SUCCESS STORIES
Ivan
Ivan joined the Breakthrough rugby section back in early 2004 not long after it first started. He lives in Tin Siu Wai, a huge housing estate in the northern part of HK, which has tremendous social problems with high levels of domestic violence, juvenile crime, single parent families and high unemployment, with many relying on welfare handouts.
Ivan was a troublesome, overactive 14 years old, who was not doing well at school. His school discipline master thought that Breakthrough might help after seeing other boys improve in the previous few months the scheme had been running.
Ivan enjoyed his rugby and began to shine and worked hard to improve his fitness and strength. However two years later he was out in the early hours on his Estate and was arrested for robbery. It turned out that he was not involved, but one of his friends was and this brush with the law and realization that it might stop his further participation in the Breakthrough rugby team, made Ivan try even harder. He distanced himself from many of his unruly friends and instead mixed more with his new rugby mates. His teachers noticed more effort at school.
On the rugby pitch Ivan really began to excel. In the 2006 / 07 season he was picked for the HK U18 team and toured Japan with them. In the following season he made the HK U20 squad touring to Taiwan and Singapore and he began to play in the senior police teams.
This season has seen even greater improvement. He moved club to play for Valley, who unlike the Police Club play in HK’s 1st Division. He subsequently made us all very proud by becoming the first Breakthrough boy to play 1st Division rugby. He again made the HK U20 team touring once more to Taiwan, before attending a training week at Hartpury College in the UK and finally being selected in the HK squad to play in the Asian U20 Championships in Korea.
Ivan has also taken on a coaching role with the Breakthrough rugby team and he has become a much respected coach for the U16 team, who have just enjoyed an excellent season winning several trophies. This role has helped turn him into a more confident and responsible individual.
Off the rugby field Ivan has just started a Yi Jin course. He is keen to enter into a sports / fitness coaching course.
Ivan has come a long way since joining Breakthrough as a troubled 14 year old tear away and rugby has given him an opportunity to travel, make new friends and hopefully start a career he had never dreamed of five odd years ago.
Chi Ho
'Chi Ho' was another one of the original Breakthrough rugby boys from Tin Siu Wai. He was doing poorly at school and had got himself into trouble when introduced to Breakthrough.
He soon proved to me one of the better players but a series of nasty injuries meant that he missed the whole season in 2005/06. This took away a lot of his confidence, but he applied himself to getting back, recovered his fitness and was soon excelling again, showing a strong character and determination.
Chi Ho also took his rugby coaching course and was given the opportunity to take the younger boys. He became the U14 rugby coach, which also helped him to rebuild his confidence. He played for the Police Breakthrough team in the HKRFU Development League, with the odd appearance for the Police Panthers (2nd XV).
Over time, mixing with the expatriate coaches involved in Breakthrough, had another useful benefit of improving his English and Chi Ho now speaks and understands English to a reasonable standard.
After a series of part time jobs, in the summer of 2009 he applied for a job as a rugby community officer with the HKRFU and was successful. He is now able to make a living from the sport he enjoys, helping to introduce the game at grass root levels in HK. In his busy schedule Chi Ho still finds time to help with the Breakthrough rugby coaching, where he is a much respected by the younger boys.
FEI Man
'Ah Man' joined Breakthrough rugby in September 2006. He was very over weight had few friends & was the target of much teasing, which had led to him losing his temper & getting into trouble. He also suffered badly from Asthma.
At the start 'Ah Man' could only run a few yards & he invariably walked everywhere or just sat and watched. He lasted no more than 5 minutes in his first game before having to leave the pitch. However he enjoyed rugby, responded well to the encouragement not only from the coaches but also from the other boys. He slowly got fitter & lost weight and off the pitch he made some good friends.
In his second year he was able to last a whole game & had become quite mobile. He even joined his good friend Ivan for extra coaching with Valley rugby club. His hard work was recognized with his selection as prop for the HK U20 team in the New Year Day Tournament against the overseas boys.
Fei Man is still a big lad but he is much fitter & is a good mobile prop who loves his rugby. His confidence and self-esteem has improved & he even lends a hand in coaching the younger new boys. He is currently still studying & whilst physically he may be half the man he used to be, mentally he is twice the man!
TANK
Tank was one of the original Breakthrough rugby boys & started after getting into trouble at school.
On arrival he was one of the quieter lads who was small in stature & kept very much in the background. However he really enjoyed the game & by 2006 when he turned 18 he had developed into a strong tenacious scrum half. He had also matured into a confident individual who would speak up & talk to the new boys about rugby & Breakthrough. He took his rugby coaching course & proved to be a natural at teaching the others.
In the 2007/08 season he established himself as the first choice scrum half for the Police 1st XV & even toured with the team to Phuket. His talent was soon spotted by others & this year he is playing for Nomads Club in Division 2 & they are helping him with his school fees, making him our first ‘Professional” player.
Despite playing for Nomads, Tank is still a figure greatly respected by the Breakthrough boys. He has been the U19 coach for the last two years, a period of success for the team.
Breakthrough has seen him change from a troublesome, quiet individual into a mature & responsible adult, who is hoping to join the police after he finishes his education.
Ah Wing is 15 years old and was arrested by Police for blackmail in 2007. Following his arrest he was inducted into the Breakthrough programme through the Youth Support Scheme (YSS) of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). He has now been with the programme for 15 months and, as such has completed the requisite 12 months in the programme. He has, however, elected to stay on, having been nominated as Team Captain, and he continues to lead by example and acts as a mentor to others on the programme, helping to develop his leadership qualities. He was nominated as one of the YSS’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards and received a Most Valuable Player Award in 2008. It is strongly believed that, had he not entered into the Breakthrough Programme, he would have become involved in a life of crime and possibly a triad. However, as it is, Ah Wing has stayed in the programme and away from crime.
Ah Ying
Ah Ying is a 16 year old girl. Three years ago, she joined the ‘Breakthrough Ladies Volleyball programme’ upon the recommendation of a school social worker. At first, she was afraid that the training would be too tough for her, but she found that the coaches were fun and supportive. They not only listened to the girls but also helped them to rectify their negative behavioural patters and guided them onto the right track. She loved the training sessions and had lots of fun.
The team were taken to the Women’s Volleyball World Grand Prix at the HK Coliseum in Hung Hom, where they took part in a Beach Volleyball Competition. Ah Ying realises that she used to be “off the (beaten) track”, but has now developed “the right values” and “belief” through this programme, which has helped her “learn to be nice to people”. Her goal is to finish her studies with top grades, which will make her family really proud of her.
Pui Ki
Pui Ki is a 13-year-old girl. After committing a minor offence, she was referred to the Youth Support Scheme organized by The Hongkong Federation of Youth Groups. During her 6-12 months follow-up counselling service, a social worker arranged for Pui Ki to take part in a Breakthrough Volleyball training session. These are jointly organised by the Tsuen Wan Police District and the Youth Support Scheme. On Monday nights, Pui Ki participated in two hour training sessions given by police volunteers. Through participating in this activity her self-confidence increased as the police volunteers not only coached her patiently but also praised her for doing well, encouraging her to acknowledge her own improvement. Her interest in volleyball has also increased. A new cycle has just begun and Pui Ki continues to participate and benefit from the programme.
Ah Sze
Ah Sze was referred to the Youth Support Scheme after committing a minor offence. She is a 14-year-old girl who is small and slightly built. When a social worker arranged her to participate in Breakthrough Volleyball, she initially showed no interest and was concerned that she would not cope with the physical demands of the sport. Gradually she got into the habit of attending the weekly training session, and both Ah Sze and her mother noticed how much stronger she was becoming. More importantly, she easily managed something that she didn’t think was possible in the beginning, and she developed a love of sport, which she’d never dreamed of.
'Ah Cheung' hails from a small rural village on the outskirts of Tai Po, one of Hong Kong's new towns, situated not too far away from the border with China. Despite the idyllic setting, the country side environment of his upbringing did not help prevent him falling in with a bad crowd in his early teens and it was not long before he came to the attention of the local police. Lucky for Dao Cheung, instead of a stint in a juvenile center, he was referred by his social worker, under the Operation Breakthrough scheme, to the Police Boxing club where young lads just like himself were given a second chance or sort their lives out.
Even at the tender age of 14, Dao Cheung took to boxing straightaway. The instructors quickly picked up on his natural talent and it was not long before he was winning boxing competitions all over Hong Kong, fighting under the name of 'The Cobra' due to the lethal speed he brought to the ring. As the years passed, he became the most experienced and successful fighter in the club and it was pleasing to witness the friendship, guidance and coaching he provided to other wayward youths when they first came to the club.
Dao Cheung had always dreamed of being a police officer. As he grew into his late teens, he put himself through two years of night school to pick up the necessary educational qualifications and then passed the vigorous selection process which saw him taken on as a recruit constable. Today Dao Cheung serves the community in Tai Po as a committed police officer. He is a shining example of the success programmes, such as Operation Breakthrough, can have with troubled youngsters.
He recently went to Vancouver, Canada, to represent his country at the World Police and Fire Games in August 2009. In front of a crowd of 500 people including the Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Peter YAM Tat-wing he outclassed his opponents to secure the Gold medal for his weight division. A crowning achievement and a shining example of how to turn your life around through sport.