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| Students and some residents of the home co-sing traditional Cantonese operas |
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| The residents of the elderly home look very happy about the students’ visit |
On the Chung Yeung Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Day, a group of students from the University of Macau’s (UM) East Asia College visited a local elderly home. The purpose of the activity is to care for the elderly and to provide opportunities for students to do community service as part of students’ development.
In order to ensure that gifts they prepared would be suited to the practical needs of the elderly, the students consulted the professional opinions of some social work professionals. On the day of the visit, the students were warmly received by the staff and residents of the elderly home. The head of the home told the students about the operation of the home and led them on a tour of the facilities. The students and some residents of the home co-performed some traditional Cantonese operas, including The Story of Princess Chang Ping and The Tolling of the Bell from the Buddhist Temple, to the clapping and chorus of the observers. The atmosphere throughout the visit was very happy. Students presented the gifts to the elderly and chatted with them about the residents’ everyday life at the home as well as their life stories.
Some participants of the activity said that the East Asia College is committed to nurturing “whole persons” who possess knowledge, high integrity, and a strong sense of social responsibility. The visit to the elderly home and participating in community services help build their sense of social responsibility. Participants felt the activity was very meaningful as it gave them a chance to learn more about the living environment of the residents of the home and to let them know that they are cared about by many people in our society.
