Latest news with #OxfamHongKong
South China Morning Post
02-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must ensure a quality AI education is available to all
Hong Kong's inaugural Digital Education Week is a landmark effort to accelerate a digital transformation in education and cultivate students' digital literacy. More than a tech showcase, it is a call to action for educators, policymakers and communities to engage deeply with the discussion on what a quality technical education means in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. Advertisement This is an opportunity for Hong Kong to reaffirm its commitment to setting a global example of responsible AI integration in education. Having spent over a decade navigating the complex terrain of global education policy, I have seen how technological waves reshape classrooms and societies alike. AI is no longer a distant promise but an immediate force transforming how we teach and learn. This transformation demands a paradigm shift in pedagogy , where critical thinking, ethical reasoning and creativity become central to the curriculum, preparing students not just to use AI, but to question and shape it. AI's transformative potential is undeniable. Its ability to personalise learning, provide real-time feedback and free teachers from routine tasks can revolutionise education. Yet AI's benefits are not guaranteed – they depend on the deliberate choices societies make. Without thoughtful policies, AI risks deepening inequalities and concentrating advantages among a privileged few. This risk is especially acute in a city like Hong Kong, where wealth disparity is severe. Oxfam Hong Kong revealed a poverty rate of 20.2 per cent in the first quarter of last year, with over 1.39 million people living in poverty. Meanwhile, the poorest 10 per cent of households earn 81.9 times less than the richest 10 per cent – a stark increase from 34.3 times in 2019. Advertisement Such divides translate directly into unequal access to digital tools and AI-enabled learning opportunities, which threatens to widen the education gap. To prevent AI from becoming another driver of social exclusion, Hong Kong must adopt inclusive policies that ensure equitable access to a quality AI education.
The Standard
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Standard
Teaching high-tech agriculture
A Hong Kong social venture is transforming classrooms into agricultural hubs, teaching students sustainable skills while providing fresh produce for low-income families. The Farmunity initiative, run by farming technology company Farmacy HK, is engaging over 1,200 students across 10 secondary schools, producing up to 20,000 vegetables monthly – equivalent to a small commercial farm's output. Launched in 2024 with nearly HK$1.9 million in funding from the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, the project installs hydroponic systems in schools where students learn agriculture, technology and business skills. Each month, about 6,000 to 8,000 vegetables are donated to nearby low-income households, with the rest sold through student-managed distribution channels. "This isn't just about growing vegetables or creating future farmers," said Raymond Mak Ka-chun, Farmacy's co-founder and chief empowerment officer, in an exclusive interview with The Standard. "We're empowering students to solve real community problems through hands-on experience with sustainability and technology." The program's impact extends far beyond agricultural output. At one participating school, students delivered their first harvest to a temporary housing area across the street, sparking ongoing community connections. Several schools have established partnerships with neighborhood stores and social enterprises to distribute their produce. "Many of these underprivileged kids don't have access to green skills or STEM education outside school," he said. "But in five or ten years, these will be essential for their careers. This program lets them learn in a hands-on way, not just from textbooks." Mak also revealed that over 10 schools are on a waiting list and several have already signed letters of intent. Teachers have also embraced the curriculum, with participation rates surpassing expectations. Mak expects to expand the model to secondary schools. 'If ten schools can achieve this impact, imagine the potential for expansion." The Farmunity project was recently recognized at Oxfam Hong Kong's "Beyond Measure: Annual Outstanding Project Award Ceremony," where it was named one of four winning initiatives. The awards are part of the Oxfam Grant for Good program, which supports innovations addressing poverty and social exclusion. Wong Shek-hung, director of the Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan program at Oxfam Hong Kong, explained that the SIE Fund appointed Oxfam as an intermediary to help social ventures refine and execute their ideas. Over the past two years, the program has nurtured 49 projects, providing mentorship, networking, and funding oversight. (Ayra Wang)
