Week 1 LiA Reflection
My leadership-in-action journey with makesense_americas in Mexico City kicked off on 7th July. Meeting scholars from around the globe, I was excited to be part of the group and looked forward to enjoying the time in such a vibrant environment.
Understanding design thinking
The week commenced with several workshops about design thinking. From empathising, defining, and ideating, to prototyping and evaluating, I was intrigued by each step of the process. I noticed the significance of how the steps were not linearly constructed but were interconnected. This was an invaluable information for me to apply when working on my project in the upcoming weeks.
Visiting Huerto Roma Verde
One of the highlights of the week was visiting Huerto Roma Verde (HRV), the community centre and biosocial laboratory where I will be working. The visit amazed me at how sophisticated their recycling system was. Not only could common objects like plastic, paper, and cans be recycled, but also less conventional materials such as cigarette butts, expired medicine, and leftover cooking oil. The centre also utilised natural and reused materials like soil, bamboo, and plastic bottles to construct its infrastructure. What impressed me most was how connected all the processes were, from composting to filtering rainwater for irrigation, all designed to promote sustainability. The time I spent there was fascinating, and I truly enjoyed immersing myself in such an amazing environment.
Impact tour – visiting utopia in Iztapalapa
Out of the 13 utopias in Iztapalapa, we visited the Barco Utopia and Utopia Libertad. The trip to Barco Utopia was inspiring as they introduced and explained the issue of climate change in an engaging and simple way so that children could understand its importance from a young age. Meanwhile, the visit to Utopia Libertad was equally enlightening. Seeing bees hovering around fragrant lavender, butterflies fluttering in the butterfly house, and ajolotes swimming freely, I realised how the space preserved biodiversity, allowing all the species to thrive in a vibrant ecosystem.
Cultural fair
The week ended with the cultural fair, where my fellow scholars and I hosted a booth showcasing Hong Kong’s unique cultures. We featured traditional snacks like egg rolls, white rabbit candy, etc., and engaged volunteers in writing Chinese calligraphy. It was a wonderful opportunity to mingle with the volunteers and share Hong Kong’s culture.
The first week was surely a vibrant beginning, and I was looking forward to new experiences in the upcoming weeks to grow and learn.