Driven by a vision to bridge divides, Amna Zulfiqar has carved a path of service that transcends borders and breaks down barriers. As an executive committee member of the University YMCA® (HKU) and organiser of the service trip “Walking with Nepal: Nepal Service & Cultural Tour”, she aspires to empower students and communities through merging cultural exchange with impactful action.

Amna provided meals to elderly residents during the activity “Strolling Through Cultures” in Nam Cheong, Hong Kong.

Central to Amna’s journey is the belief that service is a mirror for personal growth. Her early foray into community work not only shattered her academic-centric mindset but also taught her that meaningful learning can happen beyond classrooms. Amna understands that engaging with people whose realities differ from your own will compel you to unlearn assumptions and relearn humanity. This ethos deepened during her position as a Public Relations and Promotion Officer of the Student Executive Committee of the University YMCA® (HKU), where she challenged herself to advocate for partnerships, design campaigns and practise stakeholder communication.

Amna delivered a literacy programme for children during the “Toytopia Adventure in The Philippines”.

Amna’s role in organising and leading the Nepal service trip has deeply reshaped her identity as both a student and a leader. The experience demanded navigating cultural miscommunications, logistical challenges, and team disagreements — processes that honed her ability to listen, adapt, and lead with humility. Through this work, she realised impact thrives not in imposing solutions, but in co-creating them alongside communities, rooted in trust and mutual respect. Witnessing participants, including both trip attendees and Nepali children, grow through STEAM and cultural activities solidified her belief in experiential learning as a catalyst for empathy, and more importantly, the transformative power of two-way cultural exchange.

In the service trip “Walking with Nepal: Nepal Service & Cultural Tour”, Amna taught Nepali children the use of water filters with natural materials during a STEAM activity.

To aspiring changemakers, Amna advises them to break free from their comfort zone, bravely embrace challenges, and see failure as part of growth. Going forward, she plans more sustained initiatives with actionable support such as service projects and cross-cultural mentorship.