About Me
Hey everyone! I'm Joanna Yan, a Year 9 student studying at German Swiss International School in Hong Kong. I am an avid writer and artist, but apart from my interests in language and visual arts, I also have a penchant for running, playing the piano, baking, and volunteering. In my free time, I am actively engaged in various initiatives in my local community that are associated with the UN SDGs, where I got the opportunity to meet and collaborate with passionate, like-minded individuals from different schools across Hong Kong, all the while honing my skills in research, organisation, planning, communication and leadership. Growing up in the privileged sector of Hong Kong, volunteering has opened my eyes to the appalling inequalities that prevail in this city, deepening my understanding of the importance of social responsibility and empathy. With that in mind, I have been involved in a plethora of different school clubs and NGOs to help raise awareness of the massive wealth gap in Hong Kong and alleviate its impacts on underprivileged communities. Last year, I participated in the organisation of charity sales and art workshops for Refugee Union, an NGO dedicated to safeguarding refugee rights and improving their well-being and prospects. This year, I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the ALTs (Advocates Leadership Team) for Kids4Kids, another NGO aiming to inspire young people to act and make a positive impact in the community. In the future, I look forward to leveraging my networks and skills to empower more youth from underprivileged communities by providing them with the necessary access and resources to education. There will definitely be obstacles along the way, but with determination, we can achieve this together!
Project Description
Growing up in HK, I have always been appalled by the massive wealth gap in this metropolis. However, it is only when I started volunteering in recent years did it truly open my eyes to the striking disparities between the rich and the poor. There are countless children and students in HK who are eager to learn, yet most of their potential is unfortunately stifled at a young age due to a disadvantaged upbringing. In order to address these systemic inequalities which have greatly hindered the ability for them to learn and empower themselves, I came up with the project “EduBuddies”.
EduBuddies is a student-led initiative aiming to provide underprivileged students in HK with educational resources, opportunities and academic support by pairing them with well-resourced peers. When pairing up the “buddies”, we take into account various academic needs and interests, ensuring that each mentee is matched with the most suitable mentor who will be able to provide guidance and support. Moreover, before each mentor is officially set to tutor the underprivileged students, there will also be online training sessions so that mentors know how to teach most effectively, and are aware of being culturally sensitive if applicable. This project mainly targets SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and through this initiative we aim to create a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable community where everyone receives equal opportunities for learning, and is empowered to lead a fulfilling life according to their own aspirations.