The HKU-UBS SSILP 2026 fellows embarked on a two-day field trip to Shenzhen and Foshan on July 2nd and 3rd, exploring the diverse landscape of social innovation across the Greater Bay Area—from philanthropic infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration to sustainable manufacturing and community-led rural revitalisation.
The journey began in Shenzhen with a visit to One Foundation. Fellows toured the foundation’s exhibition hall and culture wall before engaging in thematic sharing sessions on disaster relief, child welfare, and public participation—three core pillars of One Foundation’s work. Deputy Secretary-General Nie Liangfei, shared insights into the foundation’s operational models and its approach to building a transparent, professional public welfare platform.
A networking lunch with 13 mainland NPO leaders followed, and the afternoon featured three rounds of in-depth roundtable discussions with them, offering fellows a rare opportunity to exchange experiences, explore partnership opportunities, and deepen their understanding of the mainland philanthropic ecosystem.
Day two took the cohort to Foshan’s Gaoming District, where they visited qonvolv Systems. Mr. William Chan, Head of Foundation & Community at Y.L. Yang Foundation, introduced the company’s sustainability strategy. Fellows toured the intelligent woven shirt production line and observed various automated knitting and sewing technologies in action. The visit offered a concrete illustration of how automation can “deskill” certain tasks while upgrading the workforce—a powerful demonstration of “Technology for People.”
The group then visited Compass Greentech, where they explored cross-sector synergy for sustainability education. Fellows learned more about advanced technology that produce eco-friendly products guided by the 4R concept—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace. The visit highlighted how traditional manufacturing can embrace green innovation and contribute to climate action.
At the Y.L. Yang Foundation’s sharing space, fellows participated in an interactive music therapy workshop and learned about the foundation’s work in innovative education, children’s health, and sustainability education.
The afternoon concluded with a visit to Qingtai Village, where participants toured a century-old ancestral hall, community activity rooms, and a village café. Under the guidance of local village representatives, fellows gained first-hand exposure to rural revitalisation strategies and community development in mainland China.
This field trip illustrated the dynamic spectrum of social innovation—from large-scale philanthropic platforms and corporate sustainability to grassroots community building—offering fellows invaluable insights into the diverse approaches shaping the future of social impact across the Greater Bay Area.