HATCH Eco-creative Volunteering Day, recognising the World Autism Awareness Day and co-creating the inclusive culture

Date: 15 March 2025                        Venue: Yasumoto International Academic Park

In recognition of April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, HATCH graciously organised the Eco-creative Volunteering Day on March 15, 2025. World Autism Awareness Day was designated by the United Nations to affirm and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on an equal basis with others. Unlike previous community events, the Eco-creative Volunteering Day was conscientiously designed to raise public awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocate for inclusivity.

In this meaningful initiative, passionate secondary school student volunteers teamed up to design inclusive toys, crafted from recycled materials like cardboard, paper tubes, and wooden sticks. Adopting the perspective of children, they harmonized their creative energies to craft toys accessible to children of all ages and abilities, under the guidance of an instructor. Achieving universal inclusion requires the involvement of every member of society. By engaging secondary school students, the event aimed to cultivate empathy during their formative years. Through the challenge of designing captivating toys suitable for all, participants were encouraged to step into the shoes of the end users —children of diverse ages and abilities, thereby inspired them to ponder how empathy can drive inclusivity.

Commencing with a team-based challenge to break the ice and foster collaboration, the event laid the groundwork for a vibrant creative journey. Participants then dove into the toy-making session: some demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship by delicately cutting and assembling toy models, others leveraged their scientific knowledge to build toy mechanisms, and some showcased their artistic talents by embellishing the toys with colors and imagination. The atmosphere was electrifying, as concepts were exchanged, refined, and materialized within a constrained timeframe. Ultimately, three toys each featuring interactive elements and embedded with unique and thoughtful design were successfully created.

Notably, the event purposefully embraced the use of reclaimed materials rather than flashy ones, emphasizing accessibility. At the same time, it harnessed the power of play, the universal language of children to encourage connections, inclusion, and joyful engagement among children of all.

With generous support from The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA), these toys were presented to three of their centres across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It is our aspiration that these offerings serve as instruments of shared delight, nurturing a culture of inclusiveness.

The Eco-creative Volunteering Day truly embodied the spirit of advocacy for inclusion. While public awareness of ASD may be growing, true inclusion requires action to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of people with ASD. At HATCH, we believe in building a society where every child can thrive. We will continue to work collectively with like-minded partners to raise awareness, foster acceptance, and create a more inclusive future for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

About HATCH:

HATCH, its full name being The D. H. Chen Foundation Hub of Advanced Technology for Child Health, was jointly established by the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and growth partner and funder, The D. H. Chen Foundation. With our innovations in microbial diagnostics and replacement therapies, HATCH’s mission is to bring health and hope to our future generation through research, education, and community outreach.