An experiential learning project at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has been extended to other higher education institutions in Hong Kong.

The “Life Mentor Scheme” is now available to students at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

With sponsorship from the University Grants Committee (UGC), the “Life Mentor Scheme” aims to enhance harmony between generations by enabling young people to better understand elders’ needs.

More than 180 students from various programmes at local universities and nearly 100 senior citizens have joined up so far.

The scheme was developed from the “Experiential Learning Project” initiated by Dr Alice Chong Ming-lin, Associate Professor in CityU’s Department of Applied Social Sciences, and the recipient of the UGC  Teaching Award in 2013.

A kick-off ceremony and briefing session were held earlier, with Dr Edward Leong Che-hung, Chairman of the Committee on Elder Academy Development Foundation of the Elderly Commission, and Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, CityU’s Chief-of-Staff, officiating.

On the scheme, people aged 60 or above become life mentors to groups of two students.

Briefing sessions, out-of-classroom exchanges and sharing sessions help both students and seniors understand each other better.

These activities demonstrate to students the impact of reminiscence therapy, and encourage the life mentors to produce a life-story book with the students in which they can reflect on unforgettable moments in their lives through music, language and art.