Corporate News

Jockey Club funds School Memories project to preserve campus history

02/11/2010

As part of their Hong Kong Memory Project to encourage local schools, communities and individuals to collect, preserve and organise historical materials and cultural memories in digital form, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department today (2 November) launched School Memories to provide a platform for the public to present historical materials and memories related to their schools on the internet. 

Attending the website launch ceremony were the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Chief Librarian, Hong Kong Central Library and Extension Activities (Acting) Katherine Wong, and Hong Kong Memory Senior Consultant Dr Elizabeth Sinn. 

Mr So noted that we should not only preserve our heritage, but also to pass it on. Therefore student participation is very important in School Memories. “The new ‘3-3-4’ curriculum encourages young people to develop in a diversified manner and learn through different aspects. I believe School Memories will allow students to increase their sense of belongings and understanding towards their schools and history, thus help them think about the meaning of culture and history in a personal and social level.” 

Dr Sinn hoped the project could rekindle people’s interest in history. “Through recounting one’s own history, it will actually form part of Hong Kong’s history. We would like to encourage more people to make use of modern technology to preserve their memory which can also be shared with people from all walks of life.” 

Hong Kong Memory Research Officer Dr Wong Wai-ling explained that the School Memories is a user-friendly multimedia platform that allows teachers, students, alumni and parents to form groups to discover, research and organise their school history and school life, so as to enhance their sense of belonging and understanding. The Hong Kong Memory project team will arrange a series of activities and workshops to guide participants on how best to preserve their school history. 

School Memories encourages schools to present their history and social development through a wide array of methods, such as drama and illustrations, so students can learn more about the development and legacies of their schools. The public can share memorable items related to schools, including photocopies of report cards, school photos and student handbooks. These items will be displayed on the School Memories website and may have a chance to be permanently stored in the Hong Kong Memory Project digital collections. The website will be available for public viewing from August 2011 onwards. For more information about School Memories, please visit the official website:  http://www.schoolmemories.hk

Conceived as Hong Kong’s response to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Project which aims to preserve historical records through digitalization, The Hong Kong Memory Project was established with a Jockey Club Charities Trust donation of HK$80 million and is jointly run by the Jockey Club and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 

In 2006, the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong was appointed to develop the digital collections and web interface of the project. The website will start to demonstrate and share cultural memories with the public in late 2011. 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong’s best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city’s major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city’s growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.

The Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So, believes School Memories will allow students to increase their sense of belongings and understanding towards their schools and history, thus help them think about the meaning of culture and history in a personal and social level.
Photo 1:
The Jockey Club Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So, believes School Memories will allow students to increase their sense of belongings and understanding towards their schools and history, thus help them think about the meaning of culture and history in a personal and social level.

Hong Kong Memory Senior Consultant Dr Elizabeth Sinn hoped the project could rekindle people!|s interest in history.
Photo 2:
Hong Kong Memory Senior Consultant Dr Elizabeth Sinn hoped the project could rekindle people!|s interest in history.

Hong Kong Memory Research Officer Dr Wong Wai-ling explains that School Memories is a user-friendly multimedia platform allowing teachers, students, alumni and parents to form groups to discover, research and organise school history and school life.
Photo 3:
Hong Kong Memory Research Officer Dr Wong Wai-ling explains that School Memories is a user-friendly multimedia platform allowing teachers, students, alumni and parents to form groups to discover, research and organise school history and school life.

Wong Kam Hung (right) and Tam Sau-lai (left) of Munsang College (Kowloon) share experience on how the school pulls together its valuable human resources to develop the School Memories website.
Photo 4:
Wong Kam Hung (right) and Tam Sau-lai (left) of Munsang College (Kowloon) share experience on how the school pulls together its valuable human resources to develop the School Memories website.

Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School Vice-Principal Esther Law (left) and alumnus Marco Ng (right) explain how they turn School Memories into a priceless 50th anniversary gift for the school and its alumni.
Photo 5:
Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School Vice-Principal Esther Law (left) and alumnus Marco Ng (right) explain how they turn School Memories into a priceless 50th anniversary gift for the school and its alumni.

 

Other Corporate News