Volunteer Services & Training Highlights
Storytelling 2018
Many workers have left their hometowns to go to work in Kunming. Their children have also gone to Kunming to study. More than ten Hong Kong volunteers together with volunteers from Tianjin went to Kunming in mid-July to visit those children and helped them build self-confidence and think about their life targets through story telling activities. During the week-long cooperation, volunteers came from different areas and backgrounds enjoyed cultural exchange and became friends with each other.
“Woodland YMCA” Desert Tree Planting Service Camp 2018
A group of 21 volunteers took part in a tree-planting camp in late July to early August in Shaanxi. They have paid more attention to environmental protection after learning
how the humans have devastated the environment and the seriousness of the problem of desertification. Through the group tree-planting and sand-fixation activities, volunteers knew each other more. They learnt the importance of caring others and serving the society, letting them become the real citizens of the world. Besides, walking across Tengger Desert with bare feet also let the volunteers enhance their adaptability to new things and ability to face up to adversity of the volunteers.
how the humans have devastated the environment and the seriousness of the problem of desertification. Through the group tree-planting and sand-fixation activities, volunteers knew each other more. They learnt the importance of caring others and serving the society, letting them become the real citizens of the world. Besides, walking across Tengger Desert with bare feet also let the volunteers enhance their adaptability to new things and ability to face up to adversity of the volunteers.
Funny Board Games Time with the elderly in Tin Shui Wai
Ten youth volunteers spent 5 weeks in the summer holiday to teach the elderly to play board games. Both the participants and the volunteers shared valuable moments when playing the games.
Kid volunteers training programme in Tin Shui Wai
Kids can also be great volunteers. After learning how to serve the elderly as a volunteer in class, the kids applied what they have learnt in reality. They accompanied the elderly to visit the Wholesale Fruit Market and the Ferris Wheel in Central.
Kid volunteers visiting the elderly living alone
Kid volunteers from Shek Kip Mei visited the elderly living alone during the summer holiday in July. Both the elderly and the volunteers spent a wonderful time when they shared different experience in life.
Caring for Elderly People in Tin Shui Wai
Between April and June 2016, a group of 19 female volunteers from Tin Shui Wai paid regular home visits to elderly people living alone in the district, demonstrating their care and concern for these seniors. At certain times of year like Mother’s Day and the Dragon Boat Festival, the volunteers organized special programmes for the elderly, including a soap-making and steamed bun desserts cooking. These activities provided encouragement to the elderly, helping them participate in community activities and enjoy their lives.
“Shining through Others” – Youth Action
To help encourage people to treasure their lives as well as care for their friends and families, our Shatin Youth Outreaching Social Work Team recruited a number of youth volunteers who set up booths in Shatin’s Shui Chuen O Estate in May 2016. Activities and materials at the booths reminded people about the importance of cherishing their lives, and provided estate residents with information about the various social services available in Shatin district.
Graffiti: “The Gravity of Happiness”
Fourteen volunteers from the Association’s University and College YMCAs recently learned about the history, development and skills involved in creating graffiti. Through the art of graffiti, they learned to express themselves, relieve their pressure and look after their own mental well being. The volunteers also painted a graffiti wall at the Lions – YMCA Junk Bay Youth Camp, helping to send positive messages to the community.
Community Graffiti Day
On 5 March 2016, five youth volunteers produced graffiti tote bags alongside residents of Shatin’s Sun Chui Estate. These tote bags were then given to residents, helping to promote the concepts of sharing and environmental protection in a fun and creative way.
Let’s Meet Pet!
Twelve volunteers from the Association’s University and College YMCAs visited the Society for Abandoned Animals in Yuen Long in March 2016. The volunteers helped to clean the animals’ kennels and improve their general living environment. The aim of this activity is to underline how important it is that young people are aware of animal rights.
Commemorative Albums for the Elderly
A number of our youth volunteers underwent special training to help elderly people create their own commemorative albums. This project was held between October 2015 and January 2016. During this time, the volunteers celebrated Christmas with the elderly in an open top bus as they toured the streets looking at Christmas lights. In January 2016, the volunteers presented commemorative albums to the 110 elderly participants at the closing festival, which also involved a traditional “pun choi” feast.
Helping the Elderly Have Fun & Health in Hong Kong’s Rural Northern Districts
In 2015 and 2016, a team of 15 volunteers visited elderly people living in Northern rural areas including Kwan Tei Tsuen, Tin Ping Shan Tsuen and Ping Che. The volunteers helped the participants perform simple body checks, taught them various exercises and played games with them to help them become more aware of their own health. More than 100 elderly people benefited from this innovative and fun project.
Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong © 2018