Disagreements arising from social unrest and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic downturn have made families in Hong Kong more vulnerable to stress. To help families be more resilient, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Janet Leung Tsin-yee, Associate Professor of PolyU’s Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS), and Professor Daniel T. L. Shek, PolyU’s Interim Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences and Li & Fung Professor in Service Leadership Education at APSS, will collaborate with several NGOs to run a three-year project funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

The Trust has generously allocated HK$38.825 million for the whole project, of which HK$18.9 million has been awarded to PolyU. The pioneering project aims to promote coping strategies among families to help them overcome external challenges. It will also share positive family belief systems, and work to improve mutual understanding and support among family members, so that families are better able to protect each other from threats and vulnerabilities.

PolyU will contribute to the design and implementation of online educational programmes and family activities for the project, and work with the participating NGOs to develop community-based intervention programmes. The University will also design and implement capacity-building workshops for social workers, teachers, psychologists and health professionals, and conduct a needs assessment study and evaluation research.