The Harbour School, an international school catering to students from kindergarten to Grade 12, has been nominated for the Spirit of Hong Kong Award in the Sustainability category as a recognition of the school’s efforts in promoting ocean literacy among schoolchildren, aiming to instil a life-long commitment to environmental preservation as they grow up.
This year, in response to the increasing demand for sustainable development, the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards has introduced a new category: Sustainability.
One of The Harbour School’s main sustainability initiatives is taking a holistic approach to ocean literacy by integrating marine science into all classes, rather than treating it as a separate subject. The school believes that integrating ocean literacy across the curriculum can nurture students’ appreciation and responsibility for our oceans, marine creatures, and the natural world as a whole.
In addition, The Harbour School’s whole-school approach of establishing a formal sustainability program in 2021 – Social Impact and Sustainability Program (SISP) – has inspired the students, parents, teachers, administrators and wider community to learn and call into action on sustainability issues and education.
With this programme the school has achieved significant recognition, winning three major project awards under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) Achievement Awards 2022 held by Green Council Hong Kong in September 2022.
“The Harbour School has always valued experiential education, and whenever possible, endorses authentic and real experiences,” says Dr Jadis Blurton, Head of School at The Harbour School.
“By integrating experiential learning of marine science through hands-on work at the marine science centre and field trips on the Black Dolphin sailboat, our students are able to see, explore, and investigate their learning in real terms. This, in turn, has led to greater engagement and excitement in learning across all disciplines,” she says.
According to Rafi Cristobal, director of the SISP, schools may not be the first organisations that come to mind when thinking about impactful changes in sustainability.
However, there are approximately 800,000 K-12 students based on Education Bureau data for 2022/2023, schools could play a significant role in leading and driving sustainability initiatives.
“Together with their parents and other stakeholders, K-12 schools ecosystem in Hong Kong constitutes more than 2 million individuals who have the capability to become significant catalysts for community transformation toward sustainability,” he says.
With the SISP, The Harbour School aims to set an example for all schools by leading the way towards achieving sustainability in Hong Kong, according to Cristobal.
“This aligns with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. By nurturing our children, who represent our hope for the future, schools can play a crucial role in this long-term solution.”
Handrich Hernando, Coordinator of the SISP, recalls that during his internship in the Philippines, he was introduced to the concept of sustainability while working on a tourism masterplan, the goal of which was to preserve the natural resources in the area.
“Since then, sustainability has become a cause that’s very dear to my heart, and I hope that more people will embrace it,” he says.
In June of this year, the school was recognised by the World’s Best School Prizes (WBSP) as one of the top 10 shortlisted schools in the Environmental Action Category. This recognition was given for its marine science programme and educational seaweed farming project.
Pictured from left are Rafi Cristobal, the programme director, alongside Dr Jadis Blurton, the head of school, and Handrich Hernando, the programme coordinator.