Over the past week, the Next Impact team had the opportunity to visit schools and engage in meaningful conversations with school leaders, educators, and students across Hong Kong and mainland China.
As we continue developing CultivatED, a youth education initiative inspired by the World Food Forum Education programme, these conversations provided valuable insights into how schools are approaching global citizenship, sustainability, student leadership, and real-world learning.
One of the most important lessons from the trip was a reminder that meaningful educational programmes cannot be developed in isolation. Every school community is unique, with its own priorities, culture, and aspirations. Building programmes that are both impactful and relevant requires listening, dialogue, and a willingness to learn alongside educators and students.
Throughout the journey, we explored questions such as:
- How can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be brought to life in meaningful ways for students?
- How can global challenges be connected to local contexts and school communities?
- What support do educators need to integrate real-world learning into co-curricular and enrichment programmes?
- How can student curiosity and creativity be transformed into action and impact?
What encouraged us most was the enthusiasm of students and the commitment of educators who are constantly exploring new ways to prepare young people for an increasingly interconnected world.
We are deeply grateful to the schools, educators, students, and partners who welcomed us, shared their perspectives, and contributed to these conversations. Their feedback and insights continue to shape how we design and deliver programmes that are practical, engaging, and meaningful.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the World Food Forum Education team for their continued guidance and support. Their openness to dialogue and willingness to address questions and challenges along the way have been invaluable in helping us refine and strengthen the programme.
At Next Impact, we believe that some of the most meaningful learning happens when students are given the opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges, diverse perspectives, and global conversations.
We look forward to continuing these discussions, advancing CultivatED, and working with schools and partners to create even more meaningful opportunities for educators and students in the months ahead.
