Nearly 200 students joined the annual kick-off ceremony for the City-Youth Empowerment Project (CYEP) at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 16 September.

Addressing the ceremony, Professor Zang Xiaowei, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, elaborated on this year’s theme “A Journey from Service to Learning – Walk and Grow”.

The CYEP project had gradually shifted its emphasis from volunteerism to service-learning, he said. By performing services and reflecting on their work, the volunteers could achieve better learning outcomes and exert more positive impacts on local communities.

Guests attending the ceremony included Dr Raymond Chan Kwok-hong, Dean of Students; Ms Kathy Chan Yin-ling, Associate Vice-President (Development and Alumni Relations); Dr Elaine Au Liu Suk-ching, Convenor of the CYEP; and Mr Cedric Cheng Cheuk-him, Vice-Chairman of the Convocation of CityU.

Four sponsors of the CYEP were also present: Mr Chan Kam-yuen; Mr Chan Ka-kui, Chairman of the Mustard Seed Foundation; Mr Gary Chong, Manager of Providence Foundation Limited; and Ms Jenny Chan Pik-ha, Chairman of the CityU Eminence Society.

CYEP has more than 1,200 students enrolled as volunteers this year. Collaborating with other higher education institutes and non-government organisations, CYEP will organise a major event, “Homeless Outreach Population Estimation Hong Kong 2015”, in October.

Volunteers will receive training in interview techniques and will conduct a survey on homeless people.