NEWS REPORTS

From 3 to 9 June, 2025, 13 College students, teachers and staff travelled to Youjiacha Village in Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province, for a summer service-learning trip. Xiushui County is one of the service points of Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation. Today, Dr. David Pang, Chairman of the Foundation, visited S.H. Ho College to meet with six students who participated in the trip and to learn about their experiences and memorable moments.

During the trip, students joined home visits, volunteer teaching, a water safety talk, and a project to help protect local water sources. These experiences provided opportunities to put into practice what they had learnt in the College’s General Education Service-Learning Courses. Through daily interactions and conversations with the villagers, students gained a deeper understanding of the community needs. For example, the challenges faced by left-behind children and the villagers’ strong desire for better access to educational resources. Each student shared personal reflections. Service-Learning is not just about completing tasks. It is about showing genuine care, being present and walking side by side with the people they serve. 

The students also shared that although the village environment was modest, the villagers’ warmth and sincerity shone through. Despite the scorching sun and dripping sweat, the villagers wore ceremonial attire and welcomed the students with drums and gongs in a grand procession. They also served with their most delicious hometown dishes. Through their heartfelt hospitality, the students felt truly honoured and appreciated.

Following the sharing session, Master Mok hosted a luncheon at Connexion, the College’s staff common room, in honour of Dr. Pang. All the guests, teachers and students continued to exchange stories from the journey, and explored directions and ways to create a positive change in the community through action.