A brief background of how Oral History Project materialised

Chinese Mental Health Association received funding from the Diana, Princess Memorial Fund for three years to offer The Youth Counselling & Family Therapy Project. This service offered free counselling to the Chinese community aiming specifically at families and young persons.

In review of the issues that were brought out from the counselling sessions, many of the issues were about intergenerational dialogue, cultural differences between the generations, coping with the language and lack of understanding of personal values and behaviour.

Through this Youth Counselling & Family Therapy Project, a youth group was also formed where over 100 young people participated in workshops and activities. Many of the workshops were on topics of cultural understanding, self–esteem, building better relationships with family members, increasing self confidence, etc. Many of activities were about increasing awareness of a healthier and active lifestyle

In planning for a new project, the focus was still on young people and how to engage them in developing skills, and at the same addressing the issues that came out the counselling sessions and out of the workshops and activities.

This led to the emergence of planning for a project that would be youth led, and where the young persons would be able to develop their skills on social, personal and professional basis. A framework was needed and this opened doors for employing methods used in the area of Oral History.

Oral History focuses on an individual and their experiences and their life accounts. The framework emphasises on respect and the importance of developing good listening skills.