Lingnan’s first Belt and Road Service-Learning programme in Central Asia

To strengthen academic, Service-Learning and cultural exchange with “Belt and Road” countries, the Office of Service-Learning has launched its first “Belt and Road Service-Learning Programme in Central Asia” from 30 June to 14 July.

Participants of the programme included eleven Lingnan students and four staff members.  They visited three countries in Central Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan when they paid visits to and exchanged with local higher education institutes and non-governmental organisations to learn about the culture, history and ecology of these countries.  The group also drove seven hours to the Aral Sea, once the world’s fourth largest body of inland water, to learn about the remarkable shrinkage and water sustainability issue.  After they return to Hong Kong from the trip, students will work on a policy paper to provide constructive suggestions in fostering participation of youth in Hong Kong in “Belt and Road”-related academic and cultural activities.  Below is a piece of sharing by Ellie Lai Sze-tung (Philosophy Year 2), one of our participants:

“During a visit to a local university, I had a valuable experience meeting with and talking to some local university students.  Before joining this programme, I thought the life pace in Uzbekistan would be much slower than in Hong Kong and school life would be less intense.  To my surprise, students there are not only studious but also very keen on campus activities and community service.  Their passion for study, confidence in future and determination to serve the society is way beyond my expectation.  Although Uzbekistan is still at a developing stage, its students strongly believe that their home country will become stronger in future.  Their never-give-up spirit does deserve our respect!”