Habiba Zubair once had a negative view of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong. But that changed after she started working as a Program Support intern at EmpowerU through the Impact Lab Course, where she had the opportunity to converse with migrant domestic workers about all and sundry, from cosmetics to life struggles.
Read our interview with Habiba to find out how her involvement with EmpowerU – as a student, course facilitator, and Program Support intern – has inspired her to be more compassionate and non-judgemental toward marginalized communities, while reaffirming her career aspiration as an empathetic and open-minded teacher.
When did you first get involved with EmpowerU?
I first became involved with EmpowerU in the summer of 2021 as a fifth-year secondary student, participating in two courses, including “Behind the Hustle” and “Health & Well-being 2.0”.
Initially, I was reluctant to attend these summer classes and was persuaded to join by a friend. At that time, I was not particularly inclined toward extracurricular activities and had little interest in pursuing courses outside of school. My lack of enthusiasm hindered my ability to fully engage in the experience, and I mostly remember dismissing the course and the hard work the team had put into it.
However, I do recall the efforts made by the PowerThru team to introduce us to various opportunities beyond the conventional career paths associated with the DSE by inviting influential people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines into the courses. Overall, I received valuable guidance from the PowerThru members regarding career options and had the chance to connect with inspiring peers through group presentations.
As a student at The University of Hong Kong, you took the Impact Lab Course and chose to work at EmpowerU. Why?
As a student at HKU, I enrolled in the Impact Lab Course in 2025, unaware of its existence because I study Comparative Literature. Last December, I received an email from EmpowerU, which said that they were seeking alumni facilitators for their various programs. Since I aspire to be a teacher, I viewed this as a valuable opportunity to engage with students and gain experience.
On my first day as a facilitator, a team member from EmpowerU, who had previously attended HKU, introduced me to the Impact Lab Course and mentioned that EmpowerU is one of the course’s partner organizations I could work with through the course. As I inquired about attending more sessions as a facilitator, she suggested that if I wanted to connect with students further, I could apply for an internship.
I chose to work with EmpowerU for two main reasons. First, my prior experience with them as a student showed me their empathy towards learners, motivating me to support ethnic minority students in Hong Kong with my experience in university education and career planning. Second, I was impressed by the team dynamics of EmpowerU. Having met them as a student, I was drawn to how well the team of EmpowerU collaborated with the schools and ethnically diverse students during the sessions as a facilitator, treating all interns equally and fostering open communication at the end of every school session without hierarchical distinctions.
What are your role and responsibilities as an EmpowerU intern during the Spring 2025 semester?
As a Program Support intern at EmpowerU, I have been engaging in a variety of tasks during my internship in the Spring 2025 semester. My responsibilities include designing workshop posters, creating event collages for social media content, analysing post-course student surveys, writing captions for social media, and generating ideas for social media content. Additionally, I create photo frames for events, attend sessions with migrant domestic workers to provide educational support to them for their assignments, assist secondary students in brainstorming design ideas, and document all events with photography.
What are amongst some of the big takeaways from your internship so far?
The first key takeaway from my internship is that it has significantly improved my communication skills. Although I often come across as an extrovert, I struggled with listening when interacting with unfamiliar people. Through my conversations with migrant domestic workers and ethnically diverse students and learning their stories, I have become more open-minded and aware of the people around me.
After this internship, I aim to be less judgmental and more compassionate in my interactions, understanding that sometimes people may simply need someone to listen rather than receive advice.
Another important lesson I learned in my internship was the value of professionalism and establishing boundaries in the workplace. Before this internship, I often acted unprofessionally and expected prompt responses from the EmpowerU team, but I was advised to avoid this behavior in the future, as it could negatively impact my reputation within different groups.
Are there any memorable moments during your internship?
Among my many memorable moments, the experiences that I have shared with migrant domestic workers stand out the most. Initially, I viewed them as disruptive for taking public spaces on holidays, but after getting to know them and listening to their struggles, my perspective changed. I came to understand the challenges they face in their jobs and family relationships. I have engaged in open conversations with them, discussing from mundane cosmetic-related conversations to personal issues. These interactions have become the highlight of my internship.
Another memorable experience has been our weekly intern meetings with EmpowerU, where we discuss our tasks, shape our progress, and participate in icebreaker activities. These icebreakers bring out my inner child, and I always look forward to contributing my best ideas to the team.
Has this internship with EmpowerU shaped your perspectives about migrant domestic workers and ethnically diverse youth? If yes, in what ways?
This internship has indeed shaped my perspective positively about migrant domestic workers and ethnically diverse youth.
I used to view migrant domestic workers as discourteous and disturbing for taking up public spaces and chatting noisily. However, learning about their reasons for gathering in these areas on holidays changed my perspective. I discovered that many workers face poor treatment from their employers, lack adequate space at home, and have few people to communicate with, which is why they congregate in central locations for a sense of community.
I also learned that the majority of them suffer from family issues, which led to emotional moments when they shared their experiences with me. Closer communications with migrant domestic workers during this internship made me honor and respect the resilience they have built for themselves and their families.
In addition to my insights about migrant domestic workers, I have gained a deeper understanding of ethnically diverse youth, particularly through school sessions and discussions about career development.
In my own schooling, I was only exposed to career options available to those with good results in DSE. I realized it was not my fault for not having an understanding of diverse career opportunities, as it was a shortcoming of the educational system. I found that this issue is still inherent among many schools across Hong Kong, which often fail to provide relevant courses about career development to support students. Hearing from ethnically diverse students about their knowledge of limited opportunities made me feel sympathetic to them, as many students told me that they are considering quitting their education if they cannot gain direct university admission.
Has this internship influenced your decision regarding future studies and/or career?
This internship has profoundly shaped my career aspirations as a teacher, inspiring me to become a better role model for my students and to excel in my profession.
Prior to this experience, I often found myself quick to judge others, particularly migrant domestic workers, without truly understanding their circumstances. However, my interactions with them have taught me the importance of reassessing my perceptions before forming opinions. Moving forward, I will prioritize open communication with my students to better understand their needs, enabling me to deliver knowledge more effectively. This approach overall will help my students explore a variety of career paths and the diverse ways of achieving them, which we as students lacked the most.
Would you recommend the Impact Lab Course to your peers? Why or why not?
I will wholeheartedly recommend the Impact Lab Course to my peers, as this internship is truly a life-changing experience. It provides invaluable professional exposure through different seminars with Professor David Bishop under the Impact Lab Course and effectively prepares individuals for their future endeavors.
*Learn more about the award-winning experiential learning Impact Lab Course here. Read these case stories to find out how Impact Lab continues to empower youth to drive social change while equipping them with essential human skills and transferable skills!
