The COVID-19 epidemic has led to a severe economic recession in Hong Kong. According to the ‘Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2020’ released by the Hong Kong government, before policy intervention, 1.653 million individuals were living in poverty within the city. The labour market has undergone a significant deterioration, marked by a sharp rise in the annual unemployment rate, which has reached 6.5%—the highest level in 16 years. This has led to a reduction in income or job loss among grassroots, resulting in a concomitant increase in the number of individuals seeking emergency food assistance from the Social Welfare Department, for instance, the number of recipients increased by 20% to 62,000 in 2021. As Hong Kong is ranked as the second highest cost of living city in the world, it raises the question of how the economically disadvantaged can afford basic necessities.

Poverty in Hong Kong is a long-standing issue. As a member of society, it is crucial for secondary school students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by grassroots citizens and explore how to contribute to poverty alleviation. The Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Office of The Chinese University of Hong Kong is pleased to offer the ‘Design Thinking Summer 2023: No Poverty and Zero Hunger’ programme this Summer.

Through training and workshops, design thinking, and short video production, the programme aims to educate participants on the importance of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), develop their sense of empathy, and sharpen their communication, leadership and organization skills. The programme enables students to unleash their creativity in building ‘No Poverty and Zero Hunger’ campuses and communities, broaden their horizons and fulfil their responsibilities as global citizens.

Programme Details (Chinese version only)