This summer, I had the privilege of joining the Nature Conservancy in Hong Kong as an intern. My internship might have ended, but it definitely was not the end of my time with this wonderful TNC family. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming when I first started navigating my way around the office, making it much easier to feel like I’m part of their family. During the internship, my colleagues have taught me more than I can ever imagine and I cannot be more grateful.
To share a little bit about what my internship includes, here’s a copy of the blog post that I wrote for them. Hope you enjoy it!
Passion Fanned Into Flame
We teenagers have this fire of passion that cannot be extinguished. Though small, it can transform into a fiery flame. For me, my passion was fanned into flame because I participated in the Nature Works Hong Kong pilot program.
Three years ago, I became interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. However, what sparked my interest in environmental science was not the reason why I’m doing it right now. I’m pursuing a degree in this field, because I was given a chance to discover my identity through the Nature Works Hong Kong pilot program.
The Nature Conservancy has partnered up with Seeds Training, an organization that designs and delivers training programs that build essential life, leadership and learning skills, to create the Nature Works Hong Kong Environmental Innovation and Leadership program. This program aims to equip and train junior high students (age 14-17) and help them channel their passion for the environment into real-world community projects. Moreover, through this program, the students can truly acknowledge the fact that “they are the generation that has the greatest opportunity to create environmental change” as Charles Bedford, Managing Director Asia Pacific Region, would say.In my experience with Nature Works, I was given the rare opportunity to pitch my ideas to my high school to make the students’ dining system more sustainable. Through the project, I realized that environmental leadership skills are essential in order to transform my passion for the environment and conservation into tangible actions.
However, being an environmental leader isn’t just about issuing commands or orders. It is about managing your own project, as well as maintaining the cohesion of your team. Not only do you have to communicate with your team members to push them to meet their goals, but you also have to learn how to motivate and influence others by being a good role model yourself.
This program didn’t only equip me with a set of skills to become a better environmental leader, it also gave me a sense of direction in life.
Pass the Flame
This year, I am privileged to be working with the Conservancy as a summer intern, helping the team with the preparation and execution of the official launch of the Nature Works Hong Kong program. From being a participant myself, to working for the Conservancy, I have seen how this program inspires and cultivates students to be future conservation and environmental leaders of tomorrow.
This year, an impressive number of 135 secondary school students from local and international schools participated in the Nature Works Hong Kong program. Together, the students initiated 13 team projects that aimed to resolve prominent environmental issues in Hong Kong.
For 12 weeks, the students worked together with their advisors to set attainable goals, generate a budget plan and create a simple timeline to help them envision the direction of their project.
Prior to Pitch Day, the students also had two mock-pitch days at Goldman Sachs to practice their pitches. At the mock-pitch days, the students received valuable feedback and professional insights from volunteer advisors and staff members from large corporations (like Goldman Sachs, Veolia and Airport Authority of Hong Kong) on how to improve their projects.
After refining their projects with the expert feedback, the students were ready to pitch. I was very impressed by the final work the students showcased and presented to corporate sponsors and the community on Pitch Day. The great outcome of their project is definitely a testament of their hard work.
Pitch Day is just the beginning of many more good things to come! Just a few days ago, the Conservancy created a platform on its website for them to gain votes, recruit support, and raise funds from the public; hence, throughout the past week, they’ve been trying to draw people to support their projects. (Click here to support their projects and help spread the word!)
Sparks Fly
We all desire to have a purpose in life: whether it is to educate, to make new discoveries, or to improve the livelihoods of others. This purpose is why our fires burn. When we reflect on who we are and how we identify with each other and the community around us, we are exploring what fuels our fire.
For me, my fire is burning in the hope of introducing a paradigm shift in our society: that social development and conservation of the environment will not be in conflict but can find harmony via our work with various corporations and communities.
I would not have been so certain of my future aspirations if not for the Nature Works Hong Kong program. For this, I’m grateful that the Conservancy created this great opportunity for me to discover my identity and find the place where my fire can blaze.
See original blog post here
mesmerize me daily 