HKCSS “Youth Internship in Caring Profession for a Brighter Future” Project

Sharing by Beetle Tsang
Year-4 student of BSc (Hons) in PT programme

In early March, the spread of COVID-19 in residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities was very rampant and there was a dire shortage of manpower. I always wanted to help but did not know how to do so. When I learned that there was a scheme launched by HKCSS which allowed us to replenish the workforce of these hostels and help restore the dignity of their residents in desperate need, I enlisted without a second thought.

Joining this scheme has been a wonderful experience and I would describe it as a “win-win” situation for both the hostels and students like us. Before our work commenced, my partner and I were afraid that we did not have sufficient competence to handle the overwhelming workload at a residential care home for the severely disabled. It later turned out that this was just nothing but groundless worry. I served for The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, a hostel for severely mentally handicapped persons for quite a while and I found that the staff there were very helpful and friendly. Although I was very fresh to the environment, on-site therapists, social workers and healthcare workers were very eager to teach me the skills to communicate with residents and establish a relationship with them. Through providing PT treatments to them, I also acquired knowledge and skills that were rarely taught in clinical placements at public hospitals. I originally thought I was there to provide physiotherapy service to residents, but actually I learned more from them. I am wholeheartedly thankful to HKCSS, RS of PolyU and The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong for providing this valuable opportunity for us to serve society in the darkest hours of the COVID-19 pandemic and obtain valuable work experience in the community setting.