MPU Community Care Programme, A Journey of Inclusion Spreading Love and Care
MPU students visited the Service Centre for the Deaf
To encourage university students’ care towards the community and service for people in need, students of Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) Community Care Programme visited the Service Centre for the Deaf of Macau Deaf Association (MDA) and Sheng Kung Hui St. Paul’s Church Macau. Through the visit and volunteering services, students learned the concept of inclusion, conveying love and care throughout community.
During the site visit to the Service Centre for the Deaf, the staff at the centre provided a detailed introduction to the service scope of MDA and the “Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (CRPD). Participants learned about knowledge of hearing impairment and the characteristics of the people in this situation. The Centre then arranged a “Silent Experience Activity” to help students better appreciate the communication challenges faced by the people with hearing impairment. Through interactive games with deaf people and simulations of their daily lives, students learned basic communication skills and the importance of barrier-free facilities. Under the guidance of a professional sign language interpreter, students learned basic sign language, and practiced communicating with the hearing-impaired persons, fostering mutual understanding and connection.
Students who participated in this activity shared that their most memorable part was interacting with several people with hearing impairment. Through games, they gained insight into the challenges of living as a deaf person, but also felt inspired by their optimistic and resilient attitudes. The students expressed a commitment to helping those in need in their daily lives.
Additionally, in this semester, students of the MPU Community Care Programme regularly volunteered at Sheng Kung Hui St. Paul’s Church Macau. Their service included homework discussion sessions for teenagers and music workshops for children. During the service process, students took on the roles of both mentors and companions, walking alongside those they serve in a journey of mutual learning and growth.
The Community Care Programme at Macao Polytechnic University is dedicated to encouraging university students to engage with the community, understand the needs of different social groups of people and cultivate empathy. Through hands-on experiences, students learn the values of acceptance, inclusion, and contributing to the society, thereby demonstrating social responsibilities.
MPU students simulated the life of a deaf person through experiential activity
The interaction between MPU students and the children in the workshop