We all want to help protect the Earth, but it can be hard without knowing where to start. One group of KGV students is working to fix that.
You might know Seaing Change from their bright, imaginative Instagram graphics about recycling plastic, or from their recent reusable mask design competition. But whether you want to try going plant-based by cooking up a tofu steak, learn a hands-on way of assessing your weekly plastic use, or simply educate yourself further on clean living, Seaing Change has something for you. Through in-school events and online advocacy, they aim to make everyday sustainability easy, hands-on, and exciting.
In March, Seaing Change kicked off a campaign called Eco Week, which aimed to raise awareness about environmental issues. Due to the severity of COVID, the group was unable to host an in-school campaign, but Seaing Change embraced the constraints of social distancing. “This theme of being stuck at home was a big part of our campaign,” says Anise, and true to their word, the group devised a fun-filled, information-packed array of videos, infographics, and online events teaching you how to make a difference without ever leaving your home. As well as their vegan recipes and infographics about sustainability, Seaing Change also ran an online movie screening of Wall.E to illustrate the rising problem of waste. In addition, it hosted an eco-themed bingo encouraging students to reflect on habits they could adopt to protect the environment. “We know that most of our generation understands the urgency of our climate situation,” says Anise, “but may feel as though not much can be done while at home all day. Our goal was to emphasise that we can all be part of change, no matter how small. The bulk of it is really just little by little lifestyle changes, and taking it step-by-step.”
So, was Eco Week as impactful as they hoped? “Although we can't say for certain,” Anise reflects, “We truly believe that our message has reached others in the KGV community. We have had people reach out to us saying they have tried our tofu steak recipe, and that they've been more mindful with their plastic use.” As always, she acknowledges, there’s more work to be done, but the group is hopeful that inspired students will continue doing their part for the environment, and perhaps even take over Seaing Change after the current leaders graduate.
Since Eco Week, the group has partnered with Discovery College to host a reusable mask design competition. The top designs will be printed on masks made of recycled material and sold around KGV, so if you’ve always wanted to go reusable, now’s your chance. But what else does the future have in store? “We definitely still have a lot planned,” says Anise. “We hope that, as restrictions are loosened, we can begin to host beach cleanups everyone can participate in. Sometime in the future, we also plan to pitch to the ESF Sustainability Green Fund, and if all goes well, we can launch some exciting new projects!”
To keep up with their new initiatives, make sure to give Seaing Change a follow at @seaingchangehk! And try their tofu steak – it’s life-changing.
Interviewers: Ashley Kwok and Dhriti Shah
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