Going green together: EdUHK’s ECO‑CONNECT FESTIVAL inspires sustainable living

As innovative educators, our faculty not only impart knowledge in classrooms, but also use real-life examples to inspire our students. On 14 and 15 October, the Department of Science and Environmental Studies (SES) brought learning to life by organising the ECO-CONNECT FESTIVAL, an educational event featuring more than ten environmental organisations. These groups demonstrated practical ways to live sustainably, from growing plants organically, repairing or upcycling appliances to practising naked shopping. Visitors also learnt how to use seeds commonly found in Hong Kong and how to transform old clothes into creative artefacts and small household items.

Professor Keith Ho Wing-kei, Head of SES, explained that the festival aimed to promote sustainability across the EdUHK community. “There are 12 green organisations participating in the festival, all of which have project linked to some of the 17 SDGs. We have several organic farmers selling their produce, NGOs educating us on soil and regenerative farming, one group teaching the making of natural herbal care products, and another advocating cage-free chicken breeding. I hope the festival provides EdUHK students and staff with first-hand knowledge on sustainability,” Professor Ho said, expressing gratitude to the faculty for funding the event.  

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, calling for collective global efforts to tackle pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. As a forward-looking and socially responsible institution, EdUHK embraces these goals wholeheartedly. The first ECO-CONNECT FESTIVAL was organised in response to the University’s commitment to sustainability.

Ms Betty Lam Lai-shan, affectionately known as “Green Mama”, hosted a workshop on upcycling discarded clothing. Having previously worked in the textile industry, Betty noticed that fashion trends now change much faster than a decade ago, leading to greater clothing waste. To combat this, she champions the recycling of used garments by sewing smaller fabric pieces into practical household items such as mattresses and wool coasters. During her workshop, she not only taught students how to select and sew suitable old clothes into new products but also shared a broader message about sustainable living. “I encourage participants to avoid overbuying, but use second-hand items. I also urge them to refuse single-use sportswear often produced for large-scale events,” said the homemaker, who dedicates herself to promoting eco‑friendly lifestyles.

Chris Ng Yuk-hin, a second-year SES student from the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Science) (BEd(Hons)(Sci)) programme, assisted at the festival. “I learnt from one booth how to grow herbs sustainably and discovered how herbs can reduce dependency on synthetic products, fostering a healthier relationship with nature. Another booth explained soil’s role in cultivation and the principles of regenerative farming, including cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage, composting, and agroforestry. I was fascinated to learn that regenerative farming helps rebuild soil vitality, increase biodiversity, capture and store atmospheric carbon, and promote long-term ecological balance,” said Chris, who also led guided tours to the on-campus ECO GARDEN.

In addition to attending booths and workshops managed by green social enterprises, visitors joined tours of the ECO GARDEN, located on the opposite side of the campus, where they observed eco-friendly gardening in action. Chris and his fellow helpers introduced visitors to the garden’s sustainable features, including energy-saving systems, recycling initiatives, resource re-use, and biodiversity conservation.

The two-day event attracted hundreds of students, faculty, staff and outside visitors, creating an immersive environment for hands‑on learning about sustainability. “I am delighted to see the creativity and resourcefulness of the participating organisations in promoting environmentally conscious living. Through the festival, attendees learnt how to embrace sustainable consumption and adopt habits that conserve resources and minimize harm to nature. By engaging directly in these experiences, individuals were empowered to lead greener lives. I believe that by acting collectively, we can make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable future,” Professor Ho concluded.

Click here to read the previous interview with Professor Ho to understand more about the University and FLASS’ works on achieving sustainability.

List of participating organisations: