The SHTM is committed to nurturing all-round graduates who are also responsible citizens and contributive members of the community. One way of doing this is by encouraging students, and staff members, to serve the community through the use of their professional knowledge and skills. Last summer, nine SHTM students took part in two community service projects, with one group serving clients of the Hong Chi Association and the other serving those of the Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong.

Formerly known as the Hong Kong Association for the Mentally Handicapped, the Hong Chi Association was established in 1965 as a class for just four children with intellectual disabilities. In 1997, the Association was renamed the Hong Chi Association and put its emphasis on what people with intellectual disabilities can achieve.

Aiming at applying knowledge learned in class and helping to increase the employment opportunities of trainees from the Hong Chi Association, a team of dedicated SHTM students created a project entitled "Catering Training Workshop for the Hong Chi Association" under the guidance of School staff members Mrs Lily Kwong, Miss Doris Lo, Ms Jamie Lo, Miss Bella Chan, Miss Alisa Chan and Miss Edelweiss Yeung. Overcoming challenges while enjoying the process, the students designed and delivered a catering service workshop for eleven trainees. The project culminated in a memorable luncheon served by the trainees to actual guests at the SHTM's Millennium Training Restaurant.

Another group of devoted SHTM students worked with the Richmond Fellowship of Hong Kong, part of Richmond Fellowship International, a worldwide network of self-governing non-profit organisations with the common aim of promoting good community care practice in the field of mental health.

Under the guidance of SHTM staff members Miss Doris Lo and Miss Edelweiss Yeung, the students created a project entitled "Harmonious Community Starts with Acceptance and Care" for a group of former mentally disabled people who still rely on government subsidies. The students tailor-made activities for this group of people and arranged for them to have lunch at the SHTM's Millennium Training Restaurant, visit PolyU, the Excelsior Hotel and Noah's Ark. The project was nicely wrapped up by a sharing session with the clients at the Richmond Fellowship site in Tuen Mun.

The SHTM would like to commend its students and staff members on their excellent and selfless efforts in these projects. The students not only had the chance to put theories into practice and develop core competencies such as problem solving, teamwork and communication skills, but they also had the great opportunity to serve the needy, help re-integrate them into the community and thus make the world a better place.