Generation Green

Young people today face completely different challenges to those of my teenage years. I never had to be concerned about global warming - it was almost a foreign idea.

Today I not only know about it, I can actively do something about it!

Student conducting customer
satisfaction surveys at our green
collection community sales outlets

In 2012, Christian Action collaborated with Lingnan University, the Education University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong to organise a summer internship programme to train students to be 'green' leaders. The idea was to enhance the students' environmental consciousness by getting them involved in the operations of our Green Collection programme. So far we have had 46 university student interns helping our social enterprise team to make a difference in our community.

This summer, 11 energetic students came on board and organised a series of fun, environmentally conscious events to promote 'green' causes. Despite the summer heat, within two months they managed to organise several major events, including a used book drive; a goods and clothing swap in Kowloon East district, and also a clothing drive for the patients at Kwai Chung Hospital! From recycling to upcycling, these students led by example to improve the environment.

One of their most impressive programmes was Charity Barter at Rhythm Gardens, a used goods swapping community event organised in Wong Tai Sin. Over 250 residents swapped second-hand clothes, toys, and even furniture. No one went home empty-handed! Our team collected over 2,500 items, and made over 2,000 swaps. Praise God, parents and friends, for this youthful team!

Investing in our youth is one of the greatest gifts we can give to Hong Kong's future. But environmental changes are everyone's responsibility. As we begin our seasonal cleaning, let's take a moment to ask ourselves: how can we extend the lives of used things instead of throwing them into landfills?