Cultivating future leaders with CUHK spirits
Upon completing training of the Office of Student Affairs’ (OSA) Leadership Enhancement And Development (LEAD) Programme, 40 students paid a service trip to South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Nepal from late December 2023 to early January 2024 to serve the local communities by applying what they have learnt.
Dedicated to fostering students’ whole-person development, the Student Experience and Development Section (SEDS) of OSA, launched the pilot LEAD Programme in September 2023. The programme aims to achieve a range of learning outcomes that echo with CUHK’s educational ethos by combining leadership training and outbound service-learning opportunities.
The purpose of organising the LEAD Programme is two-fold. First, for CUHK students, it’s about nurturing a strong sense of social responsibility, cultural appreciation, and global citizenship. Secondly, over 1,500 service recipients, in turn, benefit from improved living standards and a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s culture and youth.
The 40 students engaged in the training from September to December 2023 that emphasises the development of self-understanding, soft skills, team building and goal setting. The students then culminated in a two-week service learning tour during Christmas and New Year time (end of December 2023 to early January 2024) to South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Arthur Lam Pak-hei, a year 3 student majoring in Education of Mathematics and Mathematics Education, and one of the South Africa team leaders, reflected on his learning experience: “Distributing food packs to those in need touched us all deeply. The warmth of our hosts and the resilience of the community we served were profoundly inspiring. This trip reinforced my commitment to kindness and community service.”
Lincoln Cheung Ho-wai, a year 2 student majoring in Gerontology and one of the Sri Lanka team leaders, said: “The LEAD programme pushed me out of comfort zone and allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life. It was a journey of self-discovery that helped me find my voice.”
Chloe Chow Chit, a year 4 student studying Chinese Medicine, and led the team in Nepal, stated: “Teaching Nepali children about environmental conservation was incredibly rewarding. The simplicity and joy they exhibited were humbling and have reshaped my approach to education and service.”
The 40 students of the LEAD programme have expressed profound gratitude for their experiences. During their reflections, they acknowledged the strengths and weaknesses of every team member contributed to shape their team. This is the evidence to show their evolution as future leaders through appreciating each other. Their journey in LEAD programme has concluded, but their commitment as a global citizen will carry on. What they have experienced will continue to flourish in the community.
