In order to cultivate the students’ sense of social responsibility, and with the approaching Mother’s Day, the Student Affairs Office of Macao Polytechnic Institute recently organised the MPI Charitable Fellowship Programme -“Plant Your Love”. Students visited Loja do Canto (The Corner Shop) and learned about the career training provided by this social welfare organisation for formerly mentally ill persons, such as basic chemical knowledge for mixing cleaning materials. Students interacted with the trainees of Loja do Canto through the hand in hand potted plants workshop and made special Mother’s Day presents to express love to their mothers.

Student Pak, who is majoring in Computing, appreciated the learning attitude, work enthusiasm and professionalism of the trainees of Loja do Canto, as they worked together to complete the meaningful Mother’s Day present.  He hopes the majority of the society can accept the formerly mentally ill persons, so as to help them establish confidence to return to the society.  Student Wang, who is majoring in E-Commerce, stated that after in-depth communication and interaction with the trainees when making the potted plants, she noticed that the trainees are just like ordinary people. The society needs to give more care, the public should be less subjective, and there should be less criticism, more appreciation and more recognition towards the trainees to assist them to build up self-confidence to reintegrate into the society.

MPI is always concerned with the holistic development of students, and actively encourages students to serve the community and devote themselves to the betterment of the society.  The Student Affairs Office organises the MPI Charitable Fellowship Programme with the aim of letting students participate in social service and caring for others. Students are inspired and experience growth in their moral and social domain through participating in service learning activities.  The event coincided with Mother’s Day, and the potted plants were dedicated to mothers with significant meaning.