Life on HK$4 a day an eye-opener for Hong Kong students in Philippines
A trip to the Philippines that combined volunteerism with adventure opened the eyes of a group of HKIS students to the plight of the nation's poorest
Dumaguete in the Philippines is best known to Hongkongers as a paradise for divers, a place where holidaymakers escape from the real world and relax. But not far from the resorts that line the beach, hundreds of families live in abject poverty; their "real world" means trying to live on 50 US cents a day.
Hong Kong International School teacher Jon Bryant recently led a group of 65 students to Dumaguete on a trip co-organised by Young Life and faith-based charity International Care Ministries (ICM), which works with disadvantaged people in the Philippines.
"It was very humbling to work alongside these kids and see how and where they live. We found ourselves comparing it to the snorkelling trip to Apo Island - you put your head under the water and it's a world so independent from you, there's so much life, it challenges your way of thinking about others," says Bryant.
The week-long trip was the first of its kind for the school since the travel ban to the Philippines was lifted and the high school students - accompanied by 20 adults - supported local teachers in the classroom and worked on sustainable projects such as making worm gardens.
"We saw this trip as a great opportunity for students - it combines volunteerism with adventure and was a chance to better understand the work of ICM," says Bryant.