Book of You-th

2022, Social Design, Hong Kong

Empowering Resilience with the Book of You-th Initiative

fig. 1. A Book of You-th diary being designed in action. All workshop attendees were encouraged to decorate the covers and content based off of a quick lesson on "personal brand."

CLIENT

Caritas Hong Kong

TEAM

Leighanna Estrella
Jina Ham
Grace Moon
Gauri Sharma
Dicky Wong

deliverables

One multi-week learning program designed to increase english proficiency and self-expression through creative workshops

Table of Contents

TBD

Unleashing Pathways to Possibilities for Underprivileged Young Ladies Through Design

Caritas is one of the biggest NGOs in Hong Kong that serves the city through educating, medically attending, and caring for the city. In collaboration with them, a small team of predominantly design students from PolyU got together to execute an multi-week English language workshop for female secondary students of Caritas Mother Teresa Hall (CTMS), undergoing the institution’s rehabilitation program for behavioral and emotional distress. 

Working closely with the program’s superintendent, our team launched CTMH's very first language-based program. Whilst building personal relationships with the seven students who visited consistently week-to week, we responsively altered our workshop contents to create digestible yet cohesive lessons that would surely impact their perception of career and passion.

The Challenge

Develop a 5-week language workshop for young ladies aged 15-18 with beginner to intermediate English proficiency. The objective is to help attendees better describe themselves whilst improving sense of individuality through uncovering what makes them unique. The outcome is a mini diary (scrapbook) with worksheets completed over the 5 weeks and a professional portrait photo as keepsake.

The Process

The diverse teaching team from four different ethnic backgrounds exposed attendees to connect with people from various cultures like never before, often communicating with body language, and sometimes, with translation intervention. Catering for diversity was also a priority to accommodate different learning styles, technology literacy levels, and possible delays. Through trial and error, modifications of course content were made in real-time, attending to the needs of the Caritas community.

The Outcome

Book of You-th started as Covid-19 died down, thus many attendees lacked prior experience with career counseling or events beyond their immediate needs. When attendees realized most workshop providers were from the design field, conversations quickly shifted from assigned weekly topics like hobbies, memories, and personality traits to careers and dreams, as many hoped to break into the local creative industry. All Book of You-th workshop material has been shared with the Caritas community for future use and collaboration after the successful pilot program.

fig. 2-5. Snapshots of the 135Academy Graduation Ceremony.

Book of You-th

Shedding Light on the Pain Points of the Attendees & Their Ongoing Concerns

This workshop series focused on enabling the Caritas Hall’s girls a stronger sense of their one-of-a-kind identity through creating an original scrapbook, while integrating the English language through learning modules.

This multi-component learning system encouraged critical reflection on their day-to-day lives, and through personal conversation with workshop leaders, encourage participants to reach towards their dreams, whatever they may be. But ultimately, the purpose of the sessions was to have an enjoyable environment for students—growth in creativity, concentration, and widening their English vocabulary ranges are the natural by-products. The activities included can also benefit the students to have a better understanding of art with meaning which they can apply to any potential future endeavors of artistic nature.

fig. 6. Book of You-th's Week 2. teaching material

Teaching "Strategy"

Allowing creative freedom within specific boundaries often maximizes output and effectiveness in professional creative practices. Our team sought to mirror this strategy in hopes of creating a safe space where students can gradually reduce their reliance on translators for communication while still keeping conversations focused and aligned with the lesson plans.

To successfully address the above desire, we used a three-part approach. First, we placed facilitators throughout the workshop space, pairing two students with each facilitator to encourage personalized support. Second, we created open-ended worksheets and provided access to online dictionaries, helping students overcome language barriers and share their stories. Lastly, we allowed extra time beyond the scheduled hours for students to use written English to develop their book content and to creatively collage and decorate each section.

This approach nurtured their creative expression and promoted independence and teamwork, which are key elements in service design and educational programs aimed at empowering underprivileged youth.

Reflecting on the Experience

fig.7. The Initial Workshop Rundown, consisting of detailed timestamp schedules.

On Friendship & Mentorship

Growing up, the most important lessons I've learned were ones that were from the fleeting conversations l've had with teachers and mentors. A conversation with my track and field coach on the way to a state tournament, a cry session in front of my history teacher in her classroom afterschool, and a witty comment about my fiery attitude from my high school principal all shaped who I am and what I stand for today. They challenged me to grow—to be more attentive, kind, and most importantly, at peace with myself in all stages of my life.

And within the short time we got to spend with the girls under CMTH, the hope was that our intentionality in every interaction we have with them can bear a seed of inspiration that propels them to keep seeking and understanding their unquestionable and truly intrinsically valuable personhood. So when the occasion called for taking a pause at the icebreaker game and rather, sitting with snacks to chat about their concerns of their future, we were quick to flex our adaptability and change up the program accordingly.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Envisioning a More Caring Hong Kong

By fostering an environment of open dialogue and shared vulnerability, we were able to provide practical guidance and an insider's perspective on navigating educational and career paths. And although our direct involvement with CMTH has concluded, we hope the connections made and insights shared during our collaboration continue to positively impact the students and institution.
By allowing this partnership to serve as a catalyst for ongoing innovation in education, we believe steadfastedly of our contribution to a future where success is accessible to every young mind, regardless of background.