One Planet Youth Orientation
By: Wwf Hk
Tags: Youth, Biodiversity, Hong Kong, Nature, Conservation

by Thomas Gomersall

As those who read one of my previous blogs on WWF’s One Planet Youth (OPY) programme will know, OPY starts off with a short orientation at which participants get better acquainted with the programme, local environmental issues and each other, as well as develop ideas for their own group projects. Here’s what the orientation process involves:

Photo credit: Thomas Gomersall

Taking place over two days, the orientation begins with an introduction on the programme’s content and expectations of its participants, the biggest of which is to carry out their own self-led conservation group projects. In fact, much of the orientation is about providing participants with a baseline for developing these projects and the skills they will need to carry them out.

OPY Leadership Training Programme 2019. Photo credit: WWF-Hong Kong

For example, if one is going to work with a group of people on a shared project for roughly nine months, teamwork is essential. So over the course of the orientation, participants are treated to a series of activities designed to get acquainted better, trust each other and build group cohesion. One of the most interesting of these is a game in which groups must compete to record as many animals and plants along the shoreline at Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park within two hours –City Nature Challenge style — which not only helps participants to form those all-important social bonds, but is also an excellent opportunity to hone their identification skills and understanding of local biodiversity.

Of course, team-building is only one part of developing a successful conservation project. Equally important is having an idea for that project and being able to execute it. For participants to come up with and express their ideas, they are given special brainstorming and creativity exercises to stimulate their imagination and are also presented both with preliminary ideas from WWF and previous OPY projects for inspiration. Project topics can include anything from food waste to pollution to the wildlife trade, or whatever inspires participants. WWF makes sure to take into account what they would like to learn or gain from the OPY programme and helps them to craft their projects in ways that will help them to achieve those goals.

“Listening to the young peoples’ voices is one of the principles of the One Planet Youth Education Programme,” says Augustine Chung, Senior Education Officer for WWF-Hong Kong and supervisor of the OPY Leadership and Training programmes. “So, during the orientation, sections are reserved for the young people to express their interest and ideas in nature conservation.”

Photo credit: Thomas Gomersall

Photo credit: Magnus Lundgren Wild Wonders of China WWF

Depending on the types of projects participants show an interest in, they may even get a chance to go on field trips to provide them with the practical survey skills and knowledge of local environmental issues they will need to carry out their projects. For instance, those interested in sustainable seafood may visit a fish market in Sai Kung, while those with an interest in Chinese white dolphins may go on a survey for them and learn about common techniques used in marine mammal conservation.

Photo credit: Thomas Gomersall

As an added bonus, the orientation provides ample opportunities to experience and learn about local biodiversity. On the first day, participants are treated to a glass-bottom boat tour of Hoi Ha Wan’s rich coral communities. On the second day, they took part in several birdwatching sessions around Mai Po Nature Reserve in search of the myriad of birds that use its habitats, as well as other animals like the reserve’s resident water buffalo herd.

Photo credit: Thomas Gomersall

Whatever activities it involves, the OPY orientation promises to be a fun, educational and engaging experience for anyone who takes part in it, and an important first step in their OPY experience.