What are the distinctive features of Service-Learning at PolyU?

What makes Service-Learning at PolyU different?  Many PolyU persons like to claim that we are the first university in Hong Kong to require all students to take service-learning as credit-bearing courses.  But being the first is just history.  Others can easily catch up. 

Some point to the passion of the leaders and teachers.  However, the ones who create a service-learning program at any university must necessarily be visionary; and any successful program must be backed-up by a group of passionate teachers.  Passion is required but not sufficient.  

We are proud of the strong impact of some of our projects.  But many universities have also carried out impactful projects.  We send hundreds of students to carry out projects in foreign countries.  But many universities also have impressive international projects.  

We conduct research and publish in academic journals, we organise staff training for many.  But so do many others. … 

Ultimately, we believe it is the confluence of three beliefs and their successful realisation that makes our program distinctive:

1. We believe that service-learning is the best way to nurture civic engagement, hence we require all undergraduates to take at least one credit-bearing course in service-learning; and we successfully developed sufficient high-quality courses to enrol more than 4 thousand students a year. 
2. We believe that all academic disciplines have something to offer to address the needs of the community; and roughly 90% of our academic departments are offering at least one SL course.  
3. We believe Service-Learning is fundamentally general education, broadening the scope of a student’s education.  Hence a SL course is generally anchored in a specific  academic discipline, but open to students from other disciplines.  The majority of SL courses at PolyU are like this.  The rest (less than 25%) are discipline-specific courses designed for students who major in that discipline.  

For example, SL courses offered by computing and electrical engineering admit students from engineering, nursing, design, business, language, …, teach them basic electricity principles and how to use hand tools, and sends them to install solar panels in Cambodia and Rwanda.  A SL course offered by textiles takes students from textiles, design,  but also engineering, …, teaches them clothes making, and sends them to help recovering mental patients design their own fashion. 

That is what truly make Service-Learning at PolyU distinctive.  It is the nature and strength of these basic beliefs, their confluence, and the fact that we have been able to turn these beliefs into reality, that makes it distinctive.  

Youths a Lost Generation?

It seems quite fashionable among certain groups to lament the youths’ failings - lack of  drive and ambition, lying flat, being lazy, taking things for granted, wanting to enjoy life without having to work hard, complaining rather than working to solve the problem, etc.  Many who espouse such views seem to be adult males. Some seem to consider themselves successful in life - possibly because the success gives them the confidence to speak out, or simply because those who consider themselves less successful are too busy to speak?  

Often, however, these opinions seem to be based on perceptions rather than rigorous research, or even large amounts of data.  Surely, if large numbers of people - particularly if it is people who hold the power - believe in something, then it deserves attention.  Because it is going to have an impact - simply because these people have power.  But not necessarily because it is true.  In fact, it is pretty unfair if it is not true.  

At this point, it is not quite sure whether that sentiment reflects reality.  There really does not seem to be a lot of rigorous research on the matter, beyond anecdotal statements and beliefs.  Perhaps the current generation of youths are no worse than the previous generation (or generations)?  Perhaps it is common practice that every generation of adults lament the youths of their days?  When someone feels being successful in life, one may be psychologically predisposed to feel that one’s success is due to hard work, rather than good fortune or external assistance, whether that is true or not.  Starting from this assumption, one is inclined to think that if the youths desire similar success, they should just work hard, but not to expect any favours from anyone.  In reality, however, circumstances, fortune, and assistance may play a significant role in one’s life.  Hard work is only one of the factors. 

And what if the sentiment (that the quality of current generations of youths is “poor”)  truly reflects the reality?  What is the cause of this reality?  Are the current generation of youths born that way?  Or they simply decide to give up? Perhaps their “poor” attitude is the result of a hostile environment - created or at least partially moulded by the current generation of adults who have been in power?  In that case, aren’t the adults responsible for the “undesirable” situation?      

  

Home-made souvenir

When our team was in Rwanda, the students were excited about what souvenirs they would buy, and how much money did they need to exchange for the Rwanda Franc in order to make the purchases.  

I took the opportunity to show them some souvenir that I made myself - caps of bottles that I flattened with a hammer into flat disks.  These made perfect gifts.  They are obviously local and authentic, often with the name of the country stamped on it.  They are colourful and many are associated with local attractions.  They generally cannot be found outside of the country. They are small and easy to carry.  Above all, they cost you nothing but some exercise of your muscle.  And it is home-made - not completely, but at least you did flatten it.  Each is unique, slightly different from all others.  What is more, if you hammer it the right way, the cap will not be completely flat but rather slightly concave or convex.  Pressing on it will make a click/clack sound as it flips from being concave to convex, and back.  

Another way to play with it is to drill two small holes in it, pass a string through each hole, twist the strings on each side together in the same direction and pull - the unwinding of the twisted strings will make the disk spin.  One disk can then fight another - each trying to cut the other’s strings with the spinning sharp edge.  This was a popular game when we were small. 

I thought the students might scoff at such a simple idea.  But some actually liked it and  started to race to collect the caps from soft drink bottles.  Late at night, I could hear  loud banging outside my window.  At first I was puzzled by the source of the banging.  But quickly I realised that I was the original cause of it, and really couldn’t complain.  

I still think it is a good idea. 

  

Of course many are leaving

We all have many friends and relatives who have left Hong Kong, or are leaving.  So many students and teachers have left that school officials are worried, and scrambling to fill those places.  Many positions in universities, businesses, organisations, etc., have become vacant.  These positions are being filled, creating more openings, greatly increasing staff turnover, forcing administrators to take unusual action to retain productive staff.  Many administrators are worried that some people may be promoted to positions which they cannot really handle, so great is the need created when so many  experienced professional are leaving.  

Some pro-establishment types scoff at those who emigrate to foreign countries to become what they consider “second class” citizens.  They claim that these recent emigrants will only be able to find low-pay jobs.  That they will not fit in.  That they will feel alienated and unfulfilled.  And in general, that “the moon is not bigger in foreign countries”.  

It may be true, and it may not.  Many new emigrants are professionals who have studied and lived overseas, who may be able to adapt fairly well.  Some may indeed be less than well-prepared.  But it seems many have friends and and can make new friends quickly. Many are helping each other, there being so many of them in similar situations.  Indeed many are making serious sacrifices, with their eyes open.  Many do it for their children.  

Why do so many make the sacrifice, knowing the hardship they are facing?  People with young children usually are comparably conservative.   They do not easily leave their comfort zone unless that zone is no longer so comfortable.  The fact that so many vote with their feet, for another country, is serious indication that something is seriously wrong.  Some people can pretend that it is not so, that it is just normal turnover.  Some people may decide to stay for some special reason - a sense of mission or responsibility perhaps.   But there is no hiding from the fact that large numbers of people are suddenly emigrating, that something is seriously wrong.    

 

Quarantine as Retreat

After returning from the two-week project in Rwanda, we were sent to our quarantine hotels for 7 days. I had been through that before, when my wife and I returned from Canada at the end of May, so I had an idea what that is like.   But that last time my wife and I had each other as company.  This time I am alone.  

I decided I would put the time to good use.  First of all, I have to sort out the experience I had in the two weeks in Rwanda, and write them down in a series of blog posts, reports and prayer letter.  At the final reflection session with the students, we asked them how the experience had changed them.  I have to ask myself the same question. The short answer is that this trip reminds me again why I am in service-learning, how it allows me to live out my faith, and how I would love to continue for as long as I can.  

Then I decided to take care of my body, to use the time for exercise. I could not run outside.  But I can run back and forth, or even run in place, for the equivalent of 10 kilometres each day.  When my thighs and lower legs hurt too much, I would walk.  And I do not need any equipment to do pushups, stretch, …  The solitude helps me to listen to my body, and I discover how my body reacts to my running 10 kilometres each day, every day.  It is good to know that I am able to do that, if I do it slowly.  Well, perhaps every other day.  

Part of the time is used to catch up with my reading.  Recently I have been reading about  the brain, consciousness and emotions.  I realise more and more that they are all highly related, and that they have great impact on how we think and feel.  That our emotions drive our thinking, our mind, our decision making, our sense of self, what we believe, and how we live our lives.  This has been helping me understand better how we teach and learn, and how people behave in general.  Also, what, then, does that have to do with our soul, and our faith?  This is so important that I cannot wait to learn more about it.  

Of course I am not in complete solitude. I can still connect with people through social media, telephone and even video calls.  But I am alone most of the time.  And there is no physical contact.  I listened to about 6 sermons online, supplemented by Bible readings.  When there is nobody around, I am compelled to be honest to myself, and God.  What do I truly think of myself? What do I really want to do with my life?  And God?  I may not have a lot of time left.  On the other hand, it is also possible that I still have a lot of time.  It is impossible to know.  In any case I have to make good use of my time.  

On TV, I have an opportunity to watch some channels that I don’t usually watch.  I enjoy particularly one from Japan and another from Singapore.  They seem to cover a broader range of topics to greater depth and sound more objective than many of the channels normally available at home. Once in a while, I can enjoy a movie, such as “Coco” that other evening.  All of these almost make me want to stay longer.  Almost, but not quite.  I cam ready to go home to my wife, and my “normal” life. 

Rwanda Faces

Over the part 10 years, I have encountered many memorable faces in Rwanda.  

Laughing mothers with colourful clothes and headdress carrying babies on their backs.  Teachers, male and female.  Professors teaching our students on Rwandan culture and history.  Old farmers with deep lines on their faces.  Elegant old ladies in colourful dresses.  Boys selling avocado.  A farmer boy proud of his squash.  A farmer raising rabbits.  A farmer raising sheep and goats.  Little girls carrying 10 kg of water in jerry can on their heads.   Little girls carrying her little brother on her back.  A student learning welding.  Marathon runners.  A young father carrying his child.  A boy with a cross I made for him out of a corn stalk.  A boy wearing an eye-glass frame I made for him out of a piece of iron wire. A girl playing with a box I made for her from a box that carried a solar electrical controller. A female student from an elite high school.  A young man delivering milk on a bicycle.  People going to church on their best Sunday clothes.  Motorcycle riders delivering food from the market. A student from the University of Rwanda.  

All in all, a people no different from you and I. God loves us all.  

Beautiful Rwanda

I have many beautiful memories of Rwanda.

Some scenery are beautiful in themselves.  

No explanation needed.

Some are particularly memorable because of the events associated with them. 

Some are because of the people associated with them. 

Some are because of the mood (mostly mine) associated with them. 

Much are a mixture of a variety of factors. 

All together, they make Rwanda very special in my heart.