Nepal Service Learning Trip (Jan 24)
Collaborating with Light On Charity, a team of 15 HKUST students and staff embarked on a service learning trip to Lamjung, the mountainous area in Nepal in Jan 2024. This journey provided a unique platform for participants to immerse themselves in serving the local community, engaging with children and villagers, delving into Nepalese customs, and contemplating the essence of life.
Prior to the trip, attendees participated in preparatory workshops, deepening their understanding of Nepalese culture and the unique challenges faced by the local villagers. Armed with foundational knowledge in design thinking from these sessions, participants meticulously crafted, tested, and implemented activity and teaching plans tailored for the local community.
Following a journey involving a 6-hour bus ride, a 2-hour rugged jeep journey, participants eventually reached the village, devoid of modern amenities. Embracing the rustic lifestyle, they resided with host families, embracing a meat-free, shower-free, and Wi-Fi-free existence, gaining profound insights into rural Nepalese living.
The focal point of their service initiatives was Shree Ganga Milan School, a brief 20-minute walk from the homestay village. Over a four-day period, participants conducted classes in various career orientation topic, and menstrual hygiene, contributing tangibly through activities such as wall painting and farming.
Beyond their contributions to the local community, fostering personal growth was a key objective of the trip. Through group discussions and experiential activities, participants were encouraged to engage in self-reflection, live in the present, collaborate effectively, and embody the spirit of positive change. These experiences heightened their social consciousness, empowering them to recognize their individual capacity to effect meaningful change within society.
Throughout the trip, students not only made a positive impact on the lives of the primary school children but also gained invaluable personal growth through the meaningful relationships they built.
