Thanks
to Partners |
Grand
Raffle
The
Federation is very grateful to all donors of Grand Raffle
prizes and to Power Logistics for covering
printing costs. Donors include Cathay Pacific Airlines,
Charles & Colvard (HK) Ltd, GoldQuest
International Ltd, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Ltd, Sun Shun Fuk Foods
Co. Ltd,
Canon Hongkong Company Ltd, JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, Mr
Dickson Poon and
many more. We have 200,000 raffle tickets to sell during August
and September 2005 in support of youth services. You are more
than welcome to join in the sales effort either via your organization
or as an individual. Each ticket costs $10. If you are interested
in taking part in this exercise, please click here to download
a ticket
order form.
link
to see raffle prize donors
|
|
Shell
LiveWire Business Business Awards 2005:
The annual
scheme, organized by Shell Hong Kong Ltd and
the Federation, recognizes efforts and success in start-ups.
Young
people starting up their own businesses are invited to submit
business proposals. Winners receive cash awards to help them
turn dreams into reality. Sincere thanks to Shell for their
invitation to continue in this partnership and to both the
Hong Kong Productivity Council and Next
Magazine, for their
valuable support of the scheme. The awards are part of the
Shell LiveWIRE Project which aims to support youth development
and increase both business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit
in young people aged 18 -30. Deadline for entry: 15 August
2005. Enquiries: 2405 4666. Click here for more info on the
project:
www.shell-livewire.com.hk/home.html |
|
|
Labour
Department Youth Work Experience Training Scheme
With youth employment needs in mind, the
Federation is launching several new programmes in August
and September. Thanks go to Bureau Veritas, McDonald's,
NationMark (HK) Ltd and A-1 Bakery. All the training is
under the umbrella of the Labour Department Youth Work
Experience and Training Scheme.
Bureau
Veritas Product Safety Test Trainees
30 young people will be recruited for a 6-month job placement
programme working in the laboratory on safety tests for
toys, furniture, electrical appliances etc. They will learn
product testing techniques, laboratory work, clerical work
and communication skills.
McDonald's
STAR Project
10 young people will be recruited to receive 6-month
on-the-job training in customer services, logistics arrangements,
event organization and product promotion.
McDonald's
3rd "McCafe Coffee Professionals
Scheme"
20 young people with a passion for brewing and serving
coffee will be recruited to learn the skills of coffee
making, restaurant operations and customer service techniques.
2nd
NationMark Internship Program
10 young people will receive 12-months' technical training
in customer service techniques, hardware assembly and computer
repair skills.
A-1
Bakery Internship Program
10 young people will be recruited for 12-months' training
in bread making.
For more information about our training programmes, please
click here:
www.yen.org.hk/expo/special.htm#2
|
|
|
Hong
Kong Disneyland
The Federation was delighted to receive 20 complimentary tickets from Hong
Kong
Disneyland for 2 Rehearsal Days, 21 and 28 August 2005. They will give some lucky
young members the opportunity for a preview of all the possibilities Hong Kong
Disneyland has created for family enjoyment. Thank you to Disneyland Parks for
making the arrangements.
|
|
|
|
|
Peak period for Form Five
Broadband
Anxiety is about to peak in this year's HKCEE students. There are
nearly 120,000 candidates this year - all terribly anxious about
their future. The Federation does all it can to help with information,
advice and light-hearted distraction by running its Form
Five Broadband project. Activities change from year to year.
In 2004 there was rock music, this year it is rock climbing. There
are camps, seminars,
symposiums and workshops, not to mention the counselling services
which uses every possible channel of communication.
|
|
'Pressure
comes from all quarters, not least the students themselves. Since
its inception, Form Five Broadband has evolved
its services to ease the tension generated by questions such
as, what
should I do if my results are poor'… 'what sort of
training can I get?' During the annual peak period alone it
deals with approximately 4500 calls for help. Over the phone and
through email, icq and chatrooms, the counsellors will be stretched
to the limit from 9-13 August. Read about them in this week's Feature
Story.
"Early
preparation and counselling are essential if students are making
plans for further
study. Preparing for the worst can reduce
stress levels and both they and their parents should seek the advice
of counsellors who can help them to cope."
Mr Chiu
Wing-tak
Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance
Masters
Federation
News
Summer
Melodies: The Hong Kong Melody Makers
The choir performed a selection of beautiful music at St John's Cathedral, Li
Hall last Sunday afternoon, 31 July with Ken Lam conducting and Yuki Ip as guest
soprano.
Hong
Kong Young Ambassadors appointed and awarded
The Appointment and Awards Ceremony, 5 August 2005 saw 226 Young Ambassadors
pledging to promote Hong Kong's fine reputation as a holiday destination while
last year’s cohort were rewarded for outstanding efforts. Click here for details.
The
Sound of Music Charity Marathon
The Federation is the proud beneficiary of 'The Sound of Music Charity Marathon',
to be presented by Music Nation, 27 & 28 August. By donating a specified
minimum you can join the fun at Festival Walk with a song from the Musical.
*Interested in joining us? Click here for the sponsorship
form.
|
|
Feature
Story
Form Five broadband:
24/24 care for teens
As the dread day of exam results approaches two of the volunteer counsellors
on the Federation's hotline for anxious teenagers talked to us about their work.
Claudia has been a volunteer since primary school and is now studying social
work at City University. She started on the hotline in 2003 and thinks it’s the
best possible way of helping teens get over their nightmares of doubt and hesitation.
Marco trained
in computer studies and is now a library assistant. He worked
on the hotline too but thinks the Form Five Broadband internet
chatroom is probably the best option for the thousands of Hong
Kong teens
who find communicating
by computer almost instinctive.
|
|
Both
Claudia and Marco relish the challenge of the coming peak period,
called the 100 Hours when the vast majority
of calls for help come through. Before they start on 9 August,
there is a 2-day training workshop. They think there is still
a lot to learn despite past experience.
"The
role play sessions help a lot but the best thing is getting real
practice on Form Five Broadband," said Claudia, "when the moment
comes, what really counts is being able to empathise and give
positive re-inforcement."
Patience is
vital while callers voice out their concerns and Claudia's immediate
aim is to learn what she can and understand the problems as fast
as possible. Only then can a counsellor start to build up trust,
offer emotional support, encouragement and reassurance. All this
in a matter of 5-10 minutes, which is often all there is to deal
with each call.
Calls from
parents are common too. They are often anxious because they
realize that communication at home has broken down. They too
need to see how they can help their teenagers cope with the coming
transition period.
"The nature
of the problems change through the week," said Claudia. " First
they just want to talk about how they feel. I know what it's
like because I went through agonies of self-doubt myself when
I was their age."
Marco can also remember feeling pressured to succeed by his parents
so he too understands very well the dreadful feelings of insecurity
and anticipation.
"I
did not realize the Federation hotlines existed then. Instead
I talked to my friends about how I felt. Now, with the chatrooms,
there's much better interchange among a group. The students help
each other just like my friends helped me."
"Later they need guidance, practical support and precise
information," said Marco. "Many need help to pick
a school on the points system
that offers the best chance of doing the subjects they need to
go on to university. We have to know how to navigate our way through
a lot of information quickly and advise students on the best options."
Teamwork is vital and during the 100 Hours 100 volunteers like
Claudia and Marco will be depending on each other in the Form Five
Broadband HQ. We wish them luck - it can be a stressful time for
the counsellors themselves - under pressure for 8 hours at a stretch
on the computer terminals and phone lines.
Neither Marco nor Claudia complained of stress. Both seem to be
natural listeners but they have an equally natural difference.
While Marco concentrates on the precise, practical aspects of his
work, Claudia's first priority is to empathise and use her EQ.
Marco said, "We have to be fast, friendly and efficient",
said Marco. Quite a tall order! "But in the end I tell
them to just try their best and then relax,"
"Counselling is a real art," said Claudia -
"You learn so much by experience. The most important thing is being
able to imagine
yourself in their shoes."
for more info visit http://www.u21.org.hk/27771112_new/
|
|
Facts & Figures
Sex education:
failure and the consequences
Summer holidays are a high-risk period for unwanted teenage pregnancies.
Figures have risen by 11% in the last year according to a report
released last week by a local support group.* Educators think that
the younger sex education starts at school the better but lessons
need reinforcing at home by parents to be effective. Unfortunately
many parents find that difficult.
|
|
A
2003 Chinese University report** showed that of 1,729 primary
school pupils interviewed, only 15%
had ever talked about sex with their parents. Levels of awareness
are even lower on the Mainland where another survey*** showed that
22% of Guangdong parents never discuss sex with their children
and 20% said they had no idea how much their children knew about
the subject. Instead, many young people - both in Hong Kong and
across the border - get access to distorted information, with 66%
from a sample group**** of 1,176 reporting they had received obscene
material from the internet. A BBC report *****states
that 75% of all Mainland youth get their primary sex education
through online pornography.
Improved communication
and heightened awareness go a long way to counter these problems
and reduce teenage pregnancy. The Federation's Youth Counselling
and Family Life Education units are always ready to help both
parents and youth with this difficult problem.
*South China
Morning Post 25 July 2005 ** South China Morning Post 22 November
2004
*** South China Morning Post 2 May 2005/7/28 **** South China Morning
Post 5 October 2004
*****http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4572859.stm
|
Book
fair confirms Federation survey on reading
Overall attendance figures at last month's book fair were up by
20% on 2004. Even better, 30% more children's tickets were sold.
In a knowledge-based society books have a very important role to
play despite the dominance of the computer in both work and leisure.
The continuing urge to read is very good news especially when an
RTHK June survey of 1,528 primary pupils found that 20% of them
thought of their computer as their playmate.
|
|
The Federation ran its own survey*
in early July, interviewing 548 young people about their reading
habits. It discovered that while 80% had read material online in
the last 12 months, a good 70% prefer reading hard copy and the
majority spend over an hour a day reading, a figure which matches
the findings of a similar poll survey conducted in 2004.** Favourite
material was fiction even though 30% read for information. As in
2004, the majority think that book prices are too high, a perception
which may change as high quality material published on the mainland
at a lower price becomes ubiquitous here in Hong Kong.
*http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/chinese/yr-p141c.html **
http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/chinese/yr-p127c.html
|
The
right person for the job: making requirements and qualifications
meet
Job vacancies are up in Hong Kong according to the number
of advertisements this year,* with 51% of firms planning
to increase their workforce. However, employers are looking
for candidates with the right personal and professional skills
and their criteria are heavily biased towards job-related
knowledge and experience. Key questions about a candidate's
ability to be a strategic thinker, a team player and a good
communicator underlie this approach. No longer is a simple,
if relevant, academic qualification from a prestigious institution
any guarantee, although 25% of all local employers prefer
graduates from HKU.**
|
|
Nearly
20% of employers put work-related experience top of
their list of priorities.
That means young people preparing for the job market should
be taking a summer job in a relevant field because that's
a good signal to prospective employers that they will need
less training and have a positive attitude to the work environment.
The Federation helps by partnering the Labour Department's
Youth Work Experience Training Scheme and providing placements
and internships with the Airport Authority, McDonalds, Bureau
Veritas, A-1 Bakery and others. For more information, call
Cheung Chi-wai of the Youth Employment Network on 3113
7999.
*South China Morning Post 23 July 2005 **Hong Kong Standard
23 July 2005
|
|
|