The Student Affairs Office (SAO) launched the “HKMU Photography Services for the Elderly” programme on 7 October 2023. In collaboration with the Methodist Center, the programme recruited 12 undergraduate students as volunteers to capture individual portraits of elderly participants for future use. Additionally, the student volunteers organized various activities for the elderly to establish relationships with them. Since November, the programme has successfully organized four shooting days, benefiting approximately 130 elderly individuals.
Before the activities, the selected student volunteers underwent various training sessions, including the “Communication Skills Workshop,” “Life Education Workshop,” “Photography Workshop,” and “Makeup Workshop.” These workshops aimed to enhance the students’ professional skills and instill positive values to provide better services to the elderly participants. During the service days, the student volunteers planned various activities with different themes, such as “Lunar New Year” and “Easter.” These activities were designed to celebrate festivals with the elderly and help them and their family members capture meaningful moments together.
On 7 October 2023 (Sat) and 26 October 2023 (Sat), the students joined the “Communication Skills Workshop” and “Life Education Workshop” to learn practical communication skills with the elderly and build up empathy. During the workshop, student leaders engaged in role-playing and discussions, equipping their peers with positive values and cultivating a sense of service towards the elderly.
Additionally, student volunteers who participated in the previous year's Life Education Ambassador Programme have taken on leadership roles this year. They provided training to the new batch of student volunteers, shared communication techniques with the elderly, and discussed important considerations for the photography sessions.
On 21 October 2023 (Sat) and 14 November 2023 (Tue), the SAO and student mentors organized the “Photography Workshop” and “Makeup Workshop” for the student volunteers. The workshops aimed to equip the students with various professional skills and enable them to capture high-quality photos of the elderly and their families during the service days.
The student mentors shared their experiences during the workshops in the makeup session. They taught the student volunteers valuable skills and provided helpful reminders to prepare them for the service days better.
On 14 November 2023 (Sat), the student volunteers organized the first shooting day for 25 elderly individuals. Led by two student mentors, the student volunteers meticulously prepared various visiting activities such as handicrafts, painting, and group games to establish relationships with the elderly before the shooting session. After the visiting activities, the student volunteers utilized the knowledge and skills they gained from the previous photography and makeup workshops. They provided professional photography services, taking individual and family portraits for the elderly participants. The aim was to create precious and meaningful memories for the elderly and their families. This first service day gave the elderly a pleasant and meaningful experience, allowing them to feel cared for and respected.
On 20 January 2024 (Sat), the student volunteers organized the “Lunar New Year Congregation.” Instead of pairing up with the elderly participants, the students created a warm and festive atmosphere for a larger group of elderly individuals, promoting social interaction and alleviating loneliness among the elderly. During the activity, the students organized various group activities such as “Puzzle Game” and “DIY Workshop.” After the activity, the students prepared various decorations for 23 elderly individuals to capture their memorable moments and share love with them.
On 16 March 2024 (Sat), the student volunteers organized the “Easter Fun Day” for 38 elderly individuals. The event not only aimed to facilitate interaction between students and the elderly, but also foster meaningful connections and bridge the generation gap. As part of the activity, the students utilized the central theme of “Easter” and gathered the elderly participants to create a large “Easter Egg” together. Consequently, the “Easter Egg” served as a decorative element during the photo session, allowing the students to capture amusing pictures of the elderly and their families.
[Enquiry]
For enquiries, please contact Mr. Elvin Lau of SAO (sl@hkmu.edu.hk / 2768 6564)
