In 2015, the United Nations announced 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as part of a comprehensive agenda to tackle global issues such as poverty, hunger and climate change. It was a move by an organisation made up of an international coalition of governments, but it nonetheless triggered a nascent awareness in a precocious five-year-old Hong Kong girl.

Seven years later, that girl, Valerie Chiu Wing-yee, founded a youth-led NGO called Teen Animals da Scientists (TADS) to help underprivileged communities, with a particular emphasis on science education and environmental conservation.

Now 14, Chiu and her organisation have spearheaded several community initiatives, including a science fair in Hung Hom on June 22 that taught children from low-income families how to conduct experiments using household materials.

Children learned basic scientific principles through playful experiments with fruit, baking soda, and vinegar while also exploring the connection between science and sustainability.

“The goal was to show that science can be accessible and fun, no matter your background,” Chiu said. “I wanted the kids to know that science is all around us, and it’s something they can be excited about.”

TADS also supports children with special educational needs through an initiative called “Harmonious Healing”, which combined music, art, and interaction with animals to promote their well-being.