Student Leaders of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong YMCA® shine in ELITE Award 2022-2023

Monday June 12th, 2023

The ELITE Award (Exceptional Leader In Teamwork and Program Execution) was established in 2018 by HSUHK & College YMCA Department, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, to recognise executive committee members who serve Uni-Y members and the community with dedication and commitment as well as encourage executive committees to organise activities for the Uni-Y members. After several interviews, ‘Asterism’, the 11th Student Executive Committee of University YMCA (HSUHK), advised by Student Affair Office (SAO), was awarded ‘The Best ELITE Student Executive Committee’, while Martin Yip Ka Hung, President of the 10th Student Executive Committee, University YMCA (HSUHK) and the committee member of the Alliance of University & College YMCAs, was awarded the ‘The Best ELITE Youth Leader’. Additionally, several programmes organised by executive committee members were awarded ‘The Best ELITE Programmes’.

The 11^th Student Executive Committee, University YMCA (HSUHK), was dedicated to serving the Uni-Y members in the past year. They organised a variety of activities during the pandemic for members, such as online games, leather-making workshop, sports massage workshop and terrarium workshop, and more, to support the physical and mental health of HSUHK students. Once social distancing measures were relaxed, they resumed the face-to-face programmes and organised orientation programmes as well as the volunteer activities such as serving the disabled, helping children with autism and working with recovering drug abusers. They promoted outdoor activities to children with environmental conservation in mind, thereby raising students’ awareness of different needs and social issues in Hong Kong.

The executive committee members also organised activities for HSUHK students but also participated in organising joint-university activities. Karen Wan Hing, Internal Vice-President of the 11^th Student Executive Committee, organised a ‘Joint-U Christian Camp and Children Service’ with committee members from other universities. The activity was awarded ‘The Best ELITE Joint-University Programme’.

Ben Lam Chun Wang, President of the 11th Student Executive Committee said, “I would like to express my gratitude to SAO, YMCA and our fellow Uni-Y members. Without their support, we wouldn’t have completed these meaningful activities. I would like to give special thanks to my YMCA advisor and my fellow committee members who overcame the difficulties together in the past year. I wish University YMCA (HSUHK) even greater success!”

Martin, President of the 10^th Student Executive Committee, University YMCA (HSUHK) and the committee member of the Alliance of University & College YMCAs, has continued organising different Joint-University activities since he graduated. Alongside his committee members from the other universities, he organised the ‘ChilDrénMon GO Joint-U Sports Challenge’ and the ‘Let’s All Return to the Past’ Joint-U Online LARP programmes to help children from less fortunate backgrounds enjoy regular physical training and maintain a social life alongside other students during the pandemic. The programmes were awarded ‘The Best ELITE Social Service Programme’ and ‘The Best ELITE Innovative Programme’ respectively. Having been elected ‘The Best ELITE Youth Leader’, he will continue to engage with youths and encourage them to contribute to society.

Martin said “I was really excited when I was told that I was awarded the ‘The Best ELITE Youth Leader’. I am grateful that my efforts have been recognised. There were many challenges in organising Joint-U activities, as well as in our lives. However, as a youth leader, it is my responsibility to contribute to the community as I know that many people are going through hardships. By organising activities, students’ interest and enthusiasm in social service can be cultivated. I would like to express my gratitude to HSUHK and the University & College YMCA Department of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong for providing the platforms and resources that allow myself and other committee members to utilise our strengths and contribute to society. I would also like to thank my YMCA advisors and my fellow committee members for supporting each other and creating lots of memories together.”