On 8^th April, 2026, Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau organized an experiential workshop themed “War and Refugees,” with staff members from World Vision invited to facilitate the activities. Through a range of interactive approaches, the workshop guided students to develop a deeper understanding of the far‑reaching impacts of war on individuals, families, and societies.

Breaking away from traditional lecture-based teaching, the workshop incorporated group activities, role-playing, and scenario simulations, allowing students to engage with the realities of conflict and displacement through immersive experiences. During the group activities, students were divided into teams representing different countries and earned limited resources by answering questions, thereby experiencing the complex dynamics of competition and cooperation within the international community. This was followed by the “Paper Bridge” challenge, which required each group to complete a task under severe resource constraints. The activity tested participants’ creativity, communication, and teamwork, symbolizing the wisdom, resilience, and perseverance required in post-war reconstruction. In the role-playing and scenario simulation sessions, students assumed the identities of civilians from war‑affected countries, confronting realistic situations such as shortages of essential supplies and difficult evacuation decisions. These scenarios enabled participants to deeply appreciate how war devastates homes and livelihoods, pushing countless families into poverty and instability.

During the workshop, World Vision speaker also shared their experiences in delivering emergency relief and long-term development programmes across the globe. They reviewed past humanitarian initiatives and, through frontline relief documentary footage, demonstrated how access to clean water, temporary shelter, psychological support, and education helps affected families rebuild their lives and regain hope. Overall, the workshop allowed students to realize that war is not a distant news headline, but a global reality that concerns everyone, and that peace is not a given, it must be nurtured through individual awareness and actions over time.

Text: Belly Wang