According to the woman everyone around here calls Auntie Cheung, the Oi Man Manor of Education was built entirely on local resources and the sweat and toil of area workers.

Auntie Cheung taught the 120 CityU students who visited her between the 11 and the 13 of January a few more important things about the 300,000-square-foot farm near Gaoming, in Guangdong. Because the Oi Man Manor of Education was built in a selfless way, she explained, each plant and every blade of grass possesses a sense of meaning.

The second-year students were moved by Auntie Cheung's stories, and learned that money and material success do not necessarily constitute a healthy life. To commemorate their memorable visit, Auntie Cheung and the students planted a tree in a courtyard of the manor.

 

In addition to exploring the beauty of nature and the simplicity of farm life in the camp, the students also attended a series of training workshops, which focused on self-awareness, effective communication and social etiquette. Many students walked away from the experience said they became more motivated than before and realized the urge to expand their knowledge base for personal growth and enrichment.

"In my eyes, CityU students have a positive learning attitude and are willing to take initiatives to explore new things. I was particularly impressed by their sincerity and creativity," said Ms Linsie Chui, Human Resources Specialist at IBM China/Hong Kong Ltd, who was the master trainer at the camp.

The students who attended the Gaoming farm were all interested in joining the Executive Mentoring Scheme (EMS), organized by Student Development Services (SDS). The mentoring scheme, introduced in 2000, aims to enhance the personal and professional development of students. Recruitment of mentoring scheme mentees this year begins in the first week of the second semester. Applicants are required to submit a book report, a website report and a celebrity report, and to attend an interview.

"We look to the education of well-round individuals," said Rock Tam, Senior Counsellor of SDS on the mentoring scheme. Mr Tam said that former mentees praised the programme for the valuable advice and insights they received from their mentors. He was also happy to see some former members, who have benefited from the EMS, supporting the programme by offering advice and guidance to the new members.