Among G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality’s many endeavors, one of our most successful ones is our Student Internship and Volunteering Program for students studying in various Hong Kong universities. The internship program is linked to The University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s Social Venture Management Internship Course (BUSI2812), and is conducted during summer months as well as during the semesters.
G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality’s internship program is designed to support young talents in their self-development, giving them a chance to take more responsibility and learn about sustainability through the planning and execution of the company’s initiatives. The program provides students with great learning opportunities in diverse fields, from administration and human resources, to public relations, communications, and fundraising.
G.R.E.E.N. successfully conducted one part of its summer leg of the internship program in 2020, with many participating students actively engaging and learning about the company’s work and mission. Here is a short interview of two of our interns, Dasam and Joey, on their unique experience with G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality.
Q1: Why did you apply for G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality?
Dasam: I want to open my own bar someday in the future, so I thought it would be a valuable learning experience working to promote sustainability in the hospitality industry.
Joey: I am interested in the sustainability aspect and would like to learn more on how a social enterprise operates.
Q2: How was your experience as an intern? What did your job post teach you?
Joey: It’s very nice and fruitful and I met people from different nationalities and tried a large variety of tasks, which are, of course, challenging but fun. I learnt a lot in my personal weakness and how to be self-disciplined. Also, I have learnt to be open-minded and respect my work and those who I’m working with.
Dasam: The full experience of working as an intern was hampered by the virus as there was less face-to-face interaction and collaboration between interns than we would have had under normal circumstances, but it was definitely a fun learning experience, especially for me in terms of communicating with business owners and learning more about how adverse the effects of plastic can be, and knowing that there are viable solutions out there for this problem.
Q3: What was the best part about working as an intern for G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality?
Dasam: It allows me to contribute to the hospitality industry through the initial research and forming of the sustainable product database. I believe that what I was doing, when eventually completed with the help of upcoming interns, would be a positive thing that may help in reducing plastic waste, especially for F&B outlets, so it makes the whole experience of working towards that goal satisfying.
Joey: The best part would be being able to expand my exposure to the real world. Everything was so new to me and I felt like I was learning and growing at every moment.
Q4: What experiences or knowledge did you learn from this internship that will always stay with you?
Joey: For me I think it was the knowledge specific to what sustainability is like in the hospitality industry. We all know sustainability is important, but when we focus on a specific industry, things can be very different. I have to always learn new things and should not add my assumption on anything.
Dasam: That we currently, especially in Hong Kong, are not doing enough to combat the single-use plastic waste problem. Tackling the problem is long overdue. Our landfills are full and Hong Kong does not have the recycling capacity to recycle more than 2% of the plastic waste we are currently producing annually.
: What advice would you give to other interns working at or planning to join the G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality Team?
Dasam: Everyone at G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality is trying to make a difference in the hospitality space in order to make it greener and more sustainable. The people at G.R.E.E.N. believe in this goal and actively strive to make a difference, big or small. So if you have a similar belief in the goal, the experience will be satisfying and great.
Joey: Everyone here holds the same belief and remember why you applied for this internship. Always get involved, believe in your ability and enjoy your internship!
We hope that all our interns, like Dasam and Joey, can learn valuable life skills and earn meaningful experiences, while learning more about a more sustainable future in the hospitality industry. G.R.E.E.N. Hospitality is carrying out its virtual internship program with great gusto, and the organisation hopes to see the G.R.E.E.N. Team grow and develop into bright, enthusiastic adults that hold the key to a better tomorrow.