HKMU's first service-learning trip to Africa – A group of students who won the Service-Learning Challenge: Make a Difference in your Community! 2023/2024 travelled to Uganda, Africa, at the end of July for a 14-day trip.

During the trip, HKMU students visited two primary schools and one secondary school to provide voluntary teaching and support the “Keep a Girl to School” team. They served a total of 1,670 students and distributed 4,168 sets of sanitary products to help female students stay in school.

The students planned and conducted all teaching activities, including designing content and preparing materials. Apart from activities centered around Hong Kong culture, students also shared remarkable stories of women in Hong Kong to inspire local female students to build confidence.

In addition to voluntary teaching, HKMU students also carried out a renovation project at a local primary school in the slums. The school suffers from flooding and crumbling walls. To improve the learning environment, the students fundraised for renovations before leaving and spent three days painting the school.

2023/24年都大首個服務學習比賽共有11隊學生設計並實踐不同領域的社會服務工作。其中的得獎學生代表於2024年7月出發前往非洲烏干達進行十四日服務學習之旅。

是次旅程中，學生共到訪了兩所小學和一所中學，為當地學校提供義教並協助「讓女孩上學去」團隊，他們共服務了1,670名學生，並分發了4,168套衛生用品，讓當地女學生可以繼續上學。

參與的學生代表需要親自策劃服務圑的內容，包括設計課程及準備義教教材。課程内容除了提及香港的習俗文化外，學生更分享了香港女性的傑出故事，以激勵當地女學生建立信心。

除了義教外，學生還為受到洪水侵襲並有牆壁脫落問題的貧民窟小學進行了翻新工程。學生在出發前先進行了維修工程的籌款，其後更在當地用了三天的時間親歷親為進行翻新。

“I am grateful to have joined this team and met wonderful friends who inspire me to approach life with more positivity, courage, and empathy.”

I cannot believe our 14-day trip to Uganda ended in the blink of an eye. I used to think of Africa as distant and mysterious, shaped by documentaries and vlogs. I am grateful to have explored Uganda, finding it far more complex than expected.

The real reward was learning about positive thinking from Ugandans. When we arrived, we noticed their humour and love for jokes, singing, and dancing. Initially, I saw them as simple and cheerful, but as we met more people, I realized their behaviour hides the challenges they face. They deal with unemployment, gender discrimination, traffic jams, and corruption but choose positivity to improve their lives. They are full of dreams and plans for the future.

On our second day in Uganda, we visited a cultural center where they performed local dances and music. The host expressed gratitude for our visit, explaining that the performance helps preserve their cultural heritage for future generations. In Hong Kong, we rarely discuss dreams and the future, often feeling confused and scared to chase them, focusing on reality and money instead. I will remember what I learned in Uganda: choose what I love and stop overthinking, as they say, “Hakuna Matata.”

During the trip, I learned to love and care more. We visited single mothers and widows in Ugandan slums and a village built by Watoto. Women there face many challenges, like being told to be wives and dealing with period poverty, which forces girls to leave school. The most unforgettable visit was to two mothers living in slums. The poor conditions—trash-filled rivers and tiny, windowless rooms- shocked us. Many people there are HIV-positive and abandoned by their families.

Unlike those in Watoto’s village, mothers in the slums seemed to have lost hope. I felt grateful for their courage in sharing their stories, and I hugged them, realizing the power of physical touch in showing care and respect. This experience taught me the importance of expressing love through small acts, fostering a deep connection despite our different lives.

Looking back on my memories of Uganda, my reflections have deepened. We were lucky to see spectacular views on safari, but I cherish the interactions with Ugandans and my team even more. This trip was entirely of love and care. I am grateful to have joined this team and met wonderful friends who inspire me to approach life with more positivity, courage, and empathy. This journey has left a lasting mark on my heart and mind.