Fok Ching-fung's one-minute video, Rule, highlights how important it is for children to have a good family life when they're growing up.I was born on April 25, 1999. When I was just one week old, my mother handed me over to the Po Leung Kuk in Causeway Bay. I was in Primary One, when my mother and stepfather took me home. But I left soon after my mother said something hurtful to me.
I was then taken care of by different foster families. In just a year, I stayed in seven different foster homes, where I learned about everyday manners and respecting people. Later, I was transferred to a children’s home. All that moving around makes it difficult to know who you can trust.
My friends and teachers said I was a freak, that my parents abandoned me because I had done something wrong. This made me feel awful.
I didn’t see my parents again until I was 12 years old. My mother reappeared when I was in Form One, and promised to make things up to me. Although I didn’t trust anybody, I decided to trust her. Unfortunately, the following year, conflicts with my family forced me to leave home once again and go to Chak Yan Centre. The social worker tried hard to mend fences between me and my family.
All these experiences made it difficult for me to build relationships, but two years ago, I met some missionaries at a bus stop by chance. They listened to me patiently and tried to understand my situation. For the first time, I felt there was love in this world. This helped me to trust and respect people again.
Because of my childhood experiences and having lived alone for a long time, I cannot easily adapt to family life, and do not know how to get along with people. This greatly affects my social life.
Through this one-minute video, Rule, I hope to point out that children should be guided and looked after by their own families rather than third parties like foster parents, children’s homes, or hostels.
Unicef HK’s “Make A Video” competition gives young people a chance to express themselves through video. The project is co-organised by Hong Kong Arts Centre’s IVFA, with support from Hang Seng Bank and Young Post. Check out the videos here. Email your feedback to [email protected]