“Drifting in Muddy Water”- Removing Stereotypes
Philip, a rangy Form 5 student, is skateboarding. Agile and with ease, he jumps, swirls, and lands – a series of neatly executed moves. The warm sun puts him in the spotlight. He’s the lead actor on stage.
Philip says that skateboarding has helped him build courage and perseverance.
“He used to carry this worried look, and saw everything in a negative way,” says outreach social worker Billy Sir who has befriended Philip one and a half years ago. Philip, with short wavy hair that stands upright even under strong winds, is from a single-parent household. His father is on long-term medication because of a mood disorder, and often beats up other family members. Philip’s elder brother ran away from home because of that, just when Philip was in puberty and at his most rebellious stage. For a long time, his relationship with father was strained. He even contemplated taking his own life. Worried about family finances and often upset with his father, Philip’s academic results, once satisfactory, began to slip.
The skateboard was a present from a cousin. It has become a means for him to take out his frustration. Skateboarding in the evening has also introduced him to different circles of friends. “Before I go out, Dad often mumbles to himself, ‘Small huddles of people. None of them good’.” Philip says with a forced smile. One evening, when eight of them were playing in North District Park, a group of gangsters harassed them and even slapped them on their faces. They stayed calm and did not fight back. The incident ended when a police vehicle pulled up, the gang members fled, and social workers intervened.
Philip often goes skateboarding on the road at night, learning new skills from other skateboarders.
“Skateboarders are often said to be “bad kids” and “rebellious”. But they are just the same as most young people and get along well with members of the community. If people in the neighbourhood think we are making too much noise, just give us a polite reminder. The skateboarders will keep their levels down or go somewhere else.” Philip stresses that skateboarders are no thugs. He met Billy Sir on the evening of the gangster harassment.
Billy Sir (left) and Philip (right) share a passion for pop culture. They have endless things to talk about.
Still wearing a childish look, Billy Sir used to be passionate about pop arts and culture in his youth. Every now and then, he still organises street dance competitions and plays and raps in a band. “Activities held by most youth centres rarely touch on street dances and graffities. But outreach social workers in this team hope to cater to the needs of youngsters and promote local pop culture. What more can we do for them? I’m not sure. But we’ll do our best whenever the opportunity arises.”
Graffities adorn the walls of the Tai Po Centre of Hong Kong Children & Youth Services.
Besides skateboarding, there’s a quiet side to Philip. He plays the guitar and listens to Canto pops and jazz. As he immersed himself in music and explored his passion in arts, and with consolations and reassurances from Billy Sir, Philip began to reflect on himself. He came to see that the relationship with his father was not a deadlock, but rather, a tango. If you step forward, I’ll take a step back, thereby avoiding direct confrontation. Billy Sir believes that, sometimes these youngsters just need a companion to help them sort out the confusions they face when growing up. Youngsters who have become gangsters, abused drugs or gone astray, are led there by unique family backgrounds and various other factors. Billy Sir thinks that a careful investigation, identifying the true causes then tackling problems one by one, will serve to help these young people.
“Drifting in Muddy Water”, a CIBS programme produced by the Hong Kong Children & Youth Services, interweaved stories of youngsters. It touches on music, pop culture, sexual relationships, drugs, and violence. Social workers of the Tai Po outreach team, along with their colleagues and service users at the Sane Centre, pour their hearts out through radio dramas and interviews. Amid all the ups and downs and nagging issues in life, everyone is the lead actor of their own lives. When they are willing to amend their ways, a different plot will soon reveal itself.
