[Background]
With the generous donation and support of the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, Student Affairs Office is now organizing the Life Education Ambassador Programme 2022/2023 to promote life education to HKMU students and the community.
[Objectives]
This programme aims to equip student volunteers with knowledge and practical skills serve the elderly through different services and promote the value and importance of life education to general public and tertiary and primary students at the same time. Upon completion of training, student volunteers will be given the chance to provide service to the elderly and take individual portrait for their future use.
[Exposure]
As a Life Education Ambassador, you will be able to:
To equip Life Education Ambassadors with leadership skills, communication skills and knowledge to organize life education events and photography services for the elderly, Student Affairs Office arranged a series of trainings and experiential learning activities for them to raise their awareness of the concepts of living and dying, enhance their skillset and promote an optimistic attitude to handle death issues.
A series of training included: Death Experience Workshop, Elderly Communication Skills Workshop, Photography Workshop & Makeup Workshop.
From February to April, ambassadors organized four visits to elderly residential care centers and the Board Game Fun Day, serving 90 elderlies in total. Before the visits, ambassadors designed various activities for elderlies based on their interest and health conditions, such as exercises, calligraphy, and art & craft. During the visits, ambassadors led their initiated activities and different discussion topics to show care and respect to the elderlies. They were deeply touched by the care and enthusiasm given by the ambassadors, thus they were open to share their life stories and personal experiences, which help ambassadors to learn from their life lessons.
Ambassadors also led a board game “五味雜貨店” to play with the elderly at the Board Game Fun Day, this board game enables students and the elderly to share their thoughts about life and death, and understand the concepts and importance of Advance Directive. They had a fruitful discussion during the game and learn to stay positive about end-of-life issues and cherish every moment they live.
Life Education Ambassadors organized two photography services for almost 40 elderly people in June, aiming to provide photographic portraits for their final day and to affirm their basic human dignity. Before the shooting day, the ambassadors have visited the elderly home a few times to build trust and show care to the elderly. Thus, the elderly were willing to open up and share different personal stories and life experiences.
During the shooting day, the ambassadors have presented their tailor-made memory books for the elderly as a gift, which made them feel very touched. “I have never received any handmade gift from the teenagers or visitors before” said one of the seniors.
Through this service-learning experience, the ambassadors learn from the lives and experiences of older people and the importance of respecting life. In the future, they are dedicated to promote positive values of life to the community and educate general public to respect their lives, parents and friends.
In addition to promoting life and death education for the elderly, this programme also aims to convey positive messages and values to teenagers. Life education ambassadors created a game called ‘Life Auction’ and collaborated with T.W.G.H.s Sun Hoi Directors' College on 11th July to host a ‘Life Education Class’ for 20 secondary two students. During the session, the ambassadors shared insights and lasting impressions from their experience with the elderly on Elderly Shooting Day, helping the students understand the joy and importance of service and challenging ingrained stereotypes about older individuals.
Furthermore, the Life Education Ambassadors also designed and led the ‘Life Auction’ game, to let students uncover what truly matters to them, refining their ability to make informed choices and acknowledging the finite nature of life. This encourages students to cherish the people and relationship in their life.
