Just like how Martin Luther King's famous saying of "I have a dream" has changed the course of American history, many scientists and inventors actually started their quest for greatness with a simple idea or a dream.
Local secondary school students are now encouraged to think big and create green projects under a new initiative of HK Electric's Smart Power Campaign this year - the "Green Energy Dreams Come True", which provides funding and support to help students bring their projects to life.
Speaking at Saturday's launching ceremony of the 2015 Smart Power Campaign, General Manager (Corporate Development), Mr. Yee Tak-chow, said the new element was aimed at encouraging students to put into practice what they had learned and to implement creative projects that promote green energy, energy efficiency and sustainability.
"We hope the younger generation can demonstrate both creativity and passion in support of our green campaign in these projects. The ideal project should benefit not only other students on campus, but also their neighbourhood and the community at large," he said.
There is no limit to the kind of green energy projects submitted. Possible deliverables may include installations, models, art pieces, computer games, short movies, exhibitions or other promotional activities. All secondary school students are welcome to form teams and to submit their proposals by 13 April 2015.
Members of the advisory committee of HK Electric's Education Fund will then select not more than 10 teams with the best proposals, who will each receive seed money of up to $50,000 for implementing the projects. Engineers from the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers will also provide technical advice to the shortlisted teams. On completion of the projects, these teams are required to present and report on their work done and the four best-performing teams will be further awarded with scholarships.
Another core element in this year's Smart Power Campaign is the "Happy Green Schools" label programme, which will be upgraded to a three-star incentive scheme based on six criteria - "Applying renewable energy", "Encouraging energy efficiency", "Promoting low carbon living on campus", "Spreading green knowledge", "Using new media to promote green" and "Going green with the community".
Participating schools will receive certificates and different labels that will recognise their efforts in the six aspects, while enjoying a wide range of activities including the "Green Campus TV Training Classes" and "Green Channel" co-organised with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Media 21 (M21), school talks, eco-tours, up-cycling handicraft workshops, visits and open days to HK Electric premises. The "Happy Green Schools" label programme is open to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, with deadline for signing up on 15 March 2015.
Continuing with theme of "Be Green, Be Happy", the Smart Power Campaign 2015 hopes to promote conservation and energy saving. More than 440,000 members of the public have so far participated in the campaign through a wide variety of activities since its inception in 2003. A roving exhibition will also be held this year to spread such green messages throughout the territory.
For more details of this year's programme, please visit the Smart Power Campaign website: http://www.hkelectric.com/smartpower; on facebook: www.facebook.com/hkelectricsmartpowercampaign or call 3143 3757.