From Passion to Pitch: Year 11 IB Students Present at CAS TEDx Youth Project

On Thursday, 23 October, our Year 11 IB students presented their CAS TEDx Youth Project talks as part of their ongoing Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) journey. The event marked a major milestone for the cohort; our first large-scale CAS event in many years, showcasing their ability to turn ideas and passions into purposeful action.

Throughout term 3, students worked collaboratively to identify areas of personal passion and link them to issues of local or global significance aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Guided by the CAS stages; investigation, preparation, action, reflection, and demonstration, each group developed and refined their ideas into a clearly articulated project proposal.

During the Pitch Day, students delivered five-minute TED-style presentations, showcasing their ability to communicate with clarity, empathy, and purpose. The presentations covered a diverse range of issues, including Caged in Hong Kong (caged housing), A Step Towards Shelter (homelessness), The Mistreatment of Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong, From Soil to Service (food waste), Paws for a Cause (rescuing Hong Kong’s strays), Saving Memories in 10 Minutes: Early Detection of Alzheimer’s and Clear the Future (recycling and sustainability). Each talk demonstrated thoughtful engagement with real-world challenges and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the community.

Students engaged confidently with constructive feedback from a panel of professionals, demonstrating composure, critical thinking, and the IB Learner Profile in action.

The panel selected Harold Cheong and Marcus Chan for their project “Caged in Hong Kong,” which explores the realities of caged housing. This initiative will become the Year 11 CAS Project, as the cohort works together to raise awareness of housing conditions in Hong Kong.

Teariki Short also received strong recognition for his presentation, “The Mistreatment of Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong.” His work captured a key social issue in Hong Kong and may continue through the YES Club and Student Representative Council (SRC) as a platform for advocacy and student leadership.

Reflecting on the event, CAS Coordinator Mrs Lisa Darby shared,

“This was our first major CAS event in a very long time, and I could not be prouder of our students. At the beginning of the year, many spoke about wanting to build confidence in public speaking, develop leadership skills, and make a greater impact through service. They demonstrated all of that and more. Their passion, professionalism, and commitment were truly inspiring.”

Special thanks to our staff for their support with photography and auditorium coordination, and those who attended with their classes to support the students.

The event exemplified the purpose of CAS; empowering students to move beyond academic learning, engage with their community, and take meaningful action to create positive change.