At Chatteris, our mission is to raise the English proficiency and self-confidence of students across Hong Kong, regardless of their background or circumstances. Chatteris Tutor Lamia Farah explains how our mission and values align with global objectives set by the United Nations.

 

 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came onto the scene following the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The aim was to assemble a set of universal goals to meet the pressing environmental, political and economic challenges facing our world. 

 

The goals are all-encompassing, ranging from Goal 1: ‘No Poverty’, to Goal 8: ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’, to Goal 17: ‘Partnership for the Goals’. 

 

So where does Chatteris come in? Excellent question!

 

Of the 17 goals, Chatteris’ work supports two SDGs in particular: SDG 4: ‘Quality Education’, and SDG 10: ‘Reduced Inequalities’. 

 

 

 

SDG 4: ‘Quality Education’ 

A tutor works alongside a community programme beneficiary to make paper crafts

 

For over 30 years, Chatteris has strived to ensure that English is not a barrier for students in Hong Kong. 

 

Each year, a team of around 60 tutors from across the globe develop an authentic English environment through supporting classes and conducting engaging English activities at one of Chatteris’ many partner institutions. 

 

Thankfully, the ongoing pursuit towards SDG 4 does not stop during the weekends, as there are a range of community outreach projects that tutors are involved in. These projects range from conducting vocational training workshops with female migrant workers from Indonesia to conducting English activities to children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

 

 

 

A tutor tells a story to beneficiaries of the HKSASR Storytelling Programme.

 

 

SDG 10: ‘Reduced Inequalities’ 

 

Hong Kong is one of the most unequal societies in the world, and in 2018 an Oxfam inequality report found it to have the highest wealth disparity in any developed region. 

 

There are very few opportunities for the more than 230,000 students living under the poverty line to engage with authentic spoken English. They do not have the chance to venture to English-speaking countries during holidays, and they have limited resources to access private tuition.

 

Chatteris bridges this gap and ensures that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are also afforded essential support from native-speaking English tutors. 

 

 

Conclusion

 

The Sustainable Development Goals hold a special place in my heart! I’m especially passionate about SDG 4: ‘Quality Education’ and SDG 5: ‘Gender Equality’, a combination of both – Girls’ Education forming my raison d’etre! 

 

The aforementioned inequality present in Hong Kong concerns socioeconomic background more than it does gender. According to Article 10 (Equality in Education) in the fourth report of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ‘female and male students have equal access to educational opportunities at all levels and female students are faring well academically.’ This is undeniably evident within Hong Kong society, although further progress is needed where it concerns equal participation in the workforce. 

 

On a global scale, the pandemic brought about some setbacks in our collective journey to accomplishing the SDGs. Despite this, Chatteris’ contribution has remained steadfast and exemplary!

 

 

Do you want to make a real impact on the education and opportunities available to young people in Hong Kong? See here on how to apply to the Chatteris International Graduate Programme, where you too can help us work towards these goals!