Empowering youth through training

February 11, 2024

Adventurous activities:

Students participating in the scheme sharpen their problem-solving skills through orienteering.

Team-building exercise:

Participants discover that the low ropes course is a physical and mental challenge that requires a combination of teamwork and skills.

Lesson launch:

Students improve their critical thinking skills while building a Roman catapult using only bamboo branches and ropes.

Gratifying outcome:

Civil Aid Service Tactical Force Emergency Rescue Training Office Section Leader Yeung Ching-yi, one of the scheme’s instructors, says witnessing the students master the games is highly rewarding.

Essential skills:

The Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps Training Office Staff Officer Yeung Ching-fung (left) hopes to take students back to nature by providing them with tailor-made outdoor activities while Operations & Training Officer (Public Education) Siu Po-wa says such activities enable the participants to experience the mission and values of the service.

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Voiceover:

These Primary 5 students left their classrooms and arrived at the Civil Aid Service Yuen Tun Camp located in Tai Lam Country Park to experience a series of outdoor activities.

They have a packed schedule with three activities that are specially designed for them, including orienteering.

The kids are then divided into groups of five and tasked with locating seven checkpoints according to the orienteering map instructions. They must finish their tasks, which involve puzzle and riddle solving, at each checkpoint to earn points.

Apart from having a sharp mind, students need team spirit if they want to conquer the low ropes course.

In this one-day activity, they also got to learn how to build a Roman catapult from scratch, using only bamboo branches and ropes.

They describe the experience as highly enjoyable.

Primary 5 student Cai Chi-shing (Translation):

It is really fun and I learnt a lot playing the games, such as teamwork and perseverance.

Primary 5 student Raphael Mao (Translation)

I love the low ropes course the most because I learnt to co-operate with others.

Voiceover:

Such challenging feats are part of the Youth Potential Development Scheme organised by Civil Aid Service. The scheme offers a range of free activities for teenagers. 

This Civil Aid Service training officer stressed that she was pleased to see the students mastering the games.

Civil Aid Service Tactical Force Emergency Rescue Training Office Section Leader Yeung Ching-yi (Translation):

These activities not only foster teamwork and co-operation but also enhance leadership skills.

The youth are our future, so we hope they possess these characteristics.

Voiceover:

Knowing that good communication skills are key to students’ future success, the instructors hope their problem-solving abilities are considerably improved as a result of this experience.

Civil Aid Service Cadet Corps Training Office Staff Officer Yeung Ching-fung (Translation):

Children nowadays are often glued to their mobile devices. So we bring them back to nature, hoping they get out of the Internet world to interact and communicate with others in-person.

Voiceover:

The scheme is managed by the Public Education Section of the Civil Aid Service. Since its establishment in August 2020, it has successfully organised over 150 activities, benefiting more than 10,000 individuals. 

What’s more, schools and organisations can apply for tailor-made activities.

Civil Aid Service Operations & Training Officer (Public Education) Siu Po-wa (Translation):

By aligning these activities with the daily duty scope of the Civil Aid Service, the scheme enables young participants to experience the mission and values of the service.

Voiceover:

The Civil Aid Service says that by way of the scheme, it is equipping the leaders of tomorrow with essential life skills and inspiring them to make a positive impact on society.

Apart from regular lessons at school, the Civil Aid Service believes that outdoor education is essential for students to gain experiential knowledge.

The Civil Aid Service provides alternative learning paths for teenagers under the Youth Potential Development Scheme that works to equip the city’s future leaders with essential life skills and inspire them to make a positive impact on society.

Hands-on learning

As an example of such learning, a group of Primary 5 students left their classrooms and arrived at the service’s Yuen Tun Camp located in Tai Lam Country Park where the Civil Aid Service had prepared three outdoor activities for them.

One of the activities was orienteering. After participants formed groups of five, they were tasked with locating seven checkpoints, according to the orienteering map instructions, where mini tasks involving riddle and puzzle solving awaited orienteers.

Another activity called for conquering the low ropes course where students had to work together to pass through obstacles.

One such student, Raphael Mao, described it as the ultimate team-building experience that he thoroughly enjoyed.

“At first we were bad at it and fell a lot. But I learnt to co-operate with others.”

The final activity involved students working together to build components of a Roman catapult using bamboo branches and ropes. The goal was to show them that such hands-on learning helps cultivate problem-solving abilities. As a bonus, parts of the catapult were used in more fun games.

Effective strategy

Before organising such activities, the Civil Aid Service explained that it must first understand the needs and desires of the participants. The objective of the three activities on this particular day was geared towards enhancing the students’ communication and problem-solving skills in addition to building resilience.

Tactical Force Emergency Rescue Training Office Section Leader Yeung Ching-yi was pleased to see students enjoying themselves, and said she hoped the activities made them far more knowledgeable.

As one of the instructors of the scheme, the service’s Cadet Corps Training Office Staff Officer Yeung Ching-fung noticed that interpersonal communication is becoming increasingly rare because students rely on their mobile devices too much.

“Nowadays most of the kids are glued to their phones.

“We took them back to nature, hoping to temporarily detach them from the digital world.”

Tailor-made activities

The scheme is managed by public education section of the Civil Aid Service.

Since its establishment in August 2020, the section has successfully organised over 150 activities, benefiting more than 10,000 individuals.

The scheme is catered to the needs of schools and organisations, offering tailor-made activities that are designed to equip youngsters with essential life skills and inspire them to make a positive impact on society.

Civil Aid Service Operations & Training Officer (Public Education) Siu Po-wa pointed out that each activity has its own unique features.

“The activities are aligned with the daily duty scope of the Civil Aid Service, enabling young participants to experience the mission and values of the service.”