Year 7 students have been learning about the many diverse communities that make up Hong Kong.

They visited the Africa Center in Kowloon, where they met people, heard stories, sampled authentic food and gained a better perspective about different cultural backgrounds.

The excursion was part of a Transitions study exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the creation of safe, sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities.

Students attended a multi-step African Cultural Immersion Workshop, in which they were asked to reflect on how they view themselves and others in a globalised world that also comes with cultural differences and inequalities.

They enjoyed an African lunch before hearing speakers' personal stories, followed by an opportunity to ask questions of Africans and refugees living in Hong Kong.

During the day, they also joined a tour of Chungking Mansions, where they met and interacted with African business owners, shopkeepers, and customers, learning about their experiences and stories. It was followed by a Mosque tour, where they were able to interact with people from the community and learn about the principles of Islam.

The excursion was organised to provide students with a sense of the diverse communities that make up Hong Kong, and the different cultures and ethnicities that exist in the city.

Students travelled independently to Tsim Sha Tsui, after completing their Independent Travel badges earlier this year.

The Transitions programme aims to support our youngest students to respond to cognitive changes with confidence and grit.

The goal is to ensure that the adjustment to secondary school is positive and that they are equipped with personal, social, and emotional capabilities, as well as critical and creative thinking skills.

The course is closely linked to the ICHK Approaches to Learning, offering students opportunities to develop these skills, along with a growth mindset, which is key to our 5+1 pastoral model.