Education
HKDI collaborates with academic institutions to provide experiential learning opportunities for university students whose work feeds back into the other three arms of our services.
Experiential Learning
With the support of Swire Group Charitable Trust, we offer innovative and interdisciplinary learning opportunities for university students with backgrounds in law, criminology, psychology, social work, public administration and journalism. Under the guidance of our staff, students gain first-hand experience on adopting trauma-informed approaches when working with clients. They also gain practical research skills from supporting HKDI’s interdisciplinary research projects.
We are currently partnering with clinical teaching programmes under the Faculty of Law at The University of Hong Kong.
“I participated in a research project that investigates the nexus between the global drug trade and human trafficking...I vividly remember how the lawyers and private investigators at HKDI sat together to discuss the evidence that they had gathered, trying to map out Hong Kong’s vast and elusive drug trade. I was deeply inspired by their passion in the project. They made me believe that individuals do have the power to effect social change – even in something as seemingly insurmountable as the war on drugs.”
Joyce Ng, HKDI Volunteer (Law)
“I previously had no real contact with trauma victims. From working closely with HKDI on a case, I definitely gained more insight into the different types of victims of trauma. The client did not perceive that she was able to leave Hong Kong [after being trafficked for sexual exploitation] as her employer had a firm hold on her and she was financially pressured to provide for her children. This experience made me realise that people are not only victims if they are physically abused, and that victims come in many different forms.”
Michelle Cheung, HKDI Volunteer (Law)
“HKDI works hard to make a stressful and most times re-traumatising legal process as humanising as possible for their clients. I’m grateful that I get to be part of the action, of interacting with and listening to individuals who seek help from us, as they remain so strong in difficult circumstances, and that really keeps me going.”
Emily Ma, HKDI Volunteer (Psychology)