Reel Good 2025-2026
Dr Amanda Friday (Counselling Psychologist)
Dr Ken Fung (Clinical Psychologist)
Mr Simon Liu (RSW, The Salvation Army Shamshuipo Family Support Networking Team)
Fortress Hill Methodist Secondary School
Organized by HKUST Connect, this is a brand-new program that provides an alternative approach to community service—demonstrating that impact can be created not only through hands-on work, but also through the stories we capture and share. The program equips students with practical filmmaking skills using mobile devices. Through hands-on training, participants learn essential techniques in camera operation, lighting, editing, and storytelling, while exploring social issues relevant to Hong Kong.
In Fall 2025, participants attended orientation and workshops to connect with teammates and build a foundation in filmmaking. They gained their first practical experience by filming highlights of various service events, marking their first time fliming on-site.
During the semester break, participants formed groups to identify social issues that resonated with them. They conducted research, prepared interview plans and developing filming strategies.
In Spring 2026, participants began filming interviews related to their chosen topics. Supported by editing workshops and consultations, they produced a series of videos and reels addressing diverse social issues. These works were showcased across campus digital platforms, reflecting students’ curiosity about the community and raising awareness of different social challenges.
This program not only provides an alternative way to serve the community beyond hands-on work, but also encourages students to rethink the power of social media and individual influence. By sharing stories about social issues on digital platforms, participants help raise awareness, inspire others, and amplify the potential for collective action within the community.
Student Sharing
“The Reel Good Program has reshaped how I think about what a camera is for. Before, it was primarily a tool for capturing what I found visually interesting. Now, I see it as something capable of building bridges between people who might never otherwise interact, between a university student and a street cleaner, between a viewer and a teenager navigating life with ADHD.”
Ronald Leung
SSCI, Year 4
“After completing the Reel Good Program, I have developed an additional layer of understanding. By leveraging the quiet power of media and storytelling to increase people's awareness, help them learn more about important issues or communities, and guide them toward understanding what they can do to help themselves or others, one could also be a ‘changemaker’ as he or she equips audiences with the knowledge and motivation to act, facilitating the building of a society rooted in awareness, compassion, and positive action, which is also contributing in making positive changes.”
Mandy HUI
SBM, Year 2