Ah Fung｜Participant of the Jockey Club “Women-Up”: Resilience Enhancement Project
Now 60 years old, Ah Fung has lived in Wah Fu Estate for nearly four decades. The first half of her life was a long journey marked by self-doubt, loneliness and fear.
As she recalls her childhood, there is still a faint sense of sorrow in her voice: “I attended a boarding school when I was young and had to rely on myself for everything. No one cared about me, and no one listened to what I had to say. Gradually, I began to feel that I was useless and good for nothing. I did not dare to speak to others or even look them in the eye.” The belief that she was insignificant took root in her heart at an early age.
More than 30 years ago, she became a full-time family carer. Faced with financial difficulties and family pressure, she withdrew into herself. Years of isolation from the outside world gradually led her to develop social anxiety. She was afraid to leave home, afraid of being judged and afraid that she would never be able to change. This sense of isolation made her feel that she “did not deserve to be happy”. Yet, at some point in life, we are called to begin again.
“When I turned 60, I suddenly realised that I had been unhappy all my life. I did not want my life to end this way. I wanted to do something for myself.” At that moment, she chose to take a step forward. In April 2024, accompanied by her friend Ah Chun, she walked through the doors of the Jockey Club Wah Fu Centre and joined the“Women-Up”. What may have seemed like an ordinary act was, in fact, the bravest step she had ever taken.
After joining Women-Up, Ah Fung gradually began to open herself up. She described it as a process of “learning how to live again”. “Women-Up gave me a platform to discover myself. I realised that I did not have to be afraid of failure and that there were many things I was capable of doing. I had never known how to communicate with others since I was young, but I gradually learned how to connect and get along with people.” She participated in Playback Theatre, progressing from being afraid to speak to standing on stage and sharing her own story. At that moment, she was facing more than an audience—she was also confronting the person she had once been, who had remained silent for so long.
“I have learned to be courageous and less self-conscious. This courage is very important to me. I had always been timid and fearful since childhood. I was afraid that I was useless, afraid that I would not do well, afraid of how others saw me, afraid of making mistakes and afraid of embarrassing myself. But things are different now. Even though I still feel afraid, I am willing to step forward. This courage means a great deal to me.” This transformation did not happen overnight. It was built through countless moments of practice, hesitation, setbacks and the determination to rise again. On stage, she reconnected with the world and made peace with herself.
Today, Ah Fung is no longer the woman who was confined to her home. She has become an active Women-Up volunteer, participating in Playback Theatre, community guided tours and service promotion. She has even become a volunteer calligraphy instructor, guiding other women to discover their strengths through art. Smiling, she said, “Women-Up helped me realise that I can make myself shine. I do not have to depend on others or wait for someone else to make me happy. I can rely on myself, live the life I want and have no regrets.”
Ah Fung’s story bears witness to personal transformation and serves as a call to all women: change does not require a perfect beginning—only the courage to take the first step. From self-doubt to self-affirmation, and from fearing the world to embracing life, Ah Fung has demonstrated through her actions the true meaning of “Be the Woman You Want to Be”.
Today, her light illuminates her own life while guiding more women who are still searching for their way in the darkness.