The most memorable part of Dara Yung's volunteer trip to Kunming was the four days she spent doing back-breaking construction work.
'We dug ditches, sifted sand, mixed cement, carried bags of rocks and passed bricks,' the 18-year-old recalled. 'It was truly an inspiring experience to get to know the people there and witness their hospitality in the midst of their hardship.'
Dara was among the 20 Hong Kong International School (HKIS) students who had travelled to the outskirts of the city in southern Yunnan province in February to build homes for the Miao ethnic minority in a poor remote village.
They were the first international team to volunteer in China for Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a non-profit and non-denominational housing organisation that builds simple, decent, affordable houses for those who lack adequate shelter.
The overwhelming, sweaty and wearing experience has inspired four Grade 12 students in the school's HFHI chapter to launch a fundraising project. They hope to sell 10,000 orange rubber wristbands engraved with the mantra 'Raise the Roof'. The project aims to raise money and awareness of HFHI.
Behind the project is an all-girl team comprised of Amanda Gallinat, Michala Sabnani, Lauren Hsu and Nikita Stallbom. They hope to turn the project into an Asia-wide campaign.
'We are trying to plan a seed,' says Michala, 16, who came up with the idea. 'We want to extend the project beyond our school to the whole of Hong Kong and hopefully all over Asia.'
