The
Understanding Adolescent Project (UAP) is a full- scaled training
program on Adolescent Counseling. It is financed by the Social
Welfare Department and is implemented by organizations that
provide school social work services in secondary schools. The
program is designed for Form One students who require counseling
as they advance into their adolescent years .
Full-scaled trainings are provided to help strengthen
their ability in facing adversities and challenges in adolescence.
Among the twenty-three secondary schools that
our school social work team serves, seven of them have been
granted sponsors by the Social Welfare Department to complete
this three-year project. Each year the trainings last for four
months. The total of 27 sessions in a year, 19 sessions are
for the students and 4 sessions each for both their teachers
and parents.
The trainings for the students emphasize primarily
on the strengthening of their resilience. To increase the students'
level of personal competence, sense of belonging and optimism
are the main concerns. Format of activities includes small groups,
day camps and to participate in social services. Our Mobile
Adventure Activities Centre is invited to assist in conducting
trainings in four out of the seven schools.
The project recognizes the significant roles that
teachers and parents play in the growing up of youngsters; therefore,
the programs include sessions that are designed to strengthen
their knowledge and skills on counseling.
A
teachers' workshop that took place in October 2001 was the prelude
for our Understanding Adolescent Project Program. The objectives
were:
The workshop applied the theory of learning through experience.
With a series of activities designed, teachers were led to share
and to analyze their emotions thoroughly.
