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At #impact Podcast, we are dedicated to bringing more voices to the channel that deserve to be heard. We are so thrilled that we get to team up with our Charity 4 Beneficiary KELY Support Group (KELY ) to bring you this episode featuring a very special voice of a young man, sharing his story of recovery from drug abuse.
KELY Support Group (KELY) is a Hong Kong-based nonprofit organisation whose mission since 1991 is to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to support themselves and each other. They envision a world where young people are empowered to reach their full potential.
KELY collaborates with schools and other partners to offer programmes to Chinese- and English-speaking youth between the ages of 14 and 24 around three core focus areas: 1) Drug and Alcohol Awareness, 2) Mental Health and Wellbeing, and 3) Positive Youth Development.
In this episode, KELY Support Group Executive Director Sky Siu sits down with Ernest Chang to give us an insight into his moving story of recovery.
“It was an up and down journey and it was a very hard time.”
Ernest has been sober for six years and today he is working on his amazing art projects like his most recent show “Famous by Proxy”, where he is portraying youth today and their struggle with finding balance and their identity.
“You need your parents to help you and guide you through your identity development.”
In this very intimate conversation, you will hear Ernest’s quest to discover his identity. As a teenager he was struggling to fit in with his peers and he came out to his parents when he was 14 years old. He opens up about him being bullied at school and how he slipped into drug abuse and addiction.
“I went into hiding.”
His recovery journey was not an easy one. He gives us an insight into how he made it through.
“I was really in denial. Art helps me get rid of that denial and see some beauty in the truth that I have.“
“Purpose is a really important thing in recovery.“
His art has given him purpose and looking back at his recovery journey he is advocating for a more open and honest conversation at schools, with teachers and parents when it comes to drug abuse of young people.
“It is really difficult to solve a problem when you can’t talk about it.”
Here’s where he sees the importance of programmes that are run by KELY Support Group, to start these conversations.
He advises young people that if help and support is presented to them, they should take that opportunity to get help. Ernest encourages them, that there are people out there that care about them.
“You should not have to hide all the parts of yourself and there are people out there that are willing to hear parts of you that other people aren’t.”
KELY Support Group works to prevent and reduce the harm associated with drugs and alcohol abuse. KELY’s Drug and Alcohol Awareness programmes equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to avoid using drugs and alcohol, protect themselves and make healthy choices, and support their peers.
Their range of workshops include drugs, alcohol, and related issues such as self-esteem & bullying. Each year, KELY reaches an average of 8,000 students in over 50 English medium of Instruction secondary schools with this programme.
Through experiential learning activities, group discussions and a fun, interactive training style, the programme enables young people to understand the risks associated with drugs and alcohol and develop their own strategies for drug prevention.
Schools can find out more about these workshops and book them through a google form here (primary schools / secondary schools).
GET IN TOUCH
- Find more information about KELY Support Group at https://kely.org
- Get in touch with the KELY team at contact@kely.org
- Follow KELY on Instagram
