Hong Kong’s first blog for SDG education news and announcements
Sustainable solutions come from creative problem solving, and this is the belief Ruth has held as she helps students become catalysts for change through the YCI program. The UN SDGs have informed her own goals as she continues to take small steps toward big changes in her circles of influence. The goals she is most passionate about are Good health and Well-being and Quality Education, be it as a Psychology teacher in the classroom, as a volunteer at her local church or as a member of Hong Kong’s Ethnic Minority community. Sustainable development can only be achieved if each person - no matter how young - is willing to do their part, and it is everyone’s responsibility to be informed and committed to making the world a more livable place. . . .
Ark Eden is a tree-planting initiative on Lantau Island which also engages in educational projects. Jason is looking at how he can contribute with his carbon neutral inistiative. He recently made a trip: “I had joined along a trip with HKU professor Mr Gavin Coates and HKU students to learn more about the agriculture and ecosystem in Mui Wo. Mr Coates provided in-depth descriptions about the trees in Mui Wo and his personal views on reforestation in Hong Kong. He believes that non-native species would effectively build a canopy in order to protect the native species growing underneath. Personally, I had gained a greater understanding about tree-planting.” . . .
Jason has started an initiative called Carbon Neutral. He is very aware of the impact human activity has had on the atmosphere and how the enhanced greenhouse effect is already changing climates and will continue to do so for many years. As people realise they need to start adapting and mitigating for the behaviours that have caused this, one approach is to look at ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Having researched carbon sequestration, Jason realised that tree-planting is the quickest, easiest and most natural route to achieve this. His Carbon Neutral initiative seeks to see how tree-planting works, to engage in tree-planting in Hong Kong and to come up with a model to help other volunteers around the world get involved with tree-planting in their locations. . . .
YCI Member Alex Lee was the 2nd of our group to take part in Catalysing Change Week 2021. He had the chance to present his Andy Autism Initiative based on helping his brother through ASD. The Youth Empowerment Circle is designed to accelerate youth-led initiatives such as this. . . .
YCI Member Alvin Wong took part in Catalysing Change Week 2021. He had the chance to present his March to Your Beat initiative to bring his own developments in music therapy solutions to autistic youth. The Youth Empowerment Circle is designed to accelerate youth-led initiatives such as this. . . .
Jessie's SDG journey began when she started Family Mask, a PPE manufacturer and distributor as a response to COVID-19. Through the United Nations Global Compact network, Family Mask has donated over 3,000,000 face masks across the globe to communities in need. Now based in Hong Kong, she was educated in the United Kingdom for over a decade, graduated with a Masters of Art from world-renowned fashion school Istituto Marangoni and a Bachelor of Science from SOAS, University of London. Jessie is also a part of the UNITE 2030 and YOUNGA 2020/2021 community, and recognized as an UpLink innovator by the World Economic Forum. . . .
Amanda’s commitment to the UN’s SDGs was first inspired by her encounters with many resourceful individuals who face, or have faced, tremendous inequality in their daily lives because the SDGs are not yet reality. She was privileged to meet these people - and learn from them - through her voluntary work with three Hong Kong-based NGOs, two with regional operations. In parallel to this, Amanda’s environmental interests have grown through seeing the threats to local habitats around her home on Lantau. And a life-long interest in History has taught her that, often, change starts with an individual and a single idea. We don’t have to wait for governments to implement the SDGs: we can start here and now. . . .
Sue has several decades’ experience of teaching English in different countries and contexts, including to speakers of other languages and at tertiary level. She has always had a passion for language and literature and also has a strong interest in social justice and education. Her experience in the classroom and in schools makes her the ideal mentor for SDGs 4, 5, 10 and 16 . . .
