Dozens of students have been honoured for their essays themed on Sustainable Development in an awards ceremony held on Saturday at the Macao Science Centre. The third edition of the Macao-wide English Essay Competition (MEEC), organised by the Macau Speech Professionals Association (MPSA), drew 1,603 students from 47 local schools and educational institutions.
Under the theme “Nature and Me,” students were tasked to reconsider humanity’s relationship with nature, keeping in mind the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” which was adopted by all 193 member states of the United Nations.
Sandy Leong, Vice President of the Macau Professional Speaking Association and Chair of the Macao-Wide English Essay Competition, told Macau News Agency that the organiser believes this initiative “will encourage turning words into action”.
After having “The Change I Want to Make” as the overarching theme of the inaugural edition of MEEC and focusing on “An Inclusive World” in the second, this year’s theme, “Nature and Me,” pertains to “life on land, life on water, climate action.” “These are some of the SGDs which challenge them to learn more about it and apply in their own daily lives, reflect and write an essay on”.
The third edition also showed students embracing a deeper take on the issues at stake. “Instead of just a research-based essay, we are seeing a lot of reflections which is what we really want to see in our contest,” she noted. Laurie Baker-Malungu, a professor at the University of Saint Joseph who has been a competition judge since the first edition, also highlights how students are broadening their horizons. “Over the three years, there has been a really nice evolution of students being to understand more about the overall SDGs,” she notes, adding that while “at the beginning they would be focused on one or two, over the years they are going beyond even the Macau context.
Feng Du Wen, a University of Saint Joseph student, emerged as the first prize winner in the College Category with the essay titled “Economic Growth and its Contribution to Climate Change: A Sustainable Development Perspective,” while Cheong Lok Ian from Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School was distinguished with the top prize in the High School Category for the essay “Nature’s Cry: Reflecting on the Loss and Urgent Need for Conservation”.
In the Middle School Category, Ho Tak In, a student at Pui Ching Middle School, secured the top award with the essay “Heeding the Ocean’s Cry: Taking Action Against Marine Pollution”.
The youngest first prize winner was Lao Chi Tou from Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School, who wrote the essay “Nature and Me: A Journey Towards a Sustainable World” in the Upper Primary Category.
The “Empowerment Award” and “Best Achievement Award” were won by Colégio Diocesano de São José and Premier School Affiliated to Hou Kong Middle School respectively.
In addition to organiser MPSA, the Venetian was co-organised by Language Exchange and Cultural Promotion Association, Society of Food and Environmental Health (Macao) and sustainable development Association.
