Six passionate youth from CYCU formed an overseas volunteer team to Uganda, Africa, putting the university’s social responsibility into action. Building upon last year’s “Menstrual Pad Workshop” service project in local slums, this year the team ventured deeper into remote Ugandan villages to deliver hygiene education through interactive theater performances at local schools. Through this long-term commitment, they hope to cultivate seeds of change and bring a new dawn to these underserved communities.
The CYCU students are dedicating their time and efforts to make a meaningful impact by promoting menstrual health education and challenging period poverty in underprivileged areas of Uganda. Using creative drama as an educational medium allows them to engage the village children while imparting crucial life skills. Their sustained presence and service exemplify the university’s mission to develop globally-conscious graduates who create positive change worldwide.
As an environmental ecology and engineering student, Liao Po-Jui innovatively utilized leftover charcoal ash to filter water sources and combined it with soap to create a simple yet practical cleaning soap solution. Seeing the children’s excitement as they learned hygiene concepts through fun, hands-on activities made all the efforts worthwhile. The local children kept saying: “You have to come back, don’t forget us!” These heartwarming cross-cultural interactions left the volunteer team with unforgettable joyful memories.
Liao applied his technical background to develop an environmentally-friendly water filtration system using local materials. By incorporating this into an interactive handwashing activity, the students could learn proper hygiene practices in an engaging way. The children’s enthusiasm for the lessons and their insistence that the volunteers return revealed the deep connections formed.
For the team, these precious moments of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange encapsulated the true rewards of their service work. Witnessing the children’s vibrant spirits as they eagerly absorbed the hygiene education made the challenges worthwhile. The volunteers’ commitment stretched beyond just this visit, planting seeds for an ongoing relationship benefiting this Ugandan village.
