From isolation to connection: Young people, narrative practice and canine care

This paper presents a project combining narrative practices and human–canine interaction to support young people in Hong Kong who were socially withdrawn and not in education, employment or training (NEET). Such youth often face societal stigmatisation and isolation. The “We Can” project paired participants with traumatised rescue dogs, fostering mutual healing and reconnection with the young people’s preferred identities and their wider community. The paper examines how cultural and familial pressures can contribute to feelings of inadequacy. Using narrative therapy, the project emphasised participants’ knowledge, competences, values and resilience rather than deficiencies. Caring for resilient dogs enabled participants to externalise their challenges and construct hopeful, empowering narratives. A key story shared in the paper is the transformational journey of a participant, referred to as Tarzan, who found his purpose through caring for dogs. His experiences, along with those of others, inspired broader personal and social commitments, as participants rejected societal expectations in favour of authentic and meaningful lives. The project challenged stereotypes about youth isolation, promoting reintegration while affirming the humanity and agency of marginalised young people in Hong Kong.