Bridging Connections Through Board Games: HATCH Talent Development Programme 2026 Concludes with Board Game Day in a special school

Venue: CUHK InnoPort & Hong Kong Red Cross Margaret Trench School

HATCH Talent Development Programme 2026 concluded with a Board Game Day at Hong Kong Red Cross Margaret Trench School (MTS), where 20 interns put their learning into practice by facilitating four interactive board games they had developed for students during the programme.

Throughout the programme, the interns progressed from learning the fundamentals of board game design to developing, testing and refining their own games, while building the skills needed to facilitate and demonstrate them. With emotions as the central theme, the interns also spent time exploring different emotions and practicing how emotional vocabulary could be introduced and expressed through gameplay.

Programme tutor Alan shared his experience in designing board games for children and introduced games created by him and his team, allowing the interns to experience them from a player’s perspective. One key takeaway was that a good board game does not have to be complicated. A simple design can be just as effective when the facilitator knows how to guide the players and bring out the intended message.

The interns put these lessons into practice through multiple rounds of trials with peers and children of different ages. Based on their observations and feedback, they made adjustments to the game rules, materials and equipment. They also paid attention to the supporting elements, such as game setup and props, which can often be overlooked but are essential to making the game accessible. In addition, they practiced leading post-game debriefing sessions, helping participants reflect on what they had experienced and connect the activities with the messages behind each game.

The Board Game Day last month provided an opportunity for the interns to apply these skills in a real-world setting. Before the activities began, they assessed the classroom environment, arranged the available equipment and tailored the rules to match varying learning needs. The students then were divided into two groups, taking turns to play the games alongside the interns.

Recognizing the importance of building rapport, the interns also took time to introduce themselves and engage with the students before the games began. These interactions helped create a welcoming atmosphere and allowed the interns to learn more about the students’ backgrounds and preferences.

The room was filled with laughter as students fully immersed themselves in the activities. Beyond having fun, students also had opportunities to explore a wider range of emotional vocabulary, extending beyond familiar terms such as “happy” and “sad”.

Following the activities, Alan led a reflection session with the interns, highlighting the importance of human connection and empathy when engaging with students. He encouraged them to use open-ended questions to give students more room to express themselves, rather than limiting their responses to “yes” or “no”. The group also discussed the art of balancing flexibility with boundaries: adapting to students' needs while gently guiding them to respect rules and fellow players. This harmony helps students feel supported as they connect with peers and embraced shared experiences.

This half-day experience showed the interns that a board game is more than its design. From the moment students join their group to the final debriefing, the way interns communicate, respond and guide students can shape how they engage and what they take away from the experience.

As the interns continue their journey with the CATCHER Programme, the practical skills and insights gained will be invaluable for their future community service. We look forward to seeing them empower others through their work and continue bringing hope to the community. HATCH would also like to express its sincere appreciation to our CATCHERs, The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA) and MTS for their valuable support and contribution to the programme.

About HATCH:

HATCH, its full name being Hub of Advanced Technology for Child Health, was jointly established by the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and growth partner and funder, The D. H. Chen Foundation. With our innovations in microbial diagnostics and replacement therapies, HATCH’s mission is to bring health and hope to our future generation through research, education, and community outreach.