Invest in Youth has changed its name, but not its purpose. Youth Matters echoes our mission to help and nurture young people to reach their potential and we continue to seek public support, encouragement and partnership in this endeavour.
 

In September the Federation is holding its first ever charity concert. Trey Lee, the acclaimed cellist born and bred in Hong Kong, will perform for us at the Cultural Centre's splendid concert hall with violinist Elita Kang and pianist Nancy Loo on September 14th. We are honoured by this gesture of solidarity and proud to be able to present the concert. Proceeds will go to help youth-at-risk, the underprivileged young people of Hong Kong who lack the advantages that make growing up here an exciting, positive

experience.We make it our business to provide crucial support for them when they most need it. Take a look at the story below for just one example. As you'll see the Federation's counsellors can help lift the curtain of depression and raise hope for the future. What better symbol for them than music. Trey Lee's delightful selection of pieces will include works by Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini and Faure. Help us make the concert into the fantastic success it deserves. Seats are selling fast so contact us now for more info on availability and how to make a contribution, tel 2123 9598/6417 8712, email charityconcert@hkfyg.org.hk

Break up blues: Kandy's story

Kandy was born on the Mainland in the mid 80s. Then her parents left her behind, bringing her younger brother with them to Hong Kong. They came in search of work and Kandy had to stay with an aunt and uncle in China. Her parents went back to visit her just once a year. Naturally she secretly feared she'd been abandoned and thought that eventually they'd just forget all about her.

In fact, her worst fears weren't realized and when she was about 14 she came to finish her schooling in Hong Kong. Everything seemed to go well despite her rocky start in life. She caught up fast and her school work was good. She made friends easily and started going out with Jacky. But after a while things went downhill, Jacky broke up with her and she had no idea why. Fears of rejection and abandonment, forgotten since she left the Mainland, re-emerged. She was deeply hurt but didn't want to admit it. That tenuous sense of belonging, so precious to her, vanished. Kandy lost all her erstwhile self confidence, felt that she couldn't communicate with her schoolmates or her parents and became more and more unhappy.

This went on for a year or more but still neither her parents nor her teachers noticed even though she was preparing for the public examinations. There were no obvious warning signs. She still handed in her homework on time and her marks were fine. Kandy is a fiercely independent girl, maybe because of that period in her childhood when she had to fend for herself, so it was especially difficult for her to talk about her problems and to admit to the failed relationship with Jacky. She thought it was all her fault.

One day something snapped and she realized she needed help. Luckily for her there was a Federation counsellor at her school to whom she could go directly thus avoiding any real or imagined stigma. After all, for some people the hardest thing of all is admitting that they need help.

Cecilia talked her through her problems, helped her see her strengths, look to the future instead of dwelling on the past, and have the confidence to go back to her old friends. Kandy is a brave girl and she plucked up courage. Her old friends welcomed her with open arms, giving her all the support she needed. The tide had turned.

Kandy was not actually diagnosed as a depressive by a psychiatrist and she was able to keep remarkable control of her emotions outwardly. But in the end she'd had to admit that she couldn't manage on her own after all. Cecilia, one of the Federation's professional counsellors, had been there for her at that crucial period when Kandy could have gone either way. Instead of seeking solace in drugs or alcohol, she sought out a sympathetic adult who not only cared but knew how to pull her through by showing her how to reconstruct her perspective on life and have faith in her own potential.

Many of us have been through a depressive episode like Kandy's but how many of us found a kindly but professional ear to listen to our woes and dispel that sense of worthlessness that lies at the very heart of depression? One in five teens suffers from clinical depression, a figure that corresponds with the average number of adult sufferers. Only prompt and timely treatment can help. The more the Federation can provide the better.

Youth help to promote HK

202 young people were made Young Ambassadors at an Appointment and Awards Ceremony which took place on 18 August 2004 at the Shatin Town Hall. The Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme is jointly organized by the Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. It trains students to represent Hong Kong, participate in the tourist industry and spread the message of hospitality in the local community and overseas. After appointment, the Ambassadors are stationed at local tourist attractions such as the Peak Tower, Hong Kong International Airport and Kowloon Walled City Park where they introduce Hong Kong to visitors during weekends and on public holidays. By organizing activities both locally and abroad these young people go a long way to promote Hong Kong's image as a top tourist destination.

Youth reading culture

This April, the Federation carried out a survey on reading habits of Hong Kong youth, commissioning the Public Opinion Programme of The University of Hong Kong to conduct the interviews. 531 youngsters aged 15-39 were interviewed and nearly 60% thought reading was a daily necessity although their measure of enjoyment in reading was only 7 on a scale of 10. More than 80% of the respondents spent on average just over an hour a day reading. They found time to read while commuting and during periods of leisure at home. Over half of the young people interviewed spent over $150 a month on books and about the same number agreed that books in Hong Kong were too expensive. Another survey recently conducted on young people's reading habits by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong showed that 20% didn't read at all and that 50% of all the readers bought only comics. Perhaps because they were cheaper. The Federation's survey also asked for their views on the importance of information and 87.2% of the respondents agreed that access to information could change a person's life. On that point at least there is at least little doubt. Click to see the full Federation report <青少年意見調查---「香港青年的閱書文化」>

SALARY: The Number 1 factor in job selection

The Federation interviewed 591 young people in relation to youth employment during the "Youth Career Expo" in mid-July this year. The survey showed that more than 60% of respondents think that salary is the first factor to consider when choosing jobs. Next comes working hours (50.6%) and then work place (45.9%). Only 13% of all respondents consider it important to be… 'able to bring their abilities into full play' at work. The survey results clearly demonstrate that young people in today's world are materialistic and do not attach much importance to personal skills and talent when they choose their jobs. This may help explain why young people change jobs so often. The Federation encourages youth to make good use of pre-employment training and vocational training sessions, so that they can plan their career path well ahead and avoid the most common pitfalls.