanding, but also represents inheritance." Volunteer Po Chu has participated in the ‘Connect & Cheer' programme since 2011. She shares that the distress and helplessness of illness are often incomprehensible even to loved ones. However, through the programme, she met peers who deeply empathise with her situation. They offer encouragement and support, they also meet for tea in leisure time besides attending activities together – just like a big family.
"There are many hidden talents of our volunteers. They can showcase their talents through the ‘Share to Care' event and promote the PRC at the same time in making contribution to both the hospital and society," Po Chu remarks.
‘Connect & Cheer' has recorded over 30,000 attendances. Ms Li hopes that the spirit of mutual support among patients can be cultivated through these activities, empowering them with attitude, thereby establishing a stronger peer support network, and helping them realise they are not alone, courageously facing various challenges together side by side.
