Service Learning Trip

(Cancelled) Community Outreach Program (COP) 2020 - Indonesia

Program Schedule
13 Jul - 6 Aug 2020
Whole Day
Indonesia
Enquiry

Eva Shek (saevashek@ust.hk)

UN Sustainable Development Goals
HKUST CONNECT SDG GOALS
HKUST CONNECT SDG GOALS

Update on 10 March 2020:
On 6 Mar 2020, the HKSAR Government Department of Health issued advice for the public to consider delaying all non-essential travel outside of Hong Kong. In response to the rapidly evolving global health situation surrounding COVID-19 and holding the health, safety and best interests of our students as our highest priority, the University decided to suspend all outbound student activities to take place outside of Hong Kong during the Summer Term. Hence, all Service Learning Trips organized / coordinated by HKUST Connect this Summer Term will be suspended. If you have any questions, please contact us.


Community Outreach Program (COP), organized by Petra Christian University, is an inter-discipline educational activity set to give an international service learning experience to university students. Through living in the community with people of different nationality, participants can develop their global perspective and enhance interpersonal skills.

COP has been running for more than 20 years. Every year, students from various countries in Asia and Europe including Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and Netherlands will join hands to solve community problems. The program provides an excellent opportunity for students to mingle with people from all over the world. During the intensive 2-4 weeks' time, students will have chances to handle several major and minor projects. They can learn to work and live together with people from different backgrounds which in turn widen their cultural exposure and strengthen their communication skills.

If you want to step out of your comfort zone and get in touch with the wider world, this is the golden chance for you. You will be able to explore the world from a social perspective, as well as work on various projects based on the needs of the community in the rural area. 

For more details, please visit the website of COP and the program highlights of 2019 in the videos here

As the global COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, please check the HK Security Bureau website from time to time for the latest Outbound Travel Alert information of the program destination.

Participants chatting with locals
Participants chatting with locals
Conducting teaching sessions in school
Conducting teaching sessions in school
Participants visiting the local rural village
Participants visiting the local rural village
Helping in construction of infrastructures
Helping in construction of infrastructures
Program Schedule
Activity
Date
Time
Selection interview
25 or 26 March 2020
Preparation meeting (Online)
13 May 2020 (Wed)
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Pre-departure briefing (Face-to-face)
TBC
Service Trip in East Java, Indonesia
13 July - 6 August 2020
Program Content

Students will engage in a variety of community development work, including building public facilities, volunteer teaching and education program support at local schools, etc.

Participants will get day offs on Sundays; however participants are not allowed to leave the regency during the weekends.

For more details, please refer to the program website: http://cop.petra.ac.id/general-information-east-java/

Program Fee & Subsidies

US$460 (approximately HK$3,600)
Eligible participants can apply for the following subsidy schemes to receive subsidy up to HK$9,000 (SSE & SSEBR) / HK$2,700 (Non-means-tested SSEBR). Please check your eligibility here.

  • Subsidy on Exchange for Post-secondary Students (SSE)
  • Subsidy on Exchange to "Belt and Road" Regions for Post-secondary Students (SSEBR)
  • Non-means-tested SSEBR
     

Program fee includes:

  • Program cost
  • Accommodation & meals during stay at the village
  • Accommodation & meals during stay at the hotel 
  • Transportation from airport to residence and vice versa
  • Transportation from the residence to the campus / village
  • Program T-shirt, name tag, COP guidebook, memory book and certificate
  • Some logistics: tissue and water
  • Jacket
     

Program fee does NOT include:

  • Airfare, optional activities, personal expenses, traveler's visa (if applicable) and additional travel insurance

 

Subsidies
 

All participants:

(A) Non-means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to “Belt and Road” Regions for Post-secondary Students (Non-means-tested SSEBR) (DetailsOR

Eligible participants may apply for the subsidy to receive up to HK$2,700 subsidy upon satisfactory completion (#1) of the whole service program.

(B) Connect Overseas Learning Experience Sponsorship Scheme (OLESS) (Details)
Student may apply for OLESS to receive subsidy to cover part of the program fee and airfare. Additional consideration will be given to those with financial need.

Recipients of Tertiary Student Finance Scheme (TSFS) government grant & loan:

(C) Pre-approval of OLESS (Present “Notification of Result” of TSFS during interview)
To help ease their financial burden, TSFS Grant recipients can apply for the pre-approval of OLESS. Approved applicants will only need to pay the remaining program fee after discounting the sponsorship, instead of the full fee up front . Sponsorships are granted subject to the submission of the TSFS notification of result by e-mail to saevashek@ust.hk on or before the application deadline; and satisfactory completion of the program (#1).

TSFS grant awarded Fee payable Subsidy on air ticket(by reimbursement)
>75% of grant US$90 (HK$702) 80% of actual airfare
50-75% of grant US$225 (HK$1,780) 50% of actual airfare
25-50% of grant US$338 (HK$2,670) 25% of actual airfare

Students are expected to apply for SSE or SSEBR from the government (Details). Successful applicants of SSE & SSEBR will be able to get subsidy up to “HK$9,000 x % of TSFS grant received”.

(#1) Satisfactory completion of the whole service program includes attendance, high level of engagement in group preparation tasks, workshops and during the trip, and submission of reflection report. Upon receiving the SSE/ SSEBR/ Non-means-tested SSEBR subsidy, students who have accepted the pre-approved OLESS will be asked to return the subsidy amount, whichever is lower, to HKUST Connect.

Application & Deadline

Application

  • Please complete the online application form.
  • Interviews will be held on 25 or 26 March 2020. Shortlisted applicants will be notified via email.
  • Successful applicants will receive an e-mail about the details and arrangement of the program.

Deadline

  • Application closing date: 23 March 2020 (Mon)

Student's Sharing

The most beneficial gain to me is the determination to oppose biases. Before I came to Indonesia, Muslim for me is very mysterious. They are always paired up with negative news. After living with my Muslim family and working with Muslim villagers for 3 weeks, I finally realize that those negative parts cannot stand for the whole group. People I met are lovely, open-minded and easy-going in fact.

Stacey Mok

SBM Student, Year 2