Dr. Michelle Cheng, faculty member of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, designed and led the EdUHK SDG Ambassadors through a series of “mini stations” where they encountered various experiential learning activities that immersed them with different levels of gender inequality in the real-world. These “mini stations” include case studies, role-play, problem-based learning, and guided reflections that talk about key issues facing women and girls today. In addition, different audio and visual presentations are created to strengthen the impact of the learning experience.  

Each mini station exposed students to various SDG 5’s specific targets and indicators below:  

• 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. 

• 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. 

• 5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. 

• 5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate. 

• 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. 

• 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. 

SDG ambassadors engaged in fruitful discussions with the facilitators at each “mini station” after experiencing the learning activities that explore gender equality today. Students documented their insights and takeaways in the SDG 5 Booklet developed by Dr. Cheng and the SDG×EL Team. Ambassadors received the activities with openness and thought-provoking insights reflected in their booklets:

“Hearing about “female genital mutilation” and “menstrual huts” for the first time filled me with profound sorrow. I had no idea such barbaric practices still existed in the world. The journey to liberate women, respect women, and restore their freedom remains long and arduous. I hope the United Nations and other international organizations will prioritize this issue and take concrete actions to rescue women subjected to such atrocities”, one ambassador wrote. 

“What we strive for is a fair, open, and inclusive environment that treats all genders equally. Before that can be achieved, the immediate task at hand is to help women gain equal and healthy rights, opportunities, and status in society—to help them overcome violence, discrimination, exploitation, and all forms of inequality.” 

One ambassador also expressed surprise at how this is their first time hearing about unequal practices even at home and how this topic should “be taught to us in primary school”. This highlights the importance of incorporating the SDGs in subjects taught in schools, or creating an SDG-dedicated co-curriculum for important matters that are not being addressed enough in the formal curriculum. 

The session ended with a re-examination of the opening question. The format and curated set of activities are expected to strengthen the ambassadors’ commitment to a gender equal world. SDG 5 is the second of three priority SDGs of the SDG×EL Co-Curriculum Sessions for the 1st Semester of Academic Year 2025-2026.  

Last edited: 4 November 2025