“I’ve been a part of Fantastic Dream for about 3 years. We work to build an online community by empowering young people through gaming, video production and education on internet culture. A lot of gamers can be quite introverted and passive; so through our activities we try to mobilise them to be active participants to create, produce and also engage with the community. Some people might think that online gaming is all about play, but actually a significant part of it is also the community element. Many young people use gaming as a platform to connect with others, share their stresses and provide mutual support. What’s unique about interacting online is that you cannot have preconceived ideas or form a stereotype; everyone is equal on the gaming platform and some find it easier to make friends that way. Our work is all about seeing things from young people’s point of view. With compassion, we can understand the environment and challenges that someone else is facing and really think about what they need, not what we think they need. It’s an inevitable fact in this day and age that youngsters are spending significant amounts of time online – so it’s about how we can leverage this and transform it into a positive force!”

「我加入咗網．想．正．差唔多三年了。我哋希望建立一個網上社群，透過網絡遊戲、拍片同埋網絡文化嘅課程去鼓勵一班年青人。好多鍾意打機嘅人都係比較內向同被動，所以喺我哋嘅活動入面，我哋會嘗試鼓勵佢哋主動去構思同埋製作，亦都要同社會唔同嘅人有交流。有啲人可能會以為打機淨係得個玩字，但係其實聚到一班人一齊玩先係佢最重要嘅部份。好多年青人會喺打機嘅平台度識朋友，抒發感受同埋互相支持。網上交流嘅特點就係你唔會有好多先入為主嘅諗法或者偏見，喺打機嘅平台上面每個人都係平等嘅，所以有啲人會覺得上網同人交朋友會容易啲。我哋嘅工作係要從年青人嘅角度出發去睇事物。運用同理心，我哋可以明白另一個人面對緊嘅處境同挑戰，真係諗吓佢哋最需要嘅係咩，而唔係我哋覺得佢哋需要啲咩。無可否認喺今時今日，年青人會花好多時間喺網上面，重點係我哋可以點樣善用呢個特點，將佢化成一啲正能量！」

“There is a lot of misconception around gaming, but it actually can be used to connect, engage and develop problem-solving and team working skills. We encourage young people to bring ‘online to offline’, by using their skills to film interviews, dig deeper into local culture and interact with the community. We also want them to understand that their career paths can be non-linear, that possibilities are endless and that we can draw inspiration to create from everywhere. On the flip side, gaming addiction is a real and severe issue. If people use gaming as a way to escape from real life or as a habitual distraction, then it can be very unhealthy. However, our focus is to use gaming as a tool to build positive traits and skills which can then be applied to solve day to day life challenges. It’s about how we can make this habit healthier and more constructive. Our online community often gets together in our studio to connect and create. They see this as a safe and fun space to relax and play; when they get here, many of them don’t want to leave!”

「社會大眾對於網絡遊戲有好多誤解，其實佢可以用嚟連繫唔同嘅人，凝聚一班人，訓練解難同埋團隊合作嘅能力㗎。我哋鼓勵年青人將線上嘅嘢帶到線下，運用佢哋嘅技巧去拍片、做訪問、發掘本土文化、同社會上唔同嘅人交流。我哋都想俾佢哋知道，佢哋嘅事業發展唔需要係一條直線咁平淡，可以有無限嘅可能性，生活處處都係靈感。但係另一方面，網絡成癮都係一個嚴重嘅問題。如果一個人打機係為咗逃避現實，或者好沉迷，唔識節制，咁就對身心無益喇。我哋嘅重點係透過網絡遊戲去鼓勵年青人建立正面嘅性格同埋能力，等佢哋可以將打機學到嘅嘢用返嚟解決日常生活面對嘅問題。最重要係我哋可以點樣將呢樣嘢變得更加有益身心同埋有建設性。我哋呢個線上群組成日都會聚喺工作室呢度，一齊交流同埋整啲新嘢。對佢哋來講呢度係一個舒服又有趣嘅地方，佢哋可以喺度放鬆心情同埋玩，好多人會留到唔捨得走添！」

“As we get older we tend to box ourselves in, but through working with young people I can keep learning, expanding and growing. They help me to see things from fresh perspectives. This is why over the years, my career in the NGO space has always been centred around youth development. I am 40 years old but am creative and young at heart. I really enjoy the work that I do as it inspires me every day to see the infinite possibility in young people; they are our future after all. Teenagers are subject to a lot of pressure – from school, at home, from the pandemic and other recent events. That’s why a crucial part of our work is to find joy in playing together. We all need play to revive us, give us energy and bring us joy; youngsters in particular need the space and freedom to have fun and play. If we can’t be playful and find joy in life, then what’s in our future?”

「人越大就越容易將自己限死喺個框框入面，但係同年青人一齊做嘢嗰陣，我可以不斷學習，突破自己同埋繼續成長。佢哋俾到我一啲好新鮮嘅角度去睇事物。所以咁多年來，我喺非牟利機構做嘅工作都係圍繞住青少年發展。我今年40歲，但係我內心都仲係好有創意同埋年青㗎。我好享受我嘅工作，因為我每一日都會睇到年青人無限嘅可能性，話哂我哋嘅工作遲早都係要交俾佢哋接力嘛。年青人而家要面對嘅壓力好多，嚟自學校啦、屋企、疫情同埋其他事件。所以我哋工作好重要嘅一部份就係同樂。我哋每個人都需要玩吓，等自己有返啲活力，有能量同埋快樂，年青人尤其需要有空間同埋自由去玩同埋搵自己嘅樂趣。如果我哋唔識得放鬆心情，喺人生裏面搵樂趣，咁我哋嘅未來又有咩值得期待呢？」
 

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