Brief introduction

During the SD strategy first public engagement process, many stakeholders commented that the Council for Sustainable Development ("the Council") and the Government should do more to educate the public on the concept of sustainable development. After discussions, the Education and Publicity Sub-committee of the Council agreed that the School Outreach Programme should be extended to community groups at the district level with the aims of:

• introducing the broad concept of SD to community stakeholders;
  
• raising public awareness of the importance of SD;
  
• encouraging the public to contribute to sustainability in their daily lives, in particular, at district level; and
  
• building capacity and creating a network at the community level to facilitate the public to engage in future SD engagement and other related SD activities.
  

To implement the Community Outreach Programme more effectively, the Council would invite the SD fund recipients implementing district-based projects together with the relevant District Councils to jointly organize the events. The Council would also invite the following target groups to participate in the programme:

• All District Councillors;
  
• Community groups, residents and shop owners in the district;
  
• SD Fund recipients and applicants;
  
• Students, teachers and heads of schools who have participated in the School Outreach Programme; and
  
• Publicity Materials Design Competition participants.
  

The Programme started in July 2006, tentatively includes six events and will run until the end of 2008; and may be extended if more community projects are approved by the Fund.

Community Outreach Programme in July 2006 - Wanchai District

Community Outreach Programme in November 2006 - Southern District

Community Outreach Programme in March 2007 - North District

Community Outreach Programme in July 2007 - Tai Kok Tsui District

Community Outreach Programme in March 2008 - Tai Po District