Impact for Peace
Everyone can make an impact in this world.
Chloe Tsang
BSSc (Govt & Law) IV, HKU
2011 Group 2
Bache Sit
LLB IV ,HKU
2012 Group 2
Sharing Corner- India
The most unforgettable thing that I have experienced on the trip would be poverty of the people. However, their poor living condition does not imply that they are all living in misery. I can always see smiling faces even in such circumstances. Although it may be because they are ignorant of their poor living standard, it seems that they are at least happier than us, the busiest Hong Kong people. After the trip, I really don’t know whether we are in the position to pity them, or maybe we should sympathize ourselves for being so discontent for what we have already possess...
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” That’s what brings me to India for a 6-week service trip.
Though some of the women have never been to school, they still have a strong desire to learn in the Women Centre. I was deeply impressed by their attitude and character when I saw how hard they tried to absorb new knowledge. It is my honor to have the chance to be their teacher for six weeks.
Their attitude reminds me of strength does not lie in what you have but lies in what you can give.
I am very grateful that I am offered the precious opportunity to join the Impact for Peace Vocational Skill Transfer Program in July this year. This trip has really very much broadened my horizon and led me to rethink my meaning of life.
After the trip, I feel weak compared to the big problems in India. I understand that we may not able to contribute much to tackle problems all over the world. However, we can do our best to offer our helping hand. Slight changes can agglomerate into miracle. And what is crucial is not only what changes can we invoke, but also how we are living as a human being. Do what we believe is true and spread love whenever and wherever you can. We may not be able to give out a lot of money, but we can share our love and caring which can bring wholehearted-smile.
After visiting the slums in Kolkata, I completely changed my views towards "helping people". Before the trip, I thought that helping others is about offering the resources we have to bring changes to the lives of others. For example, if a slum community does not have stable houses, we can provide them money and construction materials to build more.
After the trip, I realized that these methods are not sustainable and sometimes even unethical because we are presenting ourselves as being superior over them. I believe that the better way to help them is to provide an opportunity for them to receive education like how Impact for Peace is doing now by sponsoring underprivileged children to go to school. After learning about the disadvantages of their current lifestyles and habits, they can then decide for themselves whether they should change them accordingly.
In this way, we are not forcing them to adopt the lifestyles which we believe is “correct” or "better", but empowering them to make their own decisions. This philosophy of how to help people inspired me to think about pursuing a career in public health because I now believe that if I can teach people to adopt healthier lifestyles many potential diseases can be prevented in a community.
Jason Choi
BSSc (Govt & Law) IV,HKU
2012 Group 2
Henry Wong
MBBS II, HKU
2012 Group 1
What impressed me the most is not the poor living condition of the people living in slum area, but their altitude toward life. Although they don't even have a shelter to live or enough food to eat, they are still optimistic toward their life.
We are so fortunate to live in Hong Kong that we have more than adequate food and clothing. Why we still live in such a hard life? This is because we never satisfy with what we already have. Learn to be satisfied, this is what the Indian people taught me in this trip.
The Indian children's desires of study impresses me a lot. Children do not have enough food but still have strong desires to study. They know that study is the only way to get rid of vicious cycle. I realise how lucky we are. We can have the chance to study. We should share our luck to others. We have the ability of helping others. We should give our helping hands to them like donating Usd100 to support their two-year study. You can also help them and become their angel.
Karen Lau
BPharm III, HKU
2012 Group 1
Sandra Lam
BA III, HKU
2012 Group 1
Doing voluntary service in India was an eye-opening experience for me to get out of my comfort zone and to understand the world. I do not want to take my easy life for granted anymore. Although we were not able to do a lot during the four weeks, we could probably understand what the most urgent need of the underprivileged group in India is and how we can help with first-hand experience. More importantly, this 4 week experience made me a caring and responsible citizen of this world, and equipped me with the intellectual means necessary to translate our concerns into specific deeds. Taking action and spreading awareness, even on a small scale can act as a catalyst to make this world a better place. Although I had left India, I am determined to set foot on that soil again and make an impact to its people.
Sandy Lo
BChinMed III, HKU
2012 Group 2
It is quite true to say that one will not cherish what he has obtained until he lose them. Not until I had this trip will I realise saying I am such a lucky man living in such a developed place is not the ideology implanted by the government but a fact that must not be challenged. During this trip, what we experienced was far beyond what can be conveyed through words and expressions. It is a tough trip, for sure, without air condition in summer, without comfortable public transportation and without a nice apartment. But it is also a trip during which we got precious friendship, we truly helped someone in need of help and we shared joy and sorrow with the ladies in women centre. One cannot truly understand the meaning until he gets this opportunity. But what I can tell now is that you will definitely feel lucky and helpful in this trip. Nevertheless, is there any other thing that can render you happier than helping out someone in need of help?
I decided to join Impact For Peace because I wanted to do what I can in order to help those who are trapped in their positions, unable to improve their lives alone. But my greatest reward from the experience in India was an epiphany of the opposite: “what you want to do” does not come first, “what they need” does. It is essential that we understand fully the situation people are going through before we take actions, so that what we do can truly address their needs. Passion is vital, but it must be supported by purpose and be able to fuel vision. It is not certain whether what we are doing will actually have a significant outcome in the end, all I know now is that we believe in what we are doing. As long as we have the courage to dream and the determination to act, we can contribute in making the world a better place.
Kelvin Pang
BBA (A&F) III, HKU
2012 Group 2
Jacky Yiu
BSc IV, HKU
2012 Group 1
Joyce Yam
MBBS II, HKU
2012 Group 2
A Haitian proverb says, “The rocks in the water don't know how the rocks in the sun feel.” Unless we are willing to venture out of the sheltered bubbles we live in, it is impossible to truly understand the very real problems many of our world face today. Although this is a service trip, I would argue that what I’ve gained from the trip surely outweighs the possible impact on the children and women we’ve worked with. But it's not to say it will continue to be so in the future. It’s stepping into the shoes of another person; because until we do so, it will difficult to enact the changes we wish to see in a world we do not fully understand.
Despite the cultural and language differences between us and the Indians, nothing has barred us from reaching out to them and understand their conditions and the problems they face. The most unforgettable part of the trip is teaching vocational skills to the women. I feel glad to see that all women were so eager to learn and they were enjoying themselves throughout. I really miss the smiles on their faces and the interaction with them. As global citizens, it is time for us to reflect what the underprivileged in other parts of the world are in need of, and to take action to address their problems. Apart from living a hectic life in Hong Kong, why not spare some time to care more about the world and make an impact to it?
Sam Wong
LLB III, HKU
2012 Group 1
Saria Chan
BSc II, HKU
2012 Group 2
Never have I been so grateful to have clean water, a thorough healthcare system, an education and of course a nice AC MTR ride.
During the four weeks, I have experienced real poverty. Hygiene problem is the one that strikes me most. Almost all the children we visited had long sick leaves due to diseases that are totally treatable such as viral infections. I, myself unfortunately got ill during my stay there. Nevertheless, I was able to afford to see a doctor in a private hospital which costs 10 rupees; around HKD$1.3. This amount almost means nothing to us; however, for those who live in slums, it is a luxury for them to consult a doctor and they would be dreaming if they can afford to buy the medicine.
The experience in India was unforgettable. Not only did we try to make an impact in women’s lives but I also to be working with a group of people where we share the same passion and goal; to help the people in need. Even though we did not create clean water systems or revolutionised the health care system. The love and genuine care we had for the women was shown to be powerful. We may never be able to truly understand their lives, it is less about the actual work but more about the attitudes we had and at the very least, we can help spread the words and raise awareness and that’s how we can all MAKE an IMPACT for PEACE.