Kowloon True Light School has launched “Project Silver” — a year-long community initiative marking the 155th anniversary of the school’s founding — with an opening ceremony and an all-school “Pass It On” Service Day.

Following the ceremony, teachers and students visited elderly residents in public housing estates and care homes to cheer them up for the Autumn Festival cheer. More than 200 solitary and elderly couple households were covered.

The ceremony drew guests, parents, alumni, teachers and students. Under the theme “Light Up Your Soul, Make Others Whole”, the project is in response to Hong Kong’s ageing population by encouraging students to understand the physical and emotional needs of older people. Drawing on the traditional Chinese virtues of filial piety, benevolence and unity, it invites students to see the elderly as wise life mentors.

Throughout the year, older residents will join classes on campus. Activities include sharing Tai Chi softball skills in physical education lessons, exploring scientific principles with students in chemistry laboratories, and passing on Cantonese Nam Yin — an item of intangible cultural heritage, in music classes.

Under the “Technology for Good” concept, students are also encouraged to use digital tools in caring actions and to strengthen their sense of social responsibility.

In his address, school supervisor Reverend Wong Ka-fai, supervisor of Kowloon True Light School, said the elderly have devoted their lives to society and that their life wisdom is a “silver glow” worth inheriting with humility. Combined with the youth and compassion of students, their “true light”, the two generations illuminate each other.

Wong, principal Lee Yi-ying and guest representatives pulled ribbons on a heart-shaped installation, symbolizing the gathering of community goodwill. As the assembly sang “Pass It On”, participants lit their wrist-worn “True Light Stars” one after another, passing the glow hand to hand until the lights formed a “155” pattern.

The Mid-Autumn visits were supported by a range of community partners. The Social Service Department of The Free Methodist Church of Hong Kong, Christian Family Service Centre, and the Tin Keung, Wang Tau Hom and Lok Fu Care Teams in Wong Tai Sin District coordinated the visits and provided care support, while the Tsing Harbour Youth Exchange Promotion Association supplied volunteers. Teams reached elderly care homes and public housing estates in Lok Fu, Chuk Yuen, Tak Tin and Tsui Ping.

Service teams delivered gift packages of low-sugar mooncakes and snowflake crisp, handmade by senior chefs at the social enterprise Gingko House. Using communication techniques learned from La Violet Education, students also introduced a dementia-prevention AI application developed by Medmind Technology, engaging residents with interactive games that combine technology and human-centered care.

The school said the launch and service day mark a step forward in its holistic education and character development framework. In the coming year, it will continue to offer elderly-themed learning modules, intergenerational workshops and community service projects to nurture empathy and civic awareness.