Jockey Club NatureLove Early Childhood Education Programme Officially Launched
-
12 Oct 2026
Jockey Club NatureLove Early Childhood Education Programme Officially Launched
The Jockey Club NatureLove Early Childhood Education Programme is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and jointly implemented by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC). Launched in 2026, this three-year initiative promotes nature-based early childhood education in Hong Kong.
The Programme was officially launched at IVE (Sha Tin) on 12 October 2026. The ceremony was officiated by Dr SZE Chun-fai, Jeff, JP, Under Secretary for Education; Ms YING Fung-sau, Head of Charities (Education & Youth Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Paul CHONG, BBS, MH, Deputy Chairman of VTC; and Dr CHEUNG Tin-cheung, SBS, JP, Chairman of HKGBC. Representatives from collaborating organisations, including HKUST, CUHK and Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK), also joined the event.
Benefiting over 50,000 Young Children
The Programme will support 250 non-profit kindergartens and nursery schools across Hong Kong in integrating nature-based learning into children’s everyday educational experiences, benefiting more than 50,000 young children. It will also engage teachers, parents and other stakeholders to create more opportunities for children to connect with and learn from nature.
VTC’s Department of Childcare, Elderly and Community Services (CECS), through its Child Education Centre for Teaching and Learning (CECTL), takes a leading role in the planning and implementation of the Programme.
Comprehensive Support for Nature-based Learning
The Programme covers eight key supporting areas, with VTC leading seven in collaboration with professional partners including OWLHK, HKUST and the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK. These areas encompass teacher and kindergarten capacity building, curriculum development, family education, field-based learning, teaching resources, school recognition and early childhood environment research.
HKGBC leads the eighth area, Green Environment Enhancement in Kindergarten, under which approximately 135 kindergartens will receive facilities and resources such as green walls, recycled wood furniture, nature display trays, sand and water play facilities, and hydroponic planting systems.
Building a Nature-loving Culture through Collaboration
Guided by child-centred pedagogy and the approach of “About Nature, In Nature, and For Nature”, the Programme strengthens children’s connection with nature to foster holistic development, curiosity, creativity, well-being and environmental awareness. Through professional training, school-based support, parent engagement and learning environment enhancement, and by bringing together expertise in early childhood education, environmental education, academic research and other professional fields, the Programme equips schools to advance long-term and sustainable nature-based early childhood education in Hong Kong.
• Watch the RTHK interview featured on The Current on 21 October 2026 (English only):
View the RTHK interview (Relevant interview segment: 00:46 – 14:05)
• Another interview about the Programme was featured on 同途有心人 on 8 November 2026 (Cantonese only):
