生命密碼-活動後感

生命, 長短不一, 可輕可重, 變化無常. 密碼, 無既定形式, 也無任何範本.

以義工身份走進'生命密碼' 計劃, 從中認識到一群充滿熱誠的外展社工, 也近距離接觸到很多參與此計劃之青少年. 一起找尋'生命密碼'.

義工的角色對青少年來說亦師亦友, 沒有固定框架, 從活動中相互交流, 分享人生經驗,透過一連串的活動, 義工們慢慢接近參與此計劃之青少年, 由當初遠距離觀察, 到活動分享, 至加深彼此認識. 當中有已完成的兩日一夜暴力島訓練營及合共八堂的狗隻訓練, 旨在讓青少年們認識到生命的意義和珍惜生命及暴力絕對不能解決問題. 以警醒的手法令他們反思.

能夠參與這計劃，走進活動小組跟幾位青少年進行亙動，經過多番的接觸,不僅建立起雙方的友誼, 藉此亦了解到他們並不如外界所認為般一無是處 . 除下有色眼鏡, 其實他們跟一般青少年無異, 既有各自的理想及潛能, 只是需要更適當的溝通和指導, 啟發他們對生命的正面思想, 引領他們走向更光明的前路. 縱然我們知道目標不是一朝一夕可達到,但青少年的寶貴青春轉眼消逝, 能盡快令他們走向大道至為重要.

作為義工的我從中得益也不少, 除了認識到他們不一樣的天空, 自已亦得益不淺.以往對生命的看法有些理所當然, 也忽略溝通的重要性. 原來肯付出一點點的轉變和調較舊有的眼光. 會有更多更新的體會和懂得捉緊幸福及珍惜擁有.

活在當下,抱緊明天. 願你也找到你的生命密碼.

Crossroads - Life X-perience

"What word would you use to describe being poor?", the group leader asked of us ... "broke", one replies ... "homeless, hunger, unfair, survival ... ", as other answered.

That's the question we tried to answer by experience at the Crossroad's Life X-perience. The Crossroads Life X-perience is an event offered at Crossroad's global village - a themed, immersive environment where people can experience global need, such as poverty, first hand. The Crossroads Foundation is a Hong Kong based non-profit organisation which serves as an intersection between those in need and those who can help.

Our group participated in an activity called the "Paper Bag Game". In the 2.5 hour activity, we tried to earn enough to survive by making paper bags out of newspaper and home made glue. Our group must earn enough to pay for rent, food, sanitation, medical needs and, if we are fortunate, education. Those that cannot make it end up in the hands of a loan shark. This is the situation that families living in the Indian slums faced every day.

During the activity, we struggled to meet ends needs. As a "family" we worked hard to make enough money for food and shelter. Things we now take for granted, such as sanitation and health, were considered "luxury". If we could not obtain health care and sanitation, our family members became "sick" and became unproductive. In addition to the poor conditions, our family members had to make "sacrifices", such as selling items, selling services (e.g., massages), selling souls (as a wife to the loan shark). Our family's lives were at the mercy of the shop keeper because s/he was the one in power.

We learned that poverty was about survival, it's about working together, it's about sacrificing. It's a vicious cycle, and it's the dream of all those in poverty to get out of this vicious cycle.

After the activity, we were served the "buffet of the poor". We ate rice, an Indian dish made out of lentils, and an African dish that literally meant "food to push through the week (until payroll)". We ate with the tool for the poor - our hands, and drank out of the cups of the poor - a plastic bag.

After lunch, we had a chance to give back to Crossroads by volunteering at their facilities. A group of us helped renovate the living quarters for Crossroad volunteers.

For more about Crossroads Foundation, check out www.crossroads.org.hk