Hong Kong, 23 October 2018: It looks normal and it doesn't. On this Tuesday morning, while I woke up as usual at around 06:00, I didn't drive my car to the UN's office in Nairobi, Kenya, where I'm currently based. Instead, I took the metro to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where I had my undergraduate study some 10+ years ago.
Today, I'm no longer a student. I returned to the Chinese University as a guest lecturer. The topic was sustainability, and the target audience were teenage undergraduate students pursuing the Global Studies programme. What a perfect match and spontaneous match to my profile! Back in Nairobi, Kenya, I work as a Policy Officer on Sustainable Development for the United Nations.
My lecture is never boring, thanks to my two secret weapons. I like to visualize data, often using the Gapminder Foundation's powerful color motion bubble charts. I also like telling personal stories, this time quoting my field work experiences in Uganda, South Sudan, Nepal and Laos. My message was simple. Our world is never equal, and equity is at the heart of the topic of sustainable development. Classic examples include income and gender inequalities. Who make decisions? Who herd cattle and migrate when water becomes scarce? Who can afford a smartphone, and who pick up the e-waste?
"How did you enter the United Nations? Why couldn't we ask everyone to consume less? What can I do for sustainable development?" asked eagerly the 20 female and male students at the end of the lecture. I'm deeply impressed by the enthusiasm and critical thinking of these young minds.
It was a very pleasant collaboration with the course's lecturer Dr. Harry Lee. Great partnership! To make the most of my visit back to Hong Kong, my hometown, I have also met with the Chinese University's Alumni Office, as well as Hong Kong's Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Thank you Annie Wong, Daniel Cheng, George Ma and Richard Chung, it was a huge pleasure meeting you all.
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