Blog | Social Service Award Scheme
- Cloverlist
- Aug 6, 2020
- 3 min read
(Notes: this is an article and a letter of advice to my fellows after receiving the Social Service Award during my Secondary studies.)
Actually I have forgotten what I have listed in the Social Service Award Scheme after the public examination. The secret of achieving this award is to check the eclass inbox regularly and spare a few minutes to insert the data before the deadline.
Just kidding.
Why volunteer? For me, it is a chance to gain exposure to the community as well as sparkling new ideas and clashes. Participating in voluntary work allows you to meet new friends with different backgrounds and learn how to get along with people in different age groups. For example, being an active listener of the elderly, especially to those who live alone during home visits, as they are longing for someone who would accompany them for a while. You learn to be very patient in front of a group of kids and manage their overstimulated behaviours after playtime (which I had encountered during my church summer playgroup).
Secondly, you can acquire knowledge and experience in volunteering. Engaging in some of the volunteer work can improve your employment prospects. For example, I had volunteered myself in the “World Youth & Children’s Choir Festival” in 2018 and 2019 which gave me a glance on how to coordinate and operate music events. Enrolling in the “M+ Docent Volunteer Programme” and “Young Friends of Heritage” organized by the Wester Kowloon District Authority and the Antiquities and Monuments Office allow me to perceive an in-depth knowledge in culture and art.
Thirdly, which is the most important, volunteering is meant to be “giving back and sharing”. I have spent most of my childhood and summer seasons in my neighbourhood community. When I was being promoted in secondary, I realized that I could not join any of the activities because of exceeding the age limit. And that’s the reason why I participate in volunteer work - where I can still “go for fun” while assist to look after the youngsters, as a “take and give”.
The following is a list of useful web links that let you engage in community activities (what I have done
/ I am doing right now)
1. Run to Your Home跑去你屋企 (Elderly home visit, once in twice a month)
2. Friends of Heritage 文物之友 (Docent services, lectures and workshops on heritage)
(I was one of the member of the “Young Friends of Heritage” and the application is only opened to Secondary 1 students twice a year only.)
3. M+ Docent Volunteer Programme (Please stay tuned for applications)
4. Hong Kong Playground Association (All-year recruitment of volunteer, in all service units)
(Does anyone have join activities held by HKPA?)
5. Crossroads Foundation 國際紅十字路會 (NGO, global distribution and humanitarian services)
(You will be invited to join a tour in the headquarters once you have signed up. Volunteer work including packaging of goods and handyman is done in their headquarters in Tuen Mun)
Participating volunteer work can give you a break from the heavy academic work, especially for outdoor visiting in the Mother Nature. Of course, you should put academics as the first priority (I sometimes doubt whether I could get higher grades in DSE if I was not volunteered myself too much in last summer, but it’s over and I would not like to think too much) and be aware of time-management.
Studying hard makes good grades in your transcript. Volunteering yourself is an investment of social bonding, life skills and career. They are not in contradiction. Why not volunteer?
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