Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong’s initiative – “Pandemic Can’t Stop the Service Heart”

Last Updated (Thursday, 29 April 2021 16:01)

Pandemic Can’t Stop the Service Heart of Volunteers of University & College YMCA, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all walks of life for more than one year locally and worldwide. Frontline service workers, including street cleaners, security guards stationed in residential areas and drivers of public transportation, have been working hard hour by hour to maintain the daily operation of the city. To express our gratitude to all these unsung heroes, "Joint-U Caregiving Service: Heroes in Times of Pandemic" was successfully held on 10 April 2021. Nearly 150 youth volunteers from the Alliance of University & College YMCAs of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (the "Alliance" hereafter) gathered to prepare and give away gift packs to over 650 service targets across different districts in Hong Kong. These gift packs consisted of rice, masks, daily goods and handmade gifts such as face shields, mask keepers and coasters.

Since 2013, the Alliance was established to strengthen the linkage between different university & college YMCA units to organise large-scale events to bring positive impacts to the society. During the early stage of the pandemic, all sports grounds and elderly centres in Hong Kong were closed. In view of this, the Alliance held a Joint-U Mixed Mode Charity Challenge namely "Operation Hak1 Chill" in November 2020 to raise fund for the physical well-being of the elderly people. All fund raised was used to purchase handy fitness equipment such as water-filled dumbbells, resistant bands and grip balls to encourage elderly people to do simple workout at home. Participants of the event also conducted workshops to teach the elderly people the proper use of these equipment afterwards. Besides, the event had created opportunities for nearly 100 participants to foster friendship with peers from other universities.