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Anthony |
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Bobby |
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Dorothy |
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Ellen |
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Grace |
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Heidi |
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Jacky |
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Manna |
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Sally |
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Tony |
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Cherish All We Have
Manna Tsang
My parents have showered me with love and materialistic items, but also repeatedly reminded me that I had a rather privileged life and should cherish it. I laughed it off and continued to complain about my first world problems. I could never imagine living in a world without what was considered as basic, such as education and equal rights. In this trip, I had a chance to see and experience the “reality”.
The living and learning conditions in Nepal are a far cry from what we have in Hong Kong. Going to school, they need to hike for over 30 minutes with tattered shoes. There was no proper lighting in the schools we taught, and the classrooms would become unbelievably dark when the sky turned grey. It was amazing that the students were still able to read from the blackboard. Their enthusiasm to learn deeply moved me, as they repeated every word we taught loudly. Despite our language barrier, they didn’t hesitate to communicate with me by basic English. Knowledge seemed to be something they could never get enough of, which made me ashamed of myself. I should treasure the learning opportunities I have had and put my knowledge into good use.
Women’s rights is a sensitive topic in Nepal, and I was fortunate enough to explore it during the trip. It broke my heart when I learnt that girls in villages couldn’t continue their education after 16 and had to prepare for marriage. Many female students I encountered were bright and thirsty for knowledge, but most had to become a housewife in a few years, relying on their husband for a living. The teachers wanted to bring changes to the new generation of female students, but it would be a hard path. I spoke to a group of girls, asking what their dream jobs were. Two wanted to be a doctor, and the others wanted to be a nurse, an engineer or a Mathematics teacher. They all promised me that they would achieve their dreams. I hope they can keep their promise and we will meet again in the future.
This service trip has greatly changed my values in life, and made me aware of how fortunate I am - basic rights don’t come easily. Although change can’t be fully made in such a short span, this trip has cultivated seedlings of change in all our minds.
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