Benita Chick - Sustainable Development Goals and Schools
In this episode, I’m talking to Benita Chick. Benita is the CEO and Founder of Encompass, a social enterprise in Hong Kong, which supports different social causes and NGOs financially as well as advocating for how Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be better implemented in businesses and schools. Benita is also a Board Member at KELY Support Group and Youth Arch Foundation, Education Director of Pink Alliance, Mentor for HKUST HeadStart Fellows and a mentor at the RESOLVE Foundation, here in Hong Kong.
I was lucky enough to hear Benita speak earlier this year and was overjoyed to gain a conversation with her in light of the constant desire to make MYP English as authentic as possible, by integrating and exploring the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
We discuss:
1. The extent to which Hong Kong people are aware or unaware of the SDGs
2. Benita’s opinion regarding whether there is a hierarchy in the city in terms of which SDGs need to be addressed more often or immediately
3. How schools can go about reviewing or auditing the way in which they are engaging with the SDGs
4. Any lesser known but pressing issues that the city is facing in relation to a few of the SDGs that schools might be able to highlight in their curriculum
5. Routes young people can take to become involved in service that aids some of the SDGs
6. And finally, after the 2030 deadline set by the UN, where do Benita feels the world will go from there
This was a succinct and in-depth discussion for someone like me who is on talking terms with the SDGs but would really benefit from speaking to those who work with or advise on the SDG targets on a regular basis. Thank you to Benita providing just as well as plenty of resources or extra reading that I will link to in the show notes.
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Links:
SDSN Hong Kong Commissions Youth Survey on SDGs
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
Hong Kong is diverse, but far from inclusive; here’s how we can change that
Learning to transform the world: key competencies in education for sustainable development (p43)
Become A Young Leader for the SDGs Fellowship (International)
