When a Hong Kong teacher took a handful of students to Cambodia for some voluntary work six years ago, he never imagined that it would grow into a lasting organisation.

Co-founded by Chan Yik-yeung, vice-principal of Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College, youth volunteer group Dream Compassioneers has mobilised more than 1,000 students in service projects across Asia since its establishment in 2020.

The initiative has earned the team a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, recognised in the teamwork category for inspiring empathy and leadership through community service.

Recalling the trip to Cambodia where he and his students performed voluntary work, Chan said: “We just wanted to help where we could. But when I saw how much the students changed after that trip, I knew this had to continue.”

Among the students who joined the trip was Ice Or Ka-ying, who has stayed on as a volunteer of Dream Compassioneers since graduating from the Chinese University of Hong Kong last year.

“That trip changed me completely,” she said. “We went to a rubbish mountain where families survive by collecting plastic.”