Where: 12-15 Tung Shing House, G/F, Tai Hang Tung Estate, Shek Kip Mei What: Promoting the theme 'care by the community', the organisation recruits volunteers for social service groups and provides follow-up help for charitable projects. It has services for the elderly and disabled, new arrivals, and people undergoing rehabilitation for mental illness. It also runs a hotline to line-up volunteer jobs for people aged 15 and older. How: The group offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for young people. For example, you can help children with their homework, visit homes for the elderly, or help organise events for various social centres. Call 2777 6383 or visit www.volunteer-ccm.org for more information. Teen volunteer: Jessica Chui Shuk-yin, 19, has been a volunteer for four years. The counselling and psychology student at Shue Yan College said she participates in volunteer services to make good use of her time. 'My first volunteer experience was a visit to an elderly home in To Kwa Wan. We arranged activities such as singing and organised a drama show in which I was the narrator. I've also taken part in activities for rehabilitants of mental illness, children from families of new arrivals, and the mentally disabled. I've also managed the hotline. At first, I did it just for fun. But I came to realise that doing volunteer work is more than just lending people a hand. In the process, I've learned to treasure many things in life and gained skills in dealing with people. I'm also happy about the fact that I can make friends with many other volunteers. Last year, we visited a rural mainland village where the residents helped each other out of their own free will. In contrast, many Hong Kong people are quite pragmatic and some of them do voluntary work with the goal of getting an award. The meaning of volunteering is lost. The important thing is to put your heart into the work, otherwise you will easily become bored or unhappy. Also, you might not always be satisfied with the results. But don't be discouraged. Ask for help, as doing volunteer services isn't an individual matter - it's about teamwork. If you manage your time well, there will always be time to do volunteer services. The lessons that you learn from the experience can never be found in books or taught by teachers.'
