- Since the community service organisation was launched last September, it has recruited more than 40 student volunteers to design workshops for about 10 NGOs, serving at least 150 children
- The three pupils from Chinese International School say this project gives their peers a platform for sharing their passions, such as coding, arts and sports
Three student mentors helping with an arts workshop with the Changing Young Lives Foundation. Photo: The Firework ProjectWhen James Guo, Darin Lee and Ryan Zhang first started The Firework Project last September to connect students to community service opportunities in Hong Kong, they did not have many volunteers.
“The core members basically went to every session,” recalled Darin, 15. “There was a period of two months where in a week, I might go to three or four of our sessions. It felt really tiring, but every single time, I felt it was definitely worth it.”
It was a bumpy start for the Year 11 pupils from Chinese International School. But now, they have recruited more than 40 student volunteers, collaborating with about 10 NGOs to design and lead various workshops for at least 150 children from underprivileged communities.
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The Firework Project creates courses according to a charity’s needs and a volunteer’s passions – offering a range of topics, such as sports, linguistics, arts and technology. During Hong Kong’s fifth wave of Covid-19, they have moved their sessions online.
“People might think that the process to actually register [for volunteer work] is quite a hassle, and there are a lot of different student organisations,” Darin explained.
“What we wanted to do was create this platform where everyone can just join our programme … and share any passion they want.”
Volunteering during a study abroad programme in Hangzhou was what inspired James and Darin to start this community service organisation.
“We hosted a football tournament for underprivileged people [in Hangzhou] … and that was a really eye-opening experience,” said James, 16. “We found out a lot about their lives and how … they really don’t have the facilities that we have.”
Upon their return to Hong Kong in the summer of 2021, they realised the work they did in Hangzhou could also be applied in their hometown. About 274,900 children live in poverty in Hong Kong, according to the government’s report released last November.
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Before creating their own organisation, Darin and James knew they had to first gain the trust of local NGOs and get more community service experience. They started by volunteering at Love 21 Foundation, coaching football to adults with Down’s syndrome – an experience that shaped the spirit of The Firework Project.
Darin said he initially felt “uncomfortable” teaching people who were older than he was, but he soon realised that age was “just a number”.
At the end of that day, the founders solidified their motto: everyone should have the chance to discover and spark their passions.
After drafting a plan, they recruited their classmate Ryan, 15, to join the leadership team.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how engaged students actually are … having fun and talking to each other as well, and this was very heartwarming,” said Ryan, describing his experience running different workshops.
Currently, the student organisation is working with the Hong Kong Children In Need Foundation to run a five-week course on how to code using Scratch and Tinkercad. The group hopes to continue finding ways to bridge the gap between volunteers and those in need.
“If you have the skill … and a passion, you can teach it to anyone,” Darin said.