In the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, an 18-year-old man moved from Fujian in southeast China to Hong Kong. Over time, through grit and determination, he carved a path for himself and his family, working as a street cleaner, a chef, and eventually a photocopier technician. This hardworking man was the father of the protagonist of our story.
Raised in a frugal environment, the protagonist and his two sisters had simple yet content lives in their early years. However, things took a dark turn after the family moved to a nicer flat in Sai Wan Ho in 2002, and their father became increasingly unstable and abusive.
Experiencing regular verbal and physical abuse, the protagonist and his sisters faced a hostile and oppressive environment. Despite the hardships, he found solace in a relationship and volunteer work at the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, where he got involved in various activities and found a supportive community that offered him safety and care.
Despite facing discouraging teachers at school, his newfound confidence and motivation led him to strive for university education. He eventually got into the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he majored in government and public administration, with a mission to address the social issues he had encountered in his childhood.
Life at university was transformative for him. Away from the toxic family environment, he felt safe. His time at university also allowed him to participate in student union activities, exchange programs, and internships across the globe, further broadening his perspective.
However, the suicide of his closest friend during his final year at university was a devastating blow that reshaped his life. This tragic event sparked his interest in counselling, psychology, and therapy, eventually leading him to discover non-violent communication.
After graduating, he became a teaching fellow at a local primary school, where he noticed the students’ struggles with self-expression. This observation prompted him to delve deeper into non-violent or compassionate communication.
Alongside a colleague, he travelled to Taiwan to learn how compassionate communication was promoted in schools there. On their return, with the support of their school principal, they founded Just Feel in 2018. The initiative aimed at training teachers in compassionate communication, implementing social and emotional curriculums, and building relationships among students.
As societal issues and the pandemic brought the importance of mental health to the forefront, Just Feel’s mission became more pertinent. He realized the need for a supportive network for not only the students but also parents, teachers, and staff.
Throughout his journey, he has battled his own inner demons, and grappled with complex PTSD triggered by his traumatic childhood. He believes in healing himself and stopping the cycle of trauma with his generation, a belief echoed by his sister.
With every empathetic conversation facilitated by Just Feel that helps a child, he sees a bit of his own healing, a testament to his firm belief: “OK, one more kid doesn’t have to go through what I went through.”
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