FRIENDS can be very influential when it comes to persuading a student to get involved in volunteer work, says a group of university students who are recruiting young people for social service.
In May this year the Hong Kong Outstanding Tertiary Students' Services Association launched an eighth-month service scheme for secondary students. The scheme encourages youngsters to give a helping hand in community service and thereby gain a stronger civic sense.
'Our main concern is to make them see society's need for volunteer work and to get them to join in on their own initiative,' said Lo Wah-kei, one of the committee members.
'Students are easily influenced by their peers,' Lo said. 'We hope that by getting a few students interested we can draw more and more young people into social service.' One hundred students from 20 secondary schools have signed up for the programme. They attend seminars conducted by experienced volunteer workers and take part in service programmes for the elderly, disabled and children in need.
The teenagers also get a taste of shouldering responsibility by learning how to organise social service programmes.
'It can be very tricky to organise a service project,' said Pang Wai-chi, 17. 'I used to be only a participant, and was never involved in the planning.
Now I'm planning and loving it!' Wai-chi said. 'It's a great feeling to help people who really need help.' Leung Yuen-shan, 16, said volunteer work does not have to be complicated or tiring.
