- To demonstrate care for non-local new students
- To organise ways for non-local students to adapt to PolyU and Hong Kong
- To show and tell non-local students about the local culture
- To provide opportunities for non-local students to befriend a Hong Kong family
- For host families and students to demonstrate mutuality and healthy crosscultural exchange
Normally around 2-3 activities per year are expected but students can always decide the number of activities with their host families.
Two official events are scheduled for this scheme, successful students are expected to reserve the following day and connect with their host families:
- Welcome Session on 4 Sep 2021 (Sat) via Zoom
Session 1- 10.00 am for International Students
Session 2- 3.00 pm for Mainland Students
All new full-time non-local undergraduate students are welcome to apply.
Invitation for application will be sent to eligible students in July/August.
Lantern Dinner Gathering for Host Family Scheme (23 February 2019)
In the season of love and sharing, the Centre STARS (renamed as Student Affairs Office w.e.f. 1 July 2020) organized the Lantern Dinner Gathering for Host Family Scheme in which host families and students may share their love and extend their blessings to the people around them. The dinner gathering was held at the podiums of FJ and FG on 23 February 2019. It was the biggest annual event of the Host Family Scheme and attracted 40 host families and over 140 Mainland and International host family students enjoyed 25 tables of big bowl feast.
The toast was led by Dr. Eric Tam, Associate Dean of Students, and representatives of Non-local Student Services Team, PolyU Staff Evangelistic Mission, Institute of Active Ageing, and host families.
In this dinner gathering, participants not only tasted the traditional Chinese dish, performance and lucky draws were utmost importance. Students from 3 host families came on the stage to give sharing and show their gratitude to their host families. Apart from sharing, “Host Family’s Got Talent” delighted audience, including acrobatics, trio song, and host families sang to a student’s accompaniment.
Students stuck their thankyou cards on the backdrop when they arrived. The dinner gathering reached its climax when students came on stage, got back their thankyou cards and presented their own card with a carnation to their own host family. It was so touching!
Clapping, singing, sharing, and blessing was everywhere in that evening. “To love and be loved” is realized in the Host Family Scheme.