18 January, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

CECES/Archireef  OceanTech Education Programme launches

The Hong Kong Council of Early Childhood Education and Services (CECES) and the CECES Foundation, together with Archireef, a marine technology company, today launched a series of marine conservation education programmes in the school sector.  The aim is to raise the younger generation’s awareness about the impact of global warming on humans and the environment, this being in line with the objective of the education authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, which is to promote young people’s interest and capability  through the inter-relationship of science, technology and the environment (STSE),

With the support of technology partner HTC VIVE, this large-scale education programme is designed to reshape students’ learning experience with the use of technology. Students will be steered to raise their awareness of environmental protection while eliciting their curiosity towards science and innovative technology.

The Launch Ceremony of the CECES/Archireef  OceanTech Education Programme was held today (18 January). The officiating guest, Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie, GBM, JP, said the integration of environmental conservation, technology and education is a global trend, and Hong Kong has a lot of talents in this area. The CECES has brought together resources from various sectors to promote environmental protection through technology in the school sector, which is a new milestone in fostering the younger generation’s awareness of environmental protection and their application of new technology.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of CECES and Chairman of the CECES Foundation, Mr Xyras To, said the negative impact of global warming is becoming more and more serious and everyone has the responsibility to stop this trend from worsening. In mid-November 2023, CECES launched a survey on marine conservation in all primary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong to gauge the awareness of parents and schools on the issue. According to the survey results, 85% of the parents and teaching staff interviewed considered that there were not enough activities or curricula on marine conservation in Hong Kong, and more than 90% of the respondents were supportive of, and willing to participate in related education activities.

“In view of this, the CECES, with the mission of nurturing the younger generation, co-operates with the marine technology company Archireef to launch a series of marine conservation and coral conservation education programmes for school children, seizing the opportunities brought by Web 3.0. Our objective is to convey the messages of caring for the Earth and making good use of technology to students, teachers and parents.”

“This OceanTech education project is just the beginning. In the future, CECES will continue to partner with other outstanding professional teams and collaborate with various public and private organisations to provide children with the opportunities to explore and learn beyond the school-based curriculum through science and innovative technology, with the aim for contributing to the development of the younger generation into competitive global citizens and the sustainable development of Hong Kong.”

Guests attending today’s launch ceremony include Former Deputy Director of the Committee for the Basic Law of the HKSAR under the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC, Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie, GBM, JP; Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in the HKSAR, His Excellency Shaikh Saoud Ali Almualla; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre, Mr Felix Chung Kwok-pan; Chairman of Association of HKCCCC School Heads, Mr Ip Tin-yau, MH; Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Archireef, Ms Vriko Yu; Founder and Director of CECES cum Honorary Chairman of CECES Foundation, Ms Sansan Ching; Chairman of Board of Directors of CECES cum Chairman of CECES Foundation, Mr Xyras To; Chief Executive of Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Mr Richard Kendall.

A forum on “Ocean and Technology｜ Reinventing the Learning Experience” was also held today to explore the relationship between marine conservation, technology and education, with a view to inspiring more opportunities for future development of marine conservation and marine technology education programmes. The forum was moderated by the Founder and CEO, of Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre, Mr Felix Chung Kwok-pan.  The speakers were the Founder and CEO of Archireef, Ms Vriko Yu; Associate Professor of the School of Biological Sciences of the University of Hong Kong and Chief Scientist of Archireef, Dr David Baker; and The Chairman of the Association of Schools Heads of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ, Mr Peter Ip Tin-yau, MH.

Established in 1982, CECES is a charitable organisation recognised by the HKSAR Government to promote and provide non-formalised education programmes outside the school-based curriculum to develop children’s multiple talents through their personal experience and exposure, as well as to support the learning needs of children from low-income families. Over the years, CECES has cumulatively served more than 7 million families and received support and sponsorship from various government departments and private organisations.

CECES’ partner, Archireef, is a technology start-up which strives to combine marine biology, 3D printing technology and material science to restore marine ecosystems and create more suitable and habitable habitats for threatened marine life.

 

VIP Guests (From left to right, in no particular order)1. Ms. Ewa Stachurska – Group Marketing Director, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development of Simpson
2. Principal Peter Yip MH, Chairman of Association of School Heads of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
3. Mr. Richard Kendall, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Maritime Museum
4. Ms. Sansan Ching, CECES Founder, Executive Director and CECES Foundation Honorary Chairman
5. Ms. Elsie Leung GBM JP
6. Mr. Xyras To , CECES’s Board Chairman and CECES Foundation Chairman
7. H.E. Shaikh Saoud Al Mualla, UAE Consul-General to HKSAR
8. Ms. Vriko Yu, Co-Founder & CEO of Archireef
9. Mr. Felix Chung – Founder & CEO of Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre

 

Contract Signing
Mr. Xyras To , CECES’s Board Chairman and CECES Foundation Chairman
Ms. Vriko Yu, Co-Founder & CEO of Archireef

 

SET Talk – Topic “Ocean and Tech: Reshaping Learning Experience” (From left to right)
Moderator:
Mr. Felix Chung – Founder & CEO of Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre
Guests:
Ms. Vriko Yu, Co-Founder & CEO of Archireef
Dr. David Baker, Associate Professor of School of Biological Sciences & Swire Institute of Marine Science of HKU, Chief Scientist of Archireef
Principal Peter Yip MH, Chairman of Association of School Heads of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in Chin

 

Group Photo

 

Media contact:

Kenny Lau – Senior Project Manager, CECES

Contact no.: 2788 1666 / E-mail: kennylau@ceces.com.hk

Survey Result PDF: