Barrier-free exploration journey exemplifies spirit of social integration
Michelle Leung
Participants of the journey; Mr Choy Ka-yu, Warden, Boarding Section of PAS; Mr Allen Chan Kam-yuen, sponsor of the journey and Chairperson of Rehabilitative Affairs Sub-committee at Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth; and Dr Elaine Au Liu Suk-ching, Convenor of CYEP and Associate Professor at CityU’s Department of Applied Social Sciences.
Volunteers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and students from Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School (PAS) reflected on what they had learned on their “Barrier-free Exploration Journey” in Taipei during a sharing session on 19 March.
Last summer, 12 volunteers from City-Youth Empowerment Project (CYEP), a university-wide volunteering scheme, and eight disabled students from PAS went to Taipei to experience the barrier-free culture there. During the journey, PAS students, with the help of CYEP volunteers, learned how Taiwan promoted barrier-free culture through various channels, including education, living environment and the workplace. The journey broadened their views, inspired their personal development and encouraged them to learn.
Launched in 2005 by CityU, CYEP is a non-credit bearing service learning project that aims to enhance students’ awareness of social issues and encourage them to actively participate in community services by helping the underprivileged and the needy.