Creativity and community impact – ASDAN champion Sherine’s social enterprise journey in Hong Kong

Meet Sherine, our ASDAN champion 

Our latest ASDAN champion is Sherine from Hong Kong International College, who has been engaging with ASDAN since Year 7 and is now in Year 13. 

Throughout her ASDAN journey, Sherine has participated in a wide range of programmes, including the International Award at Bronze and Silver, alongside Short Courses covering areas such as English, Mathematics, Science and FoodWise. 

Over the years, Sherine has embraced ASDAN as more than simply schoolwork. Her teacher, Sammi Chan, describes how she approaches each challenge as an opportunity for personal growth, allowing her to explore her interests, understand her strengths and develop skills that will support her beyond education.  

At ASDAN, we are proud to celebrate learners who use their experiences to develop new skills, grow in confidence and make a positive contribution to the world around them. Through our ASDAN champions initiative, we recognise learners whose achievements demonstrate the impact of practical, skills-based learning. 

Turning creativity into real-world experience 

One experience that particularly stands out is Sherine’s involvement in setting up a social enterprise through the International Award. 

The class created Marshymellow, giving Sherine the opportunity to turn her personal interests in crochet, jewellery-making and creating keychains into products that could be shared and sold to others. 

The project took learning into a real-world setting. Sherine presented her products, engaged with customers, made sales and explained how the money raised would be used. The group held sales for students, staff and parents within the school before being invited by another organisation to sell their products at a community fair. 

Importantly, the project also had a purpose beyond developing enterprise skills, with all of the money raised donated to charity. This gave Sherine and her classmates an opportunity to use their creativity and learning to support others. 

Through the experience, Sherine strengthened her communication and interpersonal skills while developing the confidence to interact with different people and talk about something she had helped to create. 

Developing skills for life and independence 

Sherine’s ASDAN journey extends well beyond the social enterprise project. Through practical challenges and real-world experiences, she has developed essential skills for greater independence, including budgeting and cooking, travelling independently and creating emergency contact information. 

She has particularly enjoyed activities that allow her to interact with others and explore the world around her, from interviewing staff about their cultural backgrounds and diets to finding out about the different ways people travel. 

These experiences have enabled Sherine to apply her learning rather than simply explore topics in theory. Across her years of participating in ASDAN, she has been able to discover new interests, strengthen her communication skills and develop a greater understanding of her own abilities. 

Celebrating Sherine’s achievement in Hong Kong 

During a recent visit to Hong Kong International College, Amber Stamp-Dunstan, ASDAN’s Education, Research and Innovation Coordinator, had the opportunity to meet Sherine and the team at the centre and celebrate her achievement in person. 

Receiving the award gave Sherine an opportunity to reflect on how far she has come and what she is most proud of from her ASDAN journey. Sherine said: 

“Receiving the ASDAN champion award made me feel incredibly proud and happy. It reminded me that all my hard work, perseverance, and determination had paid off." 

“I feel proud of the positive contribution I have made to the class by participating actively, giving my best effort, and always striving to improve. One of the highlights of my ASDAN journey was having the opportunity to try new units, which encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, develop new skills, and gain confidence in my abilities." 

“This achievement has inspired me to continue working hard, develop a stronger growth mindset, and embrace new challenges with a positive attitude.” 

Sherine’s reflections capture what ASDAN champions is all about: recognising not only an achievement, but the skills, experiences and personal growth that happen along the way. From developing greater independence to turning her creativity into a social enterprise that supported charity, Sherine has embraced opportunities to learn through experience and challenge herself to try something new. 

Everyone at ASDAN would like to congratulate Sherine on becoming an ASDAN champion and celebrate the commitment, creativity and determination she has demonstrated throughout her journey.

Nominate your ASDAN champion 

Do you know a learner who deserves to be recognised? 

We invite centres to nominate a learner who has demonstrated commitment, progress and achievement through their ASDAN course. Help us celebrate their success and share their story with the wider ASDAN community. 

Submit your ASDAN champion nomination and join us in recognising the remarkable achievements of learners across our network.