Breaking Boundaries
In January, 15 uPals Wellness Ambassadors from the Wellness and Counselling Centre of The Chinese University of Hong Kong embarked on a 3-day, 2-night exchange tour to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) with the Student Health Counselling Centre and their student wellness promotion team, Y∞UTH. uPals were warmly greeted by the Y∞UTH team. After introducing themselves to each other and sharing their previous activity highlights and experiences, both teams gained a deeper understanding of each other, further strengthening the bond between uPals and Y∞UTH.
Mutual Exchange
In preparation for this visit, students from both cities made efforts to plan a series of exciting activities. Prior to the journey, the uPals Wellness Ambassadors participated in a certificate course on the Mindfulness Acrylic Flow Art Workshop, where they learned how to apply mindfulness to flow art to express their emotions, helping them relieve stress and anxiety.
On the first day of the exchange, the uPals Wellness Ambassadors organized an acrylic flow art workshop. They guided Y∞UTH in creating blossom with flow art, allowing them to mix and match colours freely and unleash their creativity. This activity not only provided a fun and joyful atmosphere but also helped soothe their minds. The students enjoyed the workshop and were pleased with their pieces.
Additionally, the uPals Wellness Ambassadors prepared around 300 wellness cheering packs to distribute to CUHK-Shenzhen students. With the Chinese New Year approaching, they hoped to send blessings and support for everyone’s physical and mental well-being.
The next day, Y∞UTH led the uPals Wellness Ambassadors in various activities, including the Shell Painting Workshop. Students were fully engaged, using shells of different colours and shapes, along with paint pens, to create unique patterns. After the workshop, the uPals Wellness Ambassadors and Y∞UTH explored Nanshan District and Dafen Oil Painting Village, where they enjoyed art exhibitions and experienced the local culture.
The students found the exchange to be highly beneficial. The Y∞UTH team shared their plans and activities from the past year, along with the icebreaking games and workshop they had prepared, which greatly inspired the uPals ambassadors. Nicole and Naomi from the uPals Wellness Ambassadors expressed, “We have learned a lot from the exchange with the Y∞UTH team. Their activities were very creative and well-thought-out. We hope to have more opportunities for exchange and collaboration in the future, so we can learn from each other and come up with more inspirations to promote mental health on the CUHK campus.”
Extension of Friendship
Although the exchange visit has come to an end, the friendship between the uPals Wellness Ambassadors and Y∞UTH has just begun. To continue fostering this bond, the uPals Wellness Ambassadors will host online workshops in March and April 2025. These include a Mandala Art Workshop and an MBTI Self-exploration Workshop, allowing students from both campuses to participate together. These activities aim to deepen the friendship between the students, extending their support and care to more peers in both campuses.
