(V) Chong Kong Midway Residence

1. Brief Introduction to the Residence

With the sponsorship of The Social Welfare Institute, Chong Kong Midway Residence was founded and opened on 9 March 2001. The Social Welfare Institute also provided facilities, equipment and other needs. The Christian New Life Fellowship in Macao is in charge of the residence’s management and operation. Its vocation has always been to help ex-addicts to reintegrate and to rebuild their families. Services provided include: hospitalization, psycho- therapy and skill training.

2. Brief Introduction to the work of 2003

The dominant tasks of the Residence in 2003 accentuated rebuilding the trainees’ self- confidence and their reintegrate to the work force. Various healthy group activities were held, such as a brainstorming chess competition, football match to gain team spirit, a table tennis tournament to upgrade psychical ability, a fishing match to teach patience, etc. Regarding knowledge training included a staff training workshop, a talk of the narcotic’s harm and so on. In terms of exchange, participation in the Yun Nan Seminar organized by The Social Welfare Institute, on this occasion, besides enriching the knowing of drug problems and related therapies of Yun Nan, also allowed new knowledge to be acquired. This is quite useful for treatment work. In addition, in order to strengthen the working preparation for trainees, a two months simulation interview practice course was especially designed by the Center’s co-workers; starting from how to find a suitable job in the newspaper, until phone enquiry answering techniques and to filling in curriculum vitae forms, to finally knowing how to talk with an employer, with emphases on appearance preparation and speaking skills to psychological preparation, making it a complete rehearsal program for the apprentices. Individual assessment and orientation was also given, the program accentuated theory, as well as practice. Furthermore, the Business-Starting Group of the Center continues to provide car washing, transportation and cleaning services, and has also obtained a stall No.61 at the Taipa Flea Market which is supervised by The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. This enables the apprentices to experience how to run a small business and learn socializing skills.

Chong Kong Midway Residence Stall at Taipa Flea Market. The 4th Chess competition.

3. Conclusion

Because the services provided by the Center are different form other relevant drug treatment centers, trainees will encounter enormous difficulties during the stages of reintegration, especially gaining positive image because acceptance for ex-addicts is not adequate. This can easily create psychological obstacles for them. At the same time, the qualifications required for employees rises constantly, making less working opportunities. Therefore, we must combine every force and effort to give a new life to these people.

4. Future Prospects

Apart from continuing healthy exercise and skill training, the Center will concentrate on helping trainees to return to society. In the coming year, development will focus on the following items:

1. Making the utmost of the society’s existing resources, such as training courses held by The Labour and Employment Bureau, and community centers, which enables the acquisition of skills, as well as experience of learning and sharing with others, and therefore, having more confidence about reintegration.

2. Enlarging the social support network through positive promotion and contact, and try to get more support form commercial organizations to provide practice or training opportunities.

3. Realizing the follow-up, after the return to society, trainees will likely face enormous impacts, either at work or in interpersonal relationships. Encouragement and support are extremely important at this crucial moment, otherwise relapse is inevitable. Regarding this problem, there is an intention to open a “Caring Group” for ex-trainees to hold regular “Tea Gatherings” through gospel, sharing and emotional support, thus enabling all to live harmony in society and abstain from drugs.

As a word, expending development space and creating internal support will be the targets of the Center.

Attached Table of Activities in 2003