On the sun-dappled shores of Hong Kong, Ema Poposka’s snorkelling adventures have ignited a lifelong crusade.
For her, the ocean is more than just a playground.
“The ocean has always been a part of my life,” said the 17-year-old student at Renaissance College.
In Year Six, Ema worked on a project at Renaissance College, creating a documentary to highlight the endangered reefs of Hong Kong. As a scuba diver, she dived into the depths to capture vivid underwater scenes while interviewing marine experts and developing engaging narratives. Her classmates composed an original score for the documentary, and together they presented the project at the Kids4Kids Youth Summit, where they secured seed funding and mentorship.
What started as a school assignment began to flourish. The documentary The Living Sea won a Gold Remi award at the 55th Houston International Film Festival and was a finalist at the Earth Futures Festival in 2022. These achievements solidified Ema’s strong commitment to marine conservation.
Following this success, Ema explored animation with her second short film, The Big Blue Cleanup, which became a finalist in the student film competition at the 20th International Ocean Film Festival. Instead of using dive gear, she turned to clay and Lego, crafting sentient corals and playful fish, and reimagining biodiversity as a joyful journey.
“I’m a creative person, and I was trying to challenge myself,” she explained.
Ema wanted her animation to be more than just a documentary filled with facts and interviews; she aimed to incorporate humour, adventure, and emotional depth to ignite curiosity in young audiences.
In addition to her own filmmaking, Ema founded the Making Waves Club to support emerging storytellers. Through various workshops, the club empowers over 200 students in Hong Kong each year to create narratives inspired by the ocean. By partnering with NGOs worldwide, the club has established a global network of young eco-advocates and storytellers.
Since 2022, Ema and her club have organised the Ocean Youth Eco International Film Festival, which provides a platform for young filmmakers to raise awareness about marine environmental issues. The festival has attracted over 3,000 filmmakers from more than 50 countries, showcasing 250 unique stories from diverse perspectives.
Ema is also a UNITAR Young Ambassador for Asia-Pacific and Co-President of the Kids4Kids Advocates Leadership Team.
“I lead a group of 20 passionate students from Hong Kong who are dedicated to helping the community. We organise around five events per year, including the Kids4Kids Youth Summit, which attracts over 300 participants. We distribute resources to students across Hong Kong to help them become changemakers and act on the SDGs,” she said, referring to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“I’m motivated to keep expanding my reach and impact, and inspiring more young people to stand up for the environment and create a more sustainable future.”
Ema was honoured with the top prize in the Sustainability Advocate category at the 2024/25 Student of the Year Awards. These awards were organised by the South China Morning Post and were solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. Ema aims to continue her work as an artist-advocate, demonstrating that ocean conservation is a cause that impacts us all.
