Testimonials for FRIENDS in Hong Kong
“Our 9 year old has always been a nervous and anxious type and this was affecting his school work and social life. Some children seem to naturally learn resilience, assertiveness and social skills whilst others benefit much more from learning these skills in a structured, supportive environment. Justine’s amazing passion and commitment to making the FRIENDS Program work for every child are a true inspiration. Since joining the FRIENDS Program, our son has learned to relax, identify his personal goals and to take them one step at a time. He has learned to appreciate the power of positive thinking and has made unprecedented breakthroughs in coping with situations that he would previously have found overwhelming. The skill she has learned at FRIENDS are truly skills for life and for the whole family. FRIENDS for Life was just what we needed!”
ESF, Hong Kong, 9 year old
“My son lacked self-confidence, always responding to questions with “I don’t know” and avoiding eye contact. I was worried that he might not pass any school interviews, but thanks to the FRIENDS Program – my son was admitted into one of the top International Schools in Hong Kong. FRIENDS not only helped my son, but also gave me the language and the toll to encourage my son to be brave and try new things. Now you can see the beam of confidence in his eyes.”
Hong Kong, 4 year old
“Before FRIENDS, our son was totally unaware of the feelings/emotions of others. He is now starting to recognize the non-verbal queues of others and in some cases is even confident enough to empathize and offer his assistance. He is in much better control of his reactions to various situations, and his negativity is fading. For example, instead of taking physical action with his sibling for knocking down something he had built, our son stops himself and says, “It’s OK. I can build another one.” This positive thinking and self-control seemed like an impossible reaction just a few short months ago.”
HKIS, Hong Kong 5 year old
“Fun FRIENDS has provided a warm and supportive environment for my daughter. The program has given her – and the whole family – a range of easy to understand tools to use when dealing with unfamiliar situation. It has also taught her to recognize and deal with her emotional frustrations when presented with new challenges or problems that she does not immediately understand. She has developed a greater awareness of her own attitudes and behaviour and she now willingly changes “red thoughts into green thoughts”. She really loves going to fun FRIENDS each week – we never have to push her to go back. What we’re taking with us from FRIENDS is going to be beneficial to the whole family for years to come.”
Hong Kong, 9 year old
“After we moved to Hong Kong, my son started to worry excessively. He worried about his friendships with others and his ability to complete his homework. After 9 sessions with the FRIENDS Program, he is much ‘lighter’ and more relaxed – he’s happy again. He now has tools he can use to deal with his worries constructively. I highly recommend the FRIENDS Program for all children – it’s a great way for them to gain the tools they will need to face life’s difficulties in a positive and pro-active way.”
Hong Kong 9 year old
“Fun FRIENDS has taught my child how to process her negative feelings and conquer her anxieties. My child now knows how to break down problems into small and achievable steps, and how to relax and reward herself for working hard on tough challenges. What a gift! I’m already looking forward to enrolling my second child in Fun FRIENDS.”
Hong Kong, 6 year old
“My husband and I both feel the FRIENDS Program has been great and has helped our son, as well as our entire family a lot. We have definitely seen some improvement in the way our son deals with his anxieties and from the effort we have put in, we also understand him much better. We hope we can continue giving him the tolls so he can help himself become more emotionally resilient.”
Hong Kong, 6 year old
“We cannot recommend the FRIENDS program enough to families. The skills learnt during the program are life skills which every child and adult alike should have. We sent our eldest daughter to the program but the whole family has benefited from it. It is simple to understand and can be applied immediately. Most importantly it works! Out daughter used to cry about her classroom bully-wannabes and has learnt to stand up for herself using the skills taught in the FRIENDS Program. Thank-you Justine!”
ISF, Hong Kong, 6 year old
