Sixteen students completed a fruitful trip to Vietnam during the summer holiday, working with locals in a rural village to improve the learning environment for their children as part of an intensive leadership programme.

The Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD), organised by CUHK’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA), made a comeback this year after the initial launch last year received very positive response from students eager to expand their horizons.

Combining overseas service-learning opportunities with leadership training, LEAD help students develop sensitivity to cope with cultural differences and the ability to work closely with local organisations in responding to the needs of the local community.

The students received four months of leadership before travelling to Vietnam in June. In a village in Hanoi (pictured above), home to 200 people, the students improved the environment of a kindergarten and renovated play facilities to meet safety standards. They also spent time playing with the children.

Heidi Luk Hoi-ki, a Year Three nursing student, finds the trip a rewarding experience. “Being away from the city and the Internet gave me space for self-reflection and growth… As we strive for success in life, we become less calculating and more motivated to serve others.”

Meanwhile, the OSA’s I·CARE Achievers Programme 2023-24 concluded before the summer break with more participants this year. Between February and June, a total of 285 students took part in different activities including mindfulness yoga, a visit to Tsz Shan Monastery, a seminar, guided art museum tours and a comedy show. With the theme “unlocking the potential with self-transcendence”, the programme aimed to enhance participants’ self-awareness, foster appreciation of beauty and the ability of find humour in everyday life.