The Review 2008

14 The Review 2008 15 Raising Awareness About Africa A hoped-for trip to Ghana in March 2008 to visit HIV-positive children was dashed for several HKU students, whose Mainland parents worried Africa was too dangerous and they could contract HIV through touch.Those attitudes only underscored the necessity of the trip for organiser Sebastian Lindstrom. Sebastian, a mature student (he’s 24) studying for a BBA in International Business and Global Management, had planned a packed 13-day itinerary travelling around the countryside to visit HIV-positive children and their families.This was par t of his work for Light for Children, a charity he set up during a stay as a volunteer in Ghana two years ago to focus on the well-being of children inflicted with HIV/AIDS. “I want to see more Asians come to Africa. You don’t see many there. I want to change their perception of the world and create this link between the two places,” he said. Sebastian was encouraged to press ahead with the trip by the Centre of Development and Resources for Students and received funding suppor t from the HKU Class of ’81 Inclusion Fund. In the end 12 volunteers signed up. One of them was Andreas Walthers, a third-year student who initially joined out of curiosity and to get a break from school. “Afterwards it was different, of course. I’m not the sappy kind, but the trip had a great impact on me. I took things more seriously. Seeing how happy the people in Ghana were, including the HIV positive kids, made me think that you don’t need much to achieve happiness,” he said.The experience inspired him to work with a non- government organisation in Cambodia over the summer. Sebastian said he had made a lifetime commitment to Light for Children and he intended to continue working to raise money and awareness. A two-man film crew that joined the Ghana trip in March has produced a documentary to stir people’s interest in the country and in helping HIV positive children. A photo book is also being produced. Fur ther trips from HKU are in the pipeline in 2009. Asian Youth Climate Summit More than 180 students from 22 countries attended the Asian Youth Climate Summit in summer 2008, an event organised by HKU students to promote united action on the issue among their peers. Delegates signed the Asian Youth Climate Declaration, devised action plans for reducing carbon footprints on their campuses and learned about climate change effor ts in other countries. They also par ticipated in carbon neutral activities such as planting trees and were encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions and diversity. The summit was organised by Hong Kong Climate Change Coalition,which was set up by HKU students who travelled to Bali for the UN Climate Change Conference in December 2007. The Centre of Development and Resources for Students arranged the trip for 12 selected Green Advocates, who met with youth groups from around the world during the conference. “We were inspired by their passion and realised there was no youth climate change organisation in Asia,” said Gerald Kwok, who is doing a Master’s degree in corporate environmental governance. “We organised this summit to see whether we could connect with other youth in Asia and do something together.” There is now an online network so students from other countries in the region can share ideas on climate change.The Climate Change Coalition is also recruiting new members in Hong Kong and considering setting itself up as a non-government organisation and expanding into other Hong Kong universities. The coalition members have already done some outreach with secondary school students. In March 30 HKU students went on a study tour to three Asian cities to learn more about climate change policies elsewhere and shared their findings in visits to secondary schools. “We wanted them to think about the concept of global citizenship,” third-year Ar ts student Sandy Yip said. “When we were secondary school students we didn’t talk much about global issues, we just concentrated on our studies. It’s impor tant today to think globally. ” The study tour and summit were funded by the Green Student Hang Seng Scholarship Fund. h R • Teaching Andreas Walthers (left) and Sebastian Lindstrom Students at the AsianYouth Summit