In the last week of February, eight passionate students from the School set off on a service trip to Dumaguete, the Philippines. This service trip was organized in collaboration with International Care Ministries (ICM), a non-profit organization in the Philippines. They entered underprivileged communities where daily living expenses are less than HKD 4, responding to needs through action and, through each real encounter, learning empathy, collaboration, and responsibility.

The students saw that a lack of resources is not an abstract “number,” but a reality reflected in inadequate local infrastructure, limited sanitation, and the everyday challenges brought about by scarcity. At the same time, they also witnessed the resilience residents continue to show amid hardship, and the curiosity and innocence shining in children’s eyes.

We know that this service trip to Dumaguete was not merely a visit—it was a journey of mutual learning and a collective effort to find more feasible ways to create change. Along the way, we worked together to:

• Building tippy taps for hygiene
• Creating a thriving community garden
• Running a joyful kids' camp for 50 children
• Sharing stories and laughter in beautiful nature

This change did not happen only in the community—it also quietly took place in the hearts of the students, these “future educators.” The journey helped them rediscover the weight of “education”: not merely the delivery of knowledge in a classroom, but the ability to see people’s circumstances, build trust, and accompany growth. It also taught them to create possibilities amid limitations, to remain respectful across differences, and to practice communication and responsibility within a team.

After returning, we hope the students will bring what they have seen back into everyday life—back to the classroom, back to society, and into every choice they make in their encounters with others. May they remember the smiles of the children in Dumaguete, the resilience of the community residents, and the belief that “together, we can make things better,” and continue to do work that can be sustained—guided by both professionalism and warmth.