In February to March 2023, IPO has organized a range of wellness activities and gatherings to cultivate a positive, supportive and inclusive community among IPO members.

IPO Buddy Program Gatherings

Three small-group gatherings for IPO Buddy Program members were held in end-February to provide an ideal opportunity for IPO students across programs and years to connect with one another. Through group games and snack exchange, students could catch up with their matched buddies and mingle with other members and exchange the interesting hall lives and culture at HKUST. Our students enjoyed the gathering which enabled them to talk and interact with their peers in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Silence Experience

To promote inclusive mindset, a Silence Experience was organized for IPO students on 23 Feb at Deaf Cafeteria located in Sai Kung. During the event, students learnt non-verbal communication methods such as lipreading and sign languages from The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf. A human library session came after to let students interact with hearing impaired individuals and know more about their daily lives. In the end, students had picnic and enjoyed the sunny afternoon at their own pace.

Guide Dogs Lunchtime Talk

IPO students and staff had the pleasure of meeting guide dogs Bella and Max and their trainers from the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association during the Guide Dog Lunchtime Talk on 9 Mar. The participants gained a deeper understanding of the training and work of guide dogs when interacting with Bella and Max in a relaxed setting. Trainer Rosina and guide dog user Jean also shared interesting daily matters with guide dogs and provided practical tips for communicating with visually impaired individuals.

Our students found the activities satisfying as they understood more about the communication with the impaired individuals and became more aware of Diversity and Inclusion.