Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) will enter its 90th anniversary of founding in the next year. The Students’ Union is planning to organize a series of celebratory activities for the College and would like to take this opportunity to carry forward the spirit of “From Personhood to Benevolence” and increase Macao citizens’ awareness of community care. A number of community care activities will be organized under the activity name “Action of Love Giving” from November 2012 to July 2013. These activities receive great support from several associations of Macao, including Macau Federation of Trade Unions, General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao (UGAMM) and Caritas Macau.

A Kick-off Ceremony for “Action of Love Giving” was held on 9 November 2012 at the Lecture Theatre of KWNC. The officiating guests of the Ceremony included Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR Xu Ting, Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors and Secretary-General of Kiang Wu Charitable Association Ung Pui Kun, Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors and Convener of Social Services Committee of Kiang Wu Charitable Association Lao Ngai Leong, Kiang Wu Hospital Director Wang Tinghuai, President of UGAMM Io Hong Meng, Member of Board of Directors of KWNC Chan Kam Meng, Advisor of the Elderly Service Division of Social Welfare Bureau of Macao Lo Siu Ha, Member of Board of Directors of the Alumni Association of KWNC Leong Cheok Wai, President of KWNC Van Iat Kio, and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Students’ Union of KWNC Ting Ka Man. In addition to the invited guests, all College teachers and students, and the service receivers of “Action of Love Giving” from Mong-Ha Day Care Centre of FAOM attended the Ceremony to show their support.

In the opening speech, Chairman Ting Ka Man expresses that the aims of “Action of Love Giving” are to encourage nursing students to serve the local society by applying their professional knowledge learned in the College, convey health messages to the community and be well equipped for entering the nursing profession in the near future. The series of activities of “Action of Love Giving” are organized by several affiliated associations of the Students’ Union, and the activities include paying visit to solitary elderly, organizing health seminar, helping stroke patients carry out rehabilitation exercises, arranging street promotion on AIDs and promoting the knowledge of sexual safety to the young people of higher education institutions of Macao. The service receivers of these activities are the general public and university students of Macao. By organizing these community care activities, the Students’ Union and its affiliated associations would like to uphold the spirit of respecting and loving the elderly, summon up citizens’ solicitude for the elderly and AIDs patients, and introduce the correct knowledge and concept of sexual safety.

On that day, the Kick-off Ceremony was followed by the Theme Talk “Care Goes Hand in Hand with Nursing” organized by the affiliated associations of the Students’ Union – Society of Promoting Elderly Health and First-aid Team. The Theme Talk aims at delivering the importance of care and demonstrating the accomplishments that the two affiliated associations have achieved since their establishment. During the Talk, case studies were conducted in the form of video playing and quizzes. In addition, leaders of the Society of Promoting Elderly Health and First-aid Team Ao Ka Meng and Ieong Ka Hou gave sharing on their personal experience about taking part in the activities organized by the associations. By participating in the home help services for the elderly, they have met different families and gradually obtained the skills of communicating and getting along with the elderly. They have also come to understand the significance of treasuring their family members and cherishing their life. Moreover, by taking part in the different activities of first aid station work, they have realized that the value of stationed first aiders does not merely built on the number of first aid cases that they have handled, but also the safety and trust that their professional role gives to the participants of the activities. They both express that, by attending these community care activities, they have grown more mature and gained a deeper understanding on the significance of becoming nurses.

To organize various community care activities that are aligned with the College curriculum, we hope that students will apply the knowledge learned in class to their real life, take the initiative to offer assistance to those who are in need and be involved in community activities, and thereby broaden their horizons and enrich their life experience.