Reaching Out Award
Recipients in the 2023/24 Academic Year
Chan Ka Yin
Associate in Business (Hospitality Management)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Hong Kong Community College
I am deeply honoured to have received the Reaching Out Award. With the sponsorship of the award, I joined the Okinawa Overseas Volunteer Camp co-organised by the CPCE Student Affairs Office of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the YMCA.
It has always been my dream to work towards a common goal with people of shared aspiration. When I embarked on the tour, I was a bit anxious whether I could get along well with other tour members as I had no prior acquaintance within the group. However, I soon found out that my worries were unnecessary. Through participation in volunteer service and cultural exchange activities, we created memorable moments and formed strong bonds with one another. Whether it was reviewing our Japanese-written activity materials, planning game activities for school visits, or preparing gifts for the homeowners in Yomitan Village, we exchanged ideas, put our thoughts into practice, exercised our talents and worked as a cohesive team to support each other. After all the hard work, it is especially satisfying to see the smiles of our service targets and our endeavours come to fruition.
There are frequent occasions to communicate in foreign language on the foreign land. I felt fortunate that I knew some basic Japanese. This enabled me to engage in conversations with Miss Fusako, the kind homeowner who generously hosted us in Yomitan Village. With great patience, she always talked to me slowly and used gestures to help me understand what she meant. During our stay, Miss Fusako took us to the nearby beach and the Zakimi Castle Ruins for sightseeing. She also shared with us a wide range of knowledge, from the flora surrounding her home to the art of playing the sanshin, an Okinawan traditional instrument. I was deeply impressed by her extensive knowledge and enthusiastic approach to life. In return, we informed her of the names of certain places in Hong Kong that she had visited and helped her record the Chinese characters in her travel journal. Given the stark differences between Hong Kong and Okinawa, things that we considered ordinary sometimes amazed Miss Fusako. This inspires me to look at familiar people and things from multiple perspectives, which is a key takeaway of this trip.
The six-day service tour carries great significance. In this rewarding trip, I gained precious experience and broadened my horizons through volunteer service and cultural immersion. I am glad that I joined this wonderful journey.
Last Review Date: 05/08/2024