Our Project
Refugees are often assumed to primarily need physical items such as toys or everyday necessities; however, conversations with refugees in Hong Kong reveal a deeper need: a strong desire for education and opportunities to improve their lives, especially for their children. Many adults face challenges within the local education system and are unable to pursue higher education due to their refugee status, yet they demonstrate a powerful commitment to learning and a determination to build better futures for their families. In response, this project focuses on teaching engineering and sustainability, providing those in need with access to valuable knowledge and skills that can create new opportunities while bringing awareness to environmental protection.
Latest News: Refugee Union Summer 2026 Camp
During July, our team decided to host an educational camp at Refugee Union (a Hong Kong charity) in response to parents seeking learning opportunities for their children. Because many of these families lack the financial resources for extracurricular activities, our goal was to make the most of the summer break by offering the children a truly memorable experience.
With hydroponics (growing plants without soil) becoming increasingly common, we decided to connect sustainable farming with a beloved childhood milestone: raising a pet. Drawing inspiration from Hong Kong’s famous Goldfish Street (金魚街)— a lively stretch of shops dedicated to fish, reptiles, and vivariums — we researched suitable household species. We eventually landed on Neon Tetras and small freshwater shrimp due to their steady waste production, which is ideal for hydroponics.
While topics like sustainability can sometimes feel dry, these young kids were genuinely thrilled—and a few were surprisingly well-informed! As we explained how the animals' waste acts as a natural fertilizer for the vegetables, they were just as excited about growing lettuce and onions as they were about getting their new pets.
Having spent time with the students beforehand, we wanted to design a fun, interactive session that would leave them with a lasting impression of a topic we care deeply about: sustainability.
With the sponsorships raised, we secured enough for our cohort of 12 students with fish tanks, oxygen pumps, food pellets, and various vegetable stems to get them started.
