The Unesco Hong Kong Association gives the city’s young people a chance to make a difference by becoming Green Citizens Youth Ambassadors.
Unesco is the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is a group that helps protect the world’s art, science and culture.
Green Citizens Youth Ambassadors are students who want to take action on sustainable development: caring for the planet and the people who live here.
“In Hong Kong, we get so many different solutions related to pollution and also some of the issues related to environment … and equality,” said 23-year-old Paigel He, a current Green Citizens Youth Ambassador.
“I believe it is the mission of our youth to contribute to global issues.”
Teaching the next generation
The youth ambassadors educate primary and secondary school students about sustainable development. This past year, they focused on mental well-being, cultural heritage and creating a more eco-friendly city.
Alisha Kwan, a 22-year-old graduate of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, was a youth ambassador working on the Education for Sustainable Development Learning Programme. For five months, she and other ambassadors taught students about social and environmental issues and developed their skills.
Pupils strengthened their understanding of well-being through special lectures and visits to places supporting those with mental illness, such as New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. This also helps students cultivate values such as tolerance and respect for people who are struggling.
The youth ambassador shared that she was amazed after witnessing the pupils’ excitement to learn and willingness to research sustainable development in Hong Kong.
“I got inspired from them [on] how to be more creative and more passionate,” Kwan explained.
Voice for change
He, a 23-year-old master’s student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said his most memorable experience was working with pupils to propose policy recommendations to the government.
For example, the youngsters wanted to do something about the plastic problem in Hong Kong by addressing government officials at the Environment and Ecology Bureau.
“[We were] selecting outstanding green innovative products for promotion ... which were all recognised and appreciated by the officials,” the youth ambassador said.
“This was a very meaningful and constructive meeting, and it makes me believe even more that young people can create some new values for society.”
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