On 13 April, senior secondary geography students took part in a field study course organised by Caritas Chan Chun Ha Field Studies Centre. The students walked into the Wan Chai community to observe how urban renewal reshapes the cityscape and residents' lives. The activity centred on “the relationship between old-district renewal and the urban environment”; under the guidance of instructors, students compared different renewal approaches and their outcomes, focusing on assessing environmental improvements brought about by renewal and the potential social issues that may arise (such as changes to community networks, shop turnover, and housing affordability).
The learning process emphasised fieldwork skills: students used observation and recording to collect first-hand environmental data and conducted simple land-use/street-scene change analyses to evaluate urban environmental quality from different perspectives. Finally, students produced charts to show whether urban renewal can achieve sustainable urban development, reflected on the trade-offs of renewal across economic, social and environmental dimensions, and proposed recommendations to promote sustainable urban development. This activity helped cultivate their interest in urban issues and fostered a sense of responsibility and willingness to cherish and improve their living environment.