Countryside Conservation Education Program

Proponent: Diocesan Working Committee for "Following Thy Way" of Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

Site: Sai Kung

Project Description

This project aims to promote countryside conservation education in local primary schools for arousing young students' interest and awareness of countryside conservation in an early stage. Drawing on the project organisation's (PO's) experience and knowledge in the restoration, conservation and management of the five chapels in Sai Kung - Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Chapel, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, Star of the Sea Mass Centre, St Peter's Chapel, and Roasry Mission Centre, the PO has developed a set of teaching materials. These materials combine classroom-based theory lessons, guided field visits around the chapels, as well as discussion and reflection sessions.

The pilot program in this project engages the upper primary students from 10 local primary schools to participate in the classes and field trips. Through experiential learning, it is expected that the students' understanding of the cultural resources in the countryside areas would be deepened and their awareness to conserve the countryside would be raised.

At the end of the project, the PO would study and assess the key factors for success in countryside conservation education. The finalised teaching materials would be made available for shared use by all primary schools in Hong Kong, with the aim of promoting wider adoption and implementation of this education program.

Grant Approved

HK$2,712,500

Project Duration

01/08/2023-30/09/2025

How To Get There

The field trips under this project take place in the following chapels and adjacent areas

1. Pak Tam Chung Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Chapel and around Sheung Yiu

2. Pak Sho O village, Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel

3. Sai Wan Village, Star of the Sea Mass Center

4. Tan Ka Wan St Peter's Chapel

5. Wong Mo Ying Roasry Mission Center

By Bus no.94 or by Mini Bus no 7or 9, and/ or by ferry.

Project Update

The project was completed on 30 September 2025.

Project Outcome

Throughout the project period, the initiative successfully engaged 10 primary schools in delivering theory classes, outdoor field trips, and reflection sessions for hundreds of students. These activities effectively aroused students’ interest and strengthened their awareness of countryside conservation. The research conducted by the PO revealed positive feedbacks and initial improvements in students’ conservation knowledge. The findings indicated that public awareness could be significantly enhanced through a combination of strategic outreach efforts, such as conferences, teacher sharing sessions, exhibitions and media coverage.

In addition, the PO developed 20 sets of teaching materials covering key aspects of countryside conservations for five sites in Sai Kung - Pak Tam Chung, Wong Mo Ying, Sai Wan, Tan Ka Wan and Pak Sha O. The teaching materials had been uploaded to the project website for free public access. This provides a robust foundation for sustaining the project’s impact by equipping primary schools and educators with practical resources to support ongoing countryside conservation education.