"All Ages Troupe", a drama group that
comprises of elders and youths, is the first armature group
of its kind ever formed in Hong Kong.
This
troupe is formed under our Wan Hon Multi-service Centre for
the Elderly in 2000. Nowadays, the image on elders is negative
to the extent of them despising each other simply because many
believe that elders are expended and hopeless. Yet we strongly
oppose to that rather unfair notion and trust that elders still
possess great potentials that can be cultivated. Empowerment
is known as an intervention skill and process most commonly
adapted recently in social welfare service . However, it usually
relies on the social workers playing the active role during
the intervention. We believe rather that elders should try taking
the active role instead in their participations so that any
direct influence from them can be seen and encouraged. We also
believe in bringing elders and youths together can foster the
mutual understanding and caring intergeneration relationship.
The drama troupe is an intervention tool that
uses public performance as a medium for community education.
In the process, the participants learn to discover their potentials
and breakthrough their limitation. They also learn to appreciate
the various strengths, talents and contributions of other participants.
At the end, constructive results such as encouragement and affirmation
from each other are likely to obtain.
This method emphasizes the importance 
of
the process of participation, intervention and interaction.
The resulting effects from the creative elements in drama and
the experience gained throughout the process are likely to be
one's learning to rebuild and appreciate one-self as well as
the others. The benefits that we anticipate to bring forth from
this format will help clients to recognize that empowerment
is best initiated by them rather than by their social workers.
(A youth member)
"I never thought that the elders
could perform so well. Their hardworking and eagerness had inspired
me to be more serious in my attitude and my involvement ."
(An elder who just have
one verse in the show)
"At first I was very nervous...
but while hearing applauses from the audience.... I felt like
I had won an Olympic gold medal, ... I couldn't sleep all night."
(A fashionable youth member)
"By interacting with the elders
in the troupe, I come to realize that I should cherish my family
and the time spend with them."
(An illiterate elder)
"I don't know any words, I have
to rely on my daughter to read to me to memorize anything. She
finally decides to record the verse on tape to make it easier
for me to memorize."
The idea to bring elders and youths harmoniously
together is no longer a vague concept but real testimonies that
can be seen, touched and felt. Through experiences gained in
the drama group, elders' self-esteems were uplifted and potentials
developed. What is equally important is that the troupe affirms
the community a positive image of elderly as well as advocate
the message that elders and youths can surely blend amicably.
While this intervention method has demonstrated
to be a successful tool, it is likely to be used as a continuous
service model in our work with the elderly.
