5A04 CHUNG LAM SAU 鍾淋秀

Last school year, I took part in the Youth Leadership Development Scheme organised by the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) with seven schoolmates in the prefect team. During the summer holiday, I and Liu Lai Na were recommended to participate in a Chiang Mai Overseas Service Trip in Thailand. What impressed me most was the bond and interaction between people.

We started volunteering the day we arrived Chiang Mai, mainly assisting villagers in building water storage tanks so that water could flow smoothly into each household for their daily use. We were responsible for carrying water pipes and stones, and the villagers who were traveling with us, who were also members of our host family, were responsible for technical support. They stood on a steeper hillside, with scythes tied around their waists, and shuttled through the jungle. There were men, women, old and young, no more than 20 people in total, but they were carrying heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. Watching them work together to create resources and protect each other's homes, allowed us to truly see their wisdom and hands-on ability.

Although we went to the mountains every day for activities at noon and lost a lot of time together, in a short period of less than three days, the relationship between us was deeper than imagined. The host's mother thought the steel wool used for washing dishes was too rough, so she bought three new and soft sponges for us to wash the dishes. This made me have mixed feelings. On one hand, I felt warm about it, but on the other hand, I felt guilty because it seems like we have caused them a lot of unnecessary expenses.

On the day of farewell, the host family gave us hand-knitted cloth bags, and I drew the cards for them. Some people say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Even if there are no words, under the intersection of each other's eyes, we can perceive each other's emotions like telepathy. Although there was a language barrier between us, we only spoke simple Thai, as the host's grandma opened her arms and hugged me and looked at each other. At that moment, countless moments of getting along came to mind, and we couldn't help but have red and wet eyes. Grandma used her calloused hands, wiped away my tears, kissed my forehead, and sent her most sincere blessings.

Last but not least, I am grateful for this precious opportunity, which has allowed me to develop relationships that transcend race and language. At the same time, I also deeply understand the great significance behind volunteer service.

5B13 LIU LAI NA 廖麗娜

這個暑假，我和另外六位領袖生參加了由香港基督教青年會舉行的「傲翔新世代」全方位青年領袖訓練計劃，我和5A鍾淋秀同學有幸獲選參加為期六日的泰國清邁服務團，當中的回憶及得著非少。旅途中，有歡笑有淚水，有幸福有心酸。這個服務團在我的人生中留下了特殊的印記。

為何說是「特殊」？不同於普通的交流團住在酒店、城市中，清邁服務團是進入了一個小村莊，住在寄宿家庭中。那裡沒有網絡，只有一班很溫暖樸素的村民，每天會為我們準備泰國的美食，為我們親手織了一個袋子，祝我們一路平安。

所謂「服務團」，代表我們的每一天都是在做服務。包括在叢林搬水管、教村中的小朋友英文、去田裡插秧等。村內的水管在一次颱風後全部倒塌，必須重新裝修，村內才可以供水。在完成的最後工序，溪水從水管內潺潺流出，村民們爆發出的歡呼聲，每個人臉上的笑容，讓我覺得這一切都是值得的。我在這個村莊裡，留下了自己的足印。

在面對兩個兩歲的泰國小朋友時，我使盡全身解數，想和她們一起玩耍。在翻過全部行李後，我只發現了兩隻微不足道的摺紙青蛙，摺得也不好看，可他們卻視若珍寶，玩得很開心。看著她們臉上的笑容，可我卻笑不起來，心裡漲漲酸酸的。她們的笑容在我心中種下了一顆種子。

這顆種子在我心中發芽。回程的路上，我不捨、遺憾。直到踏在香港的土地上，我還有一種恍惚的感覺，是水泥地，不是黃泥混著溪水的泥地，讓我有了恍如隔世的感覺。回到家裡，對平日有吸引力的電子產品已經不感興趣，心中依然想念那幾天的服務團。或許，過了這次服務團後，我會選擇參加更多的義工服務，幫助他人。那顆在清邁村莊種下的種子，會繼續在我心裡茁壯生長。

On 14th May 2024, 15 students from S4 participated in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad, which was held by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education. These students received 16 hours of training prior to the competition.

In the competition, two of our students achieved outstanding performance:

• 4D Chan Yin Hang was awarded the Second Class Honours.
• 4D Zeng Cheuk Hang received an Honorable Mention.

We are proud of the dedication and hard work shown by all participants, and congratulate Chan Yin Hang and Zeng Cheuk Hang on their excellent achievements.

4D Chan Yin Hang

Participating in the HKPHO was a truly rewarding experience. The rigorous theoretical problems challenged me to deeply understand physics concepts and apply them creatively. Through this competition, I honed my analytical skills, mathematical modeling abilities, and problem-solving techniques. The sense of accomplishment upon receiving an award was a testament to this invaluable learning process. Not only has this competition enhanced my passion for physics, but also equipped me with essential skills that will undoubtedly benefit my future academic and professional pursuits. I am grateful for this enriching opportunity to explore the wonders of the world of physics.

4D Zeng Cheuk Hang

I am truly honored to receive the Honorable Mention in the Hong Kong Physics Olympiad. This award is not only recognition of my hard work, but also an encouragement for my future studies. I want to thank Miss Lam Wai Yee and Mr Tse Chung Man for training us for the Physics Olympiad. Their encouragement enabled me to achieve good results in this competition. I will continue to work hard and aim higher, contributing to scientific exploration.

This year, six students from Form 4 and Form 5 accompanied by three teachers embarked on a service trip to Rwanda again to give a helping hand to local residents. From July 18th to 28th, they participated in a service-learning exchange program in Rwanda organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Alongside students and teachers from four other secondary schools and several university students, we traveled to Cyaruhinda village in the Rwamagana district in eastern Rwanda. We helped install solar panels and lights, addressing the electricity needs of over four hundred impoverished families in remote mountainous regions.

Throughout the experience, our students had the opportunity to collaborate with peers from different schools and backgrounds, including students from the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College. Regardless of race, they worked together to assist local residents, fostering core values such as ethnic harmony, empathy, and unity. Additionally, they visited Rwanda's central business district, witnessing its vibrancy, which prompted reflections on the stark wealth disparities present in the region.

5A (3) CHEUNG TSZ HEI

I have seen Africa through the Internet and TV ads. I believed that Africa was a continent of poverty, chaos, and that one's experience there would leave much to be desired. Yet, I thought to myself, stepping into the unknown could reap unexpected benefits, so I decided to join and luckily got enlisted with my fellow peers to help the local villagers. Now that this trip is over, I believe I made the right decision and have no regrets.

During this trip, my entire worldview of African countries changed drastically. For example, the technological and economic divide between the city centre and the local villages was larger than I expected. When we visited the Kigali Heights, the technology there was not advanced, but up to standards. While in the local villages, they don't even have electricity. The poverty there was still unexpected, in the past I've done an English paper 3 mock exam and remembered a recording telling us how children in poor countries would try to guilt tourists into buying products from them, even though they earn no income through it. On the trip, I experienced it first hand. It made me more content and thankful of the life I'm living, when there are others who are less fortunate. It made me appreciate my parents more for giving me this comfortable life that I'll cherish forever.

When my teammates and I were setting up the lights for the first house out of the eight we were going to do for this trip, we were in disarray. The lack of communication and coordination led to us only completing one house on day one. While we were feeling frustrated, our teacher in charge said that we should have a leader to better our teamwork and communication and then chose me as the leader. At first, I had many doubts about this new role I was playing as I haven't been a leader in a while and wasn't confident in my own abilities. Still, venturing into the unknown was already my motto for this trip, so I decided to pick up the mantle and do my best to lead my team. When I started to lead them on the second day, it went way more smoothly than the first day. We were communicating, planning our wire routes, and coming up with the best placement for the lights and solar panels together. I was anxious at the time, but eventually being a leader just became second nature. With our teamwork getting better, our team started to enjoy helping the villagers set up their lights and electricity while also bonding together as a group. Those days were times that I'll never forget.

As the saying goes, 'Travelling is all about exploring an unknown land and discovering about yourself'. When I departed Rwanda, I've realized I've gained new insights about the world around me and discovered new things about myself. I'm glad I got to go on this trip and taking the first step in discovering about my true self and I hope I'll use my insights to better myself for the future.

4D (11) HO WING TIM

It was my pleasure to have the opportunity to travel to Rwanda. We went there to help disadvantaged families install light bulbs to improve their living standards. Before going to Rwanda, we needed to learn how to connect the light bulbs, batteries, and solar panels.

During this trip, I learned that the digital divide between Rwanda's cities and remote regions is quite significant. In the most prosperous places, the shopping centers have sufficient electricity supply, while people in the remote region have no access to electricity at all.

I also learned how to communicate effectively with others. In our group, we had a local youth to help us. On the first day, our group and the local youth had different ideas about how to connect the light bulbs and solar panels with the wires. Moreover, as we kept using Cantonese to communicate, our local youth felt a bit left out. Therefore, on the second day, we tried to communicate with her before installing the solar panels. By the last day, we were able to communicate as friends and share about our countries, like how our education systems work. This trip taught me that effective communication plays a crucial role in helping us achieve success.

Our local youth Genne, also taught us how to greet the locals. 'Muraho' (pronounced as Mor-ra-ho) is used for greeting adults, while 'bite' (pronounced as bee-tay) is used for greeting children. The children were very cute and enthusiastic about saying hello with us.

The most unforgettable moment in Rwanda was after the installation of the solar panels. We had a celebration party. The children from the village came and played with us, and I enjoyed dancing with them, feeling like we are in the same big family. Furthermore, I was quite surprised that the people in one village we met while we were travelling to the Safari in Rwanda wake up as early as 2 a.m. every Sunday to run 100 kilometers. I also enjoyed playing with the new friends we met from other Hong Kong schools every night.

Traveling to Africa, installing solar panels and light bulbs for poor families, visiting the safari and seeing various animals, and communicating with the local children were truly unforgettable experiences.

4A (31) XU LI YUAN

It has been 3 days since I came back to Hong Kong from Rwanda. I was proud and grateful that I participated in this activity. I have learned a lot and grown on this eye-opening journey. Now, let me talk about it.

Let's talk about what I expected before I went on the trip. I imagined a lot about African countries. I thought there would be a scurvy environment with scarce water, food and low development of economy and technology. Also, health issues are the most of my worries. I thought almost everyone there was sick and malnourished, as I had seen in charity advertising. I went in search of the truth, via the exploration of Rwanda.

On the first day, I arrived at Hong Kong Airport earlier than the official time with an excited and nervous heart. Then, we started our long flight. It lasted more than ten hours. It was surprising that 4 in-flight meals were served during the flying time. Sleeping and eating were a loop for me. After this peaceful and relaxing time, we finally arrived in Rwanda.

The next day, we went to Kigali Genocide Memorial. The visit to the Memorial has become the most unforgettable and emotional part of the trip for me. There is a genocide survivor as a guide to introduce the painful history and facts about the genocide to us. There are pictures remains, even broken skulls of the sufferers in the Memorial.

When I came into a room and saw numerous photos of the dead hanging on the wall, I couldn't help crying. I could not imagine how painful it was for the dead to suffer the catastrophe. They were smiling in those photos, but their lives have gone with the wind. That made me realized how real history is. Genocide really happened and was close to us. Knowing the cause of the genocide, I learned about the importance of education, individual will, critical thinking and racial equality. These criteria make our society better and harmonious. Receiving education, we can make the right decision to oppose and refuse the ridiculous and immoral requirement from leaders.

That also gave me the impetus to study and learn more about history to develop sound values. I noticed the "Remembrance and Learning" written on the door tag of the Memorial. I did really remember and learn from history.

On the third day, we went to the safari. We got in a jeep in the early morning and went to see animals like zebras, hippos and antelopes. Along the way, the driver explained the habits and fun facts of the animals. I was very lucky to see different kinds of animals, such as giraffes, black rhino, buffalo, and lions. I took a lot of photos of them. The journey was eye-opening.

After the relatively easy sections in the trip, we ushered in the work stage. On the first working day, the team's cooperation was a bit rusty. There were some minor disagreements during the installation of the solar panels and wire. However, with our combined efforts, we exceeded our goals.

At night, we had a reflection of our performance that day. We candidly pointed out the shortcomings and weaknesses of our team cooperation, in order to improve the work afterwards. We also made a clear division of labour, to make work more efficient. Some of the team members were responsible for arranging the routing of the wires; some were responsible for driving the nails; some were responsible for supervising the local youth to work; while I was responsible for connecting the wire to the splitters, switches and the DC connector.

Therefore, we had a great improvement over the following days. We finished wiring 3 houses within a day. Although the process was tiring and difficult, it was extremely satisfying to complete the wiring of a house and turn on the light bulbs successfully. I learned how important teamwork is. Without the cooperation of our teammates and the local youth, it was impossible to reach the target on our own. I also learned to be patient and not to complain when I faced difficulties.

The most important part of teamwork is communication. We need to communicate with a positive tone and appropriate wording to avoid confrontation. Besides, listening carefully is essential. Receiving the instructions clearly from the beginning can avoid wasting time on asking the same questions later.

On the eighth day, we joined the celebration before we left the village. I enjoyed dancing with the locals. Joy and happiness permeated the atmosphere. I felt the connection between people. I also felt that when I interacted with the locals, said hello and waved to them in the past days. It brought satisfaction to my soul when I saw their responses and smiles. That was what money couldn't buy.

By the conclusion of the nine-day journey, my perspective on Rwanda had been altered. It is not as backward and chaotic as it is often imagined. In reality, it boasts a commendable level of public security, and its inhabitants are exceedingly hospitable. Additionally, the majority of the population maintains a normal degree of health.

However, the availability and resource of water and food remains limited and precious, and not every individual is able to partake in the benefits of a high-tech lifestyle and a high standard of living. This reflection enhances my gratitude for the contented life I currently enjoy, and instills in me a strong desire to dedicate my efforts to aid those in need in Africa, thereby enhancing their quality of life and spreading joy around the world. I hope such significant service-learning programs can continue to be held. I am so grateful that I could participate in this program. I did learn, contribute, and grow a lot.

10 student athletes participated in the 4th Inter-school Fitness Challenge Competition, which was held by the Sports Legacy Company Limited of Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, in the Hong Kong Chu Hai College on 29th June 2024. With their huge effort, they won five individual awards and one team relay award in the competition. Our team was awarded a trophy with the Girls' Group 1st Runner-up and the overall 2nd Runner-up. The list of swimming team members is as follow:

Congratulations to our S5 student, Tam Ka Kit Leo, for being the awardee of the top 12 candidates for the South China Morning Post Student of the Year 2023/24 Grand Prize and Community Contributor Award (Merit Award), which is an unprecedented achievement in our school. Leo, our former Chairperson of the Student Association, is an outstanding leader who excels both academically and in community service. We believe that Leo will serve as an inspiration to us all.