Tung Wah Schools Train Eighth Batch of Student Heritage Ambassadors Through Artifacts Restoration
HK01 · 1 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) Student Heritage Ambassador Programme has entered its eighth year since the 2017/2018 academic year, offering secondary school students hands-on experience in artifact conservation. This year's cohort restored a 1872 wooden couplet presented to Tung Wah Hospital and expanded their horizons through a study trip to Hangzhou. The programme aims to cultivate young cultural heritage stewards by moving beyond traditional textbook learning to experiential engagement with history.
Key Points
- The TWGHs Student Heritage Ambassador Programme, now in its eighth edition, leverages the organization's extensive collection of statutory monuments, historic buildings, and precious archives spanning 156 years of service since 1870
- Administrative Director Su You'an (蘇祐安) stated the initiative seeks to break free from conventional classroom limitations by providing a "grounded" approach to promoting history and culture through direct contact with authentic artifacts
- Conservation Office Director Xie Zhiyuan (謝志遠) highlighted that students demonstrate remarkable focus when handling miniature tools for condition recording, surface cleaning, and reinforcement work on century-old wooden couplets
- TWGHs Chang Ming Thien Secondary School student Guan Junjie discovered that color matching for restoration requires waiting for paint to fully dry before making adjustments, calling it "a job requiring great patience"
- The 2026 cohort completed a five-day study tour to Hangzhou, visiting the Zhejiang Museum, China National Silk Museum, Xiling Seal Engraving Society, Liangzhu Ancient City Site, and Liangzhu Museum
Why It Matters
The programme exemplifies how institutional resources can be transformed into community education tools, fostering a new generation of cultural heritage guardians. As these student ambassadors return to their schools and neighborhoods, they carry with them both practical conservation skills and a deep sense of responsibility toward preserving Hong Kong's historical identity for future generations .
The programme exemplifies how institutional resources can be transformed into community education tools, fostering a new generation of cultural heritage guardians. As these student ambassadors return to their schools and neighborhoods, they carry with them both practical conservation skills and a deep sense of responsibility toward preserving Hong Kong's historical identity for future generations .