Feature Stories
Sharing of Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College: CDF projects are of great benefit to students from grassroots families
"Hong Kong is Our Home" and "Plan for a Better Tomorrow", the school-based projects operated by Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College in 2014 and 2015 respectively, saw the participation of 110 students from grassroots families. The majority of the students are ethnic minorities.
CDF participant Iqra SULTAN (middle) holding her remarkable results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), together with her father and Principal Ms Zareenah HO (left)
Iqra SULTAN is one of the recent graduates of the first CDF school-based project. Iqra's parents are from Pakistan while Iqra was born and brought up in Hong Kong. She has made use of her Targeted Savings to enhance her academic performance and was admitted to the Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong last September, taking a big step toward her dream as an English teacher. With support and encouragement from her mentor and parents, Iqra has also spent some of her savings on taking driving lessons. According to Iqra, it was rare for girls to learn driving in a traditional Pakistani society.
Ms Luisa CASTRO, teacher-in-charge of the projects, said that CDF participants had shown noticeable improvement in their academic performance and personality. "I believe the opportunity to receive individually relevant guidance from volunteer mentors is the most valuable part to CDF participants. Through reaching out beyond their existing networks, they were able to gain new perspectives and insights which have helped improve their self-knowledge and awareness, preparing them for their future development," she said.
During the implementation of the projects, Ms CASTRO encouraged students to play a leading role in organising activities so as to increase their sense of involvement while on the other hand relieve the workload for the school.
A group of students from Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College participating in an activity of CDF.
"In some areas, for example, when organising activities targeted at students, we adopt a student-led approach. We have teachers leading and engaging students in discussions in the first place. Students are then given a free hand to design and implement the activities. In this way, not only we can have extra manpower for organising activities, but this is also a great opportunity for our students to develop their leadership skills and sense of responsibility. They are more eager to get involved as the activities are those they are interested in."
"I look forward to seeing more of our students achieve personal growth through participating in CDF projects. I also hope that more schools will share our views and recognise that the philosophy and project components of CDF are highly beneficial to the long-term development of their students," said Ms CASTRO.