Students from our school recently took part in the annual flagship event organised by the Hong Kong Red Cross — the 4th Red Cross Orienteering Challenge 2026. The event received an overwhelming response, attracting over 1,030 teams and approximately 3,700 participants, setting a new record for participation. Our school fielded several teams in the Inter-school Cup, joining other participants in completing a series of challenges across the Sha Tin district.

With the theme “Unlock Challenges · Thrive Through Adversity,” the event aimed to promote knowledge of disaster preparedness, emergency response, and humanitarian aid through an orienteering-based format. This year’s challenge also marked the first collaboration with Chibi Maruko-chan, enhancing participants’ engagement and learning motivation. Throughout the competition, students were tested not only on their physical endurance and teamwork, but also on their ability to apply life-saving knowledge at various mission stations.

The challenge featured over 80 online checkpoints and four physical task stations, covering practical skills such as first-aid bandaging, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), emotional and mental health awareness, and simulated flood response through sandbag stacking. These hands-on experiences enabled students to better understand the importance of disaster response and community preparedness through real-life application.

Participating students noted that the activity effectively bridged classroom learning with real-world scenarios, deepening their understanding of first aid and disaster preparedness, while reinforcing the positive impact individual preparedness can have on community safety.

Beyond a competition, the event served as a meaningful humanitarian learning journey. All students who successfully completed the challenge were awarded commemorative medals and electronic certificates in recognition of their dedication and effort. Our school will continue to promote related learning initiatives, encouraging students to extend their emergency response knowledge and humanitarian spirit to the campus and the wider community, and to contribute to building a safer and more resilient society.