Inaugural Tri Uni-Y Service Trip to Laos: Live, Love, Laos

Inaugural Tri Uni-Y Service Trip to Laos: Live, Love, Laos

From 10 to19 July 2025, a diverse team of 20 Uni-Y students from the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, Taichung YMCA, and YMCA of Singapore came together for a meaningful 10-day service trip to Laos. Hosted by YMCA Laos, this is a first-of-its-kind collaboration aimed to promote environmental sustainability through a "Green School" initiative at XangHai School in Luang Prabang.

Working alongside YMCA Laos, the youth volunteers engaged in a range of impactful activities, from teaching students environmental conservation to building a garden-farm on the school premises. The team also painted the school building and refurbished classroom ceilings, contributing to the school’s aspiration of earning a “Green School” rating.

Despite language barriers and differing expectations, the spirit of service united the teams from the 3 Ys as one. One participant shared, “Through this trip, I experienced the transformative power of community. Despite the physically demanding work, the warmth and unwavering support of the Lao volunteers lifted our spirits. I was especially moved by the unity shared across cultures as we encouraged one another through simple gestures and shared purpose.”

A particularly touching moment occurred during a wall-painting session when a volunteer found her hands covered in paint. A local Lao woman noticed her struggle and sent someone to fetch petrol oil to scrub the paint off, all while getting her own hands messy in the process. This simple act of kindness captured the essence of the trip — mutual care, compassion, and community.

The cultural exchange extended beyond service work. Living and working closely with people from different backgrounds fostered cross-cultural communication and emotional sensitivity. Volunteers discovered that connection often transcends language —  sometimes all it takes is a smile or a kind word to build trust and friendship.

The trip concluded with a vibrant cultural day. In the morning, volunteers hosted a carnival for the students, followed by a cultural food fair where they prepared dishes from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan for the local Laotian community. It was a joyful celebration of unity, culture, and shared experiences among the local community and peers from the participating YMCAs.

As participant Ai Jie reflected, “Laos taught me how to live, how to love and be loved, be part of something greater than myself, and give back to the world.”