Students Win Two Major Awards in the “SMART Community Hackathon”

By Salesian Youth Ministry Office

Hong Kong, China, 11 April 2025 -- As Pope Francis asked in his encyclical Laudato Si’, “what need does the earth have of us?” (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, no. 160) Several students from Aberdeen Technical School, full of creativity and environmental awareness, developed a “PET Recycling Machine” with the support of their school, responded to the Pope’s invitation with ingenuity.

Have you ever imagined that discarded plastic bottles could be transformed into 3D printing materials? The designed machine gives plastic bottles a new life, turning waste into usable materials. These young inventors recently teamed up and stood out in the latest “SMART Community Hackathon” under the HSBC Hong Kong Community Partnership Programme, winning both the “Best Potential Award” and “the Most Outstanding Project Award.” They will soon explore further collaboration with the organizers, demonstrating the school’s strong efforts and success in promoting STEAM education.

As one of the events under the HSBC Hong Kong Community Partnership Programme, the “SMART Community Hackathon” aims to support schools in connecting with their communities through social innovation, encouraging green thinking and sustainable living, and building a harmonious and resource-saving society. On the day of the final, participating teams had to showcase their prototypes and design schemes and present their future development plans within a time limit to compete for various awards.

Tackling Plastic Pollution Through Innovation

The student team from Aberdeen Technical School, who clinched two major awards, spent more than three months preparing for the competition, turning imaginative ideas into an award-winning sustainable development project. Besides receiving high praise for their collaboration and division of work, the judges also commended the students for their outstanding presentations and performances during the competition, recognizing their potential to become future professionals. Following the competition, the students will receive comprehensive support for social innovation to continue developing their projects, responding to community needs, and applying their knowledge to contribute to society.

When asked about the inspiration behind their project, the students explained that they noticed that Hong Kong generates tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic waste annually, with disposable plastic bottles being a major contributor. This highlights the urgent environmental challenge of plastic pollution and the need to explore viable eco-friendly solutions. With encouragement and support from their school, especially their mentor teachers, they quickly moved from an initial idea to the component-building and experimental stages. Throughout the process, they continuously fine-tuned details and successfully developed the PET Recycling Machine, which processes plastic bottles through various stages—shredding, heating, etc.—to convert them into materials suitable for 3D printing.

Hosting Workshops to Share Achievements

“Among the most memorable moments during the development journey was when our teacher arranged for us to host an environmental workshop at a community centre, as our progress had been going well,” recalled Ethan An, a Form Two student in the team. “We explained our concept to primary school students and promoted environmental awareness.” During the event, they also collected used plastic bottles from the children and created Christmas decorations as gifts—an invaluable opportunity to exhibit their results.

Believing that joining the competition was a valuable learning experience, mentor teacher Ms Vincy Lo expressed joy, especially in seeing students apply theoretical knowledge to an actual project. Through ongoing discussions and iterations to improve the product, the students not only enhanced their creative thinking but also developed a deeper sense of social responsibility. Another mentor teacher, Mr Hysan Fung, added that if this technology is successfully implemented in the future, it could significantly reduce plastic waste and promote the long-term development of a circular economy. “We hope this project can help spread the idea of sustainable materials to more people, and the students are eager to visit more primary schools in the future to demonstrate and explain their work.”

Fostering Innovation and a Global Vision through STEAM Education

Aberdeen Technical School has long been dedicated to cultivating students’ innovative spirit and global vision through STEAM education, enhancing their creativity and application abilities. The school adopts Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approaches to design thematic projects that are close to everyday life, such as “Designing a Green Community,” encouraging students to use science, technology, and mathematics to solve practical problems. To support students’ future learning and career needs, the school offers interdisciplinary STEAM modules and design thinking workshops starting from junior forms. It is also equipped with 40 3D printers, robotics kits, and programming tools to help students master and apply skills in prototype design and testing—allowing them to truly learn by doing.

Pope Francis reminded us earnestly in his encyclical, “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” The students' initiative to develop a “PET Recycling Machine” echoes the call to be stewards of the Earth. This project not only addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution but also embodies the principle of using one's talents and creativity to protect the environment, recognizing that nature is interconnected with our spiritual and moral lives.

Last but not least, the collaboration and community engagement demonstrated in the “SMART Community Hackathon” resonate with the Church’s teaching on solidarity. By working together and sharing their knowledge with younger students, these young inventors are fostering a culture of care and responsibility, which is vital in fulfilling the commandment to love one’s neighbour.

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