Dear readers,

You may find these few weeks very hectic owing to mid-term examinations.  For me and my colleagues, this month is a "deadly buzzing March" in which a multitude of I∙CARE events have been underway.  Although working long hours makes me physically exhausted, I am happy to see that our campus is filled with diversity and fun.  Beyond academic assessments and office chores, there are areas worth being spent time on in spite of the constrained schedule.  They may be exercises, dates, movies, saunas, and so forth.  A fortnight ago, I chose to attend an evening conference where "future university" was featured.  I was reminded of a quote from Benjamin Franklin: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

Faithful friendship, unwavering aspiration, nurture of the younger, and passion for life……these are virtues that Eason Chan and the DUO Band love to share with you in CUHK next month.

The I·CARE Hong Kong Cultural Tours Project 2018-19 organised by this Centre has already provided for 36 students, at two stages, a series of professional training that covered introduction of designated districts, itinerary design, planning of tour routes and presentation skills, etc.  Since early-March, these students have started to offer theme-based cultural tours to the youngsters from secondary schools and community centres to deepen their understanding of local history and cultures.

Themed "Reading is Voyaging through Time and Space", the 4^th I·CARE Book Festival organised by this Centre rolled out its first "Book Talk" on the 6^th of this month.  Till now, 10 "Book Talks" have been successfully held.

Organised by this Centre and fully supported by The Office of the Arts Administrator, the "Book Crossing Pavilion" was nicely concluded.  The whole event attracted nearly 5,700 visits, and over 24,500 second-hand books were collected by the CUHK students and staff.

The I·CARE Social Service Projects Scheme encourages students to organise and implement self-initiated social services.  Three rounds of vetting are available in 2018-19.  Students may submit applications in accordance with the commencement date of their projects and the amount of funds required.  Now, the 3^rd round of application (a.k.a. the last round in this academic year) is open.  Details are as follows:

Under the I·CARE Social Service Projects Scheme administered by this Centre, the Master Sharing Session was successfully held on the 19^th of this month.  It was themed "Exploring Changing Social Service Needs in a Changing Trend" and presided by Prof. To Siu-ming, Convenor of the Working Group for the I·CARE Social Service Projects Scheme, who is also from the Department of Social Work.

The I·CARE Salon, which is under the University Lecture on Civility, had its 16^th session successfully held on the 1^st of this month.  At his talk Historical Fissures - A Poet's Political Practice and Reflections, Mr. Chung Yung-feng shared his views and rethink about the political development in Taiwan basing on his own experience.

Co-ordinated by this Centre, an event themed "Playing a University Student for a Day" under the I·CARE Cross-generational Integration Programme was held on 17 March.  A volunteer team, comprising 50 CUHK students and 20 elderly, planned and implemented the event in which 100 students from secondary schools were received to gain an experience of university life.

The Yunus Social Business Centre@CUHK, which is a subsidiary of this Centre, will organise the Social Business Regional Forum 2019: Inclusive Social Innovation and University Social Responsibility on 5-7 April.

Co-organised by this Centre and The Office of the Arts Administrator, the I·CARE Theatre 2019 had its third screening of The Reader held on the 13^th of this month.  Hundreds of CUHK students, staff and alumni were present.  To echo the 4^th I·CARE Book Festival, a post-screening discussion of this film which featured reading was specially arranged.  The host Prof. Chow Po-chung of the Department of Government and Public Administration made an ardent and meaningful discussion with the audience.

Jointly organised by the University Physical Education Unit, Communications and Public Relations Office and this Centre, the CUHK 10K Night Challenge 2019 was successfully held on 8 March attracting around 850 CUHK students, staff and alumni to experience the night run together.  There were two types of entries for advanced runners (10 km) and beginners (4 km) respectively.  Both groups started and finished their race at the South Square of Pak Shek Kok Promenade, Shatin.

To offer a diversified learning experience to students, this Centre has been planning and implementing the I·CARE Programme, as well as co-ordinating with different organisations to inspire students to actively partake in social and civic services.

Please click on the image below for more information.