The 'Youth Difference Makers Award' organized by The Hong Kong Spinal Cord Injury Fund and co-organized by The Direction Association for the Handicapped and Hong Kong International Institute of Educational Leadership with the support of Equal Opportunities Commission, Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and Scout Association of Hong Kong. The Award encouraged youngsters to become a "Difference Maker" in enhancing the lives of others and to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. The 10 Awardees this year have the precious opportunities to attend an educational trip to USA. Our student, Jong Ming Yan (5D), as one of the 10 Grand Prize Awardees, was invited to attend the "Youth Difference Makers Award – Educational Trip to Rutger's University" from 18th to 24th July, 2012.

During the first few days, the tour first settled in Philadelphia. There, students toured round the campus of Rutgers' University. Rutgers' campuses are located in the great state of New Jersey, one of America's 13 original colonies. Packed with history, firsts—and people—it is where Washington crossed the Delaware, Edison invented the electric light, and the boardwalk and baseball were born. It is home to 8.7 million residents—the small but powerful sweet spot between New York and Pennsylvania. With its tremendous density and diversity—of terrain, communities, arts and culture, transportation, and businesses—New Jersey is now and future America in microcosm, the ideal proving ground for new ideas. And Rutgers has always been its trusted partner in moving forward. It is convenient to New York City, Philadelphia, and the Jersey Shore.

To learn more about Spinal Cord Injury and its latest advancement on medical treatment and rehabilitation, students visited the Children's Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Hospital and the Keck Center. The W. M. Keck Center for Collaborative Neuroscience is dedicated to multidisciplinary collaborative research and to accelerating the translation of scientific discovers into effective human therapies. The focus of the Center's work is spinal cord injury with findings also applicable to persons with brain injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotropic lateral sclerosis, transverse myelitis, and other problems of the central nervous system. The W.M. Center operates on the belief that cure is achievable and collaboration is the means by which that goal will be reached.

To most of the students, it was their first time in Philadelphia. They grasped this opportunity to visit the sites, do some shopping activities, learn American History and feel the life of Americans in such a big city. Through the day trip in Philadelphia, students visited National Constitution Museum, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Cobblestone Streets, South Street Italian Market. Students realized how the United States as a melting port integrates people from different nations by upholding the belief of "Freedom and Liberty".

Then the tour moved to New York - the most populous city in the United States of America and one of the well-known financial and cultural centre in the World. In this metropolitan areas, students visited South Street Seaport and Headquarters of the United Nations. They took Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty - a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Besides, they visited the 9/11 Museum. There they were demonstrated the worst of human nature of violence and inhumanity while deeply impressed by the virtuous human capacity to care for one another.

The journey ended when students departed from the New York Newark Airport. They brought with them memories of college lives in American University and people's lives in metropolitan cities and were enlightened by the spirit of "Freedom and Liberty" surrounding the whole country. They were profoundly touched by the staunch spirit of people with spinal cord injury and the human spirit of volunteerism that was so spontaneous and generous. Most important of all, they are all "Inspired to Make a Difference".