HKMU Best Buddies Programme - Building Friendships with Intellectual Disabilities 2023/2024

Student Affairs Office Service-Learning Development Programmes Past Event Showcase HKMU Best Buddies Programme - Building Friendships with Intellectual Disabilities 2023/2024

HKMU Best Buddies Programme - Building Friendships with Intellectual Disabilities

[Programme Background]

In collaboration with Fu Hong Society, HKMU Best Buddies Programme was launched by the Student Affairs Office in February 2023. This programme aims to encourage students to develop one-to-one friendships with people with intellectual disabilities, and to better understand their daily lives and the challenges they faced.
The programme is now recruiting HKMU buddies for year 2023/2024. Full-time undergraduate students with a passion for serving perople with intellectual disabilities are welcome to join, sign up now to pair up with the buddies from Ngai Shun Home*! In addition, students can also design and organize service plans for your buddies to create your own special memories.
*Ngai Shun Home provides residential services for persons with moderate grade intellectual disabilities.

[2023/2024 Programme Review]

  • Briefing and Training Workshop

  • Meet and Greet

The student recruitment and selection for the HKMU Best Buddies Programme – Building Friendships with Intellectual Disabilities 2023/2024 has concluded. The chosen students have been designated as “Best Buddies” and have successfully completed a series of training sessions and communication skills workshops on 23 Sep 2023. These workshops was facilitated by the participants from the previous year’s programme who now serve as mentors for this year’s cohort.
HKMU Best Buddies also have started their companion services with their assigned buddies from the Ngai Shun Home, a residential care home for intellectual disabilities. The selected students have also commenced their first companion service by fostering friendships with their assigned buddies from Nagi Shun Home on 7 Oct 2023. They built friendships through icebreaker games, arts and crafts, singing, and dancing and there were even tears of farewell from their buddies, showing the strong bond they have formed. Each Best Buddy is eagerly looking forward to the next activity, which will be planned and led by HKMU buddies again.

  • Student-initiated Service Day (1)

HKMU Best Buddies Programme has organized the first student-initiated service day on 18 Nov 2023, which HKMU buddies (student leaders of this programme) and Ngai Shun Home buddies visited and spent a wonderful morning at Butterfly Garden. The activity was planned and led by HKMU buddies, including the location, schedule and activities. Firstly, HKMU buddies arranged an animal encounter session with alpacas, followed by DIY art and craft session and a city hunt at the garden. Everyone was left with a pack of gifts and a big smile.

  • "Walk.In" Walkathon 2023

HKMU buddies (student leaders of this programme) and Ngai Shun Home buddies joined the “Walk.In” Walkathon 2023 organised by Fu Hong Society on 2 Dec 202. All participants started from Amphitheaters of Tsing Yi Promenade, via Cheung Fat Estate Waterfront and turn at Tsing Yi Northeast Park, covering a total distance of approximately 3 km. In addition to participating in the walkathon, HKMU buddies and Ngai Shun Home buddies also served as cheerleaders, encouraging other participants at the turning point and promoting inclusion within the community together.

  • Sampan Tour

On 27th January 2024, HKMU buddies (student leaders of this programme) and Ngai Shun Home buddies visited Hung Shing Temple and Ap Lei Chau Wind Tower Park, immersing themselves in the rich history of the Southern district. Along the way, they enjoyed the unique view of the Typhoon Shelter. Afterward, they hopped on a sampan from Ap Lei Chau to Aberdeen to enjoy their lunch – a delightful Yum Cha experience! Some of the buddies mentioned that it was their first time taking a sampan, making it an unforgettable and special experience!

  • Annual Gala of 'Best Buddies Hong Kong' Movement

On 16 March 2024, a group of HKMU buddies (student leaders of this programme) representing the Hong Kong Metropolitan University chapter attended the Annual Gala of 'Best Buddies Hong Kong' Movement. Although Ngai Shun Home buddies were unable to join due to disease outbreak, all the HKMU buddies wholeheartedly participated in the event, serving as student volunteers to assist the operation. Furthermore, we are honored to have received two awards during this event: the Welcome Award for the establishment of Chapter and the Most Active Participation Award, recognizing the active involvement of the Hong Kong Metropolitan University chapter throughout the past year.

  • Student-initiated Service Day (2)

HKMU buddies has successfully planned and led the second student-initiated service day on 29 Jun 2024, it was also the final event day of this year’s programme. On the service day, HKMU buddies took on the role of organizers and thoughtfully arranged a series of fun and diverse activities for Ngai Shun Home buddies, suitable for different personalities. The activities included making dried flower bookmarks, keychains, sports booths, and more. After the activities, Ngai Shun Home buddies expressed their great appreciation for the activities arranged by the HKMU buddies.

[2022/2023 Programme Review]

[Enquiry]

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