Participation in the 39th Caretakers of the Environment International 2025
A group of 5 students and 2 teachers took part in a youth international conference about environmental conservation and cultural exchange in Mexico City, Mexico from 30 June to 4 July 2025.
The conference is both an academic and cultural platform that connects students from around the world to exchange their views and knowledge learned in their own region on pressing environmental issues. Cultural exchange is also promoted and encouraged between students throughout the conference to enrich their perspectives of worldwide traditions. It was a priceless opportunity for students to experience the strength of borderless learning and exchange of ideas and culture.
Before the conference week, our students had begun to prepare their project presentations and cultural performance since the previous September, where they formulated a study topic related to the conference’s theme and arranged a dance number. Since then, they began to conduct their research, prepare their presentations and rehearse their dancing. The topic that our group of students focused on was ‘Sustainable Seafood’, under the theme of obtaining food sustainably.
During the conference week, our students not only conducted their PowerPoint and poster presentations, but also participated in a wide range of activities arranged by the organization. Our students attended a series of workshops and field trips to learn about different environment-related topics and the local community of Mexico City, a precious city built on top of rivers. The most exciting trip that everyone looked forward to was to Teotihuacán, an ancient city 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City. There, the students admired and learned the history of the famous Sun and Moon Pyramids, which were as tall as 65 meters. The region was worshiped as the site of the creation of the world by the Aztecs.
Another trip that struck our students by surprise was to Xochilmilco, an agricultural center of Mexico City. This place is extremely unique as it is a chinampas, which are artificial islands used for farming. Its history dates back to the pre-Hispanic period, where it was an important field of food for the Aztecs and had survived the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. At this site, students were arranged to carry out a series of activities. They got a taste of what it’s like to be a farmer and planted flower seedlings. Some of the students extracted a water sample from the nearby river to learn how the local farmers uncover the water quality. The most exciting part for the students was getting the chance to see the axolotl, which are native salamanders of Xochilmilco and a representative symbol of Mexican culture.
Besides obtaining a lot of new knowledge about Mexico, students also displayed Hong Kong culture with other participants during the Cultural Night and Fun Market, where they shared our local delicacies- shrimp paste and maltose crackers, with the others. Lots of tastebuds were alarmed and giggles were everywhere during the taste test.
Through this conference, they established long-lasting friendships with other participants and gained new perspectives on different environmental conservation methods. Our students treasure the week and agree that it was an incredible and unforgettable experience obtained outside of the classroom and a significant part of their youth.
