Service-Learning Challenge: Make a Difference in your Community! 2023/2024

Student Affairs Office Community Engagement Service-Learning Service-Learning Challenge: Make a Difference in your Community! 2023/2024

Service-Learning Challenge: Make a Difference in your Community! 2023/2024

[Programme Background]

Student Affairs Office (SAO) had called for all UG students who wish to develop and execute an original service project in respond to a specific need in the community, whilst supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All participants had been required to deliver a final presentation on the impact of their work and what they had learned in March 2024, judges had selected outstanding student teams to join a subsidized service-learning tour to Africa in 2024 summer!
1. All UG students are welcome to join the individual track or form a team of 2-6 to execute a service-learning project in 2 months. All projects should be concluded by 25 Feb, 2024.
2. Each student team shall identify a social need, plan and execute a service project that will address the need. SAO had provided a maximum HK$ 6000 as project subsidy for each team.
3. Each team should present the actions they have taken and solutions they have developed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[Intended Learning Outcomes]

• Attend free trainings and experiential learning activities to explore communities, needs and different social issues, develop skills and knowledge to create positive changes
• Turn service ideas into action based on authentic community needs
• Enhance leadership skills and influence other HKMU members to make a difference in the community

[Past Event Highlights]

Through a variety of training and experiential learning activities, 43 participants gained a deeper understanding of societal needs, developed their mindset, leadership qualities which empower them to lead and inspire changes.
They started the programme with the Personality Dimension® Assessment Workshop to understand their personality traits and how they can effectively collaborate within their project teammates. Then, they acquired practical skills in proposal writing during the briefing session. In additions, students visited the African Center and participated in the Social Innovation & Global Citizenship Programme, where they experienced African culture and learned about the challenges faced by Africans in Hong Kong, and further reflect on their role as global citizens.
In the next stage, participants created change making solutions and turned their ideas into actions based on authentic community needs.

[Service-Learning Projects Initiated by HKMU Students]

The first programme combing service-learning with social practice competition——Service-Learning Challenge: Make a Difference in Your Community! has entered the second stage! 11 Participating teams have launched a series of innovative service projects covering various important areas, including mental health awareness, environmental conservation, elderly care, and clothing recycling upgrades.
HKMU members actively participated in the service-learning projects initiated by HKMU students. Moreover, participating teams set up booths or exhibitions to promote their service projects during the first week of spring semester. For more information about the service projects and their impact, please click here.

[Service-Learning Challenge: Student Project Exhibition 23/24]

The Student Affairs Office organized the Service-Learning Challenge: Student Project Exhibition 23/24 from January 16th to January 18th, 2024, with the aim of showcasing and promoting the service-learning projects initiated by our participating teams. During the exhibition, the teams set up booths, interactive games, and volunteer recruitment activities covering various social issues, including mental health awareness, environmental conservation, elderly care, and clothing recycling upgrades.
The exhibition attracted a large number of HKMU students and staff, who actively participated in a series of experiential learning activities prepared by the participating teams. They gained in-depth understanding of the content of the service-learning projects initiated by each team, exchanged experiences, and collectively recognized the needs and issues in society.
The service-learning projects of each participating team had entered the final stage, and after completing their service, the teams conducted project presentations at the end of February. The winning teams have the opportunity to participate in HKMU’s first service-learning trip to Africa during the summer of 2024.
Please click here to review the students’ reflections on the programme.

[List of Winning Team]

[Enquiry]

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Maggie Lai of SAO (sl@hkmu.edu.hk / 2768 6753).