Access to affordable and clean energy remains a challenge for many rural communities worldwide. Through the service-learning course GEST2017 Green Energy Laboratory II, taught by Dr Ma Lik Kuen, HKBU students applied STEM knowledge and renewable energy technologies to support sustainable development in Cambodia.

Partnering with the Motherland Learning Center (MLC) under the Cambodian Children’s Advocacy Foundation Organization (CCAFO), six HKBU students travelled to Kampong Speu Province to co-create learning experiences with local children, educators, and community partners. Through interactive workshops, students introduced renewable energy concepts using hands-on activities such as building wind turbines and solar-powered cars, helping more than 250 local children understand how clean energy can contribute to environmental sustainability and community wellbeing.

Beyond education, the students worked alongside a professional engineer to install a small-scale solar power system at the learning centre. The system provides additional power for classroom facilities while serving as a practical demonstration of renewable energy in action. By connecting classroom learning with community needs, the project enabled students to see how scientific knowledge can be transformed into tangible solutions that benefit society.

The experience strengthened students' intercultural communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while broadening their understanding of sustainability challenges beyond Hong Kong. At the same time, local children gained first-hand exposure to renewable energy technologies and sustainable living practices, inspiring curiosity about clean energy and empowering them to become future advocates for sustainable development.

This initiative demonstrates how service-learning can bridge education, technology, and community engagement to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the combination of renewable energy education and real-world implementation, students contributed to promoting quality education, clean energy access, climate action, and sustainable community development in underserved communities.