Thanks to Partners

partners' logos

McCafe Coffee Professionals YWETS Scheme

McDonald's Restaurants (Hong Kong) Ltd and the Federation are launching the 4th YWETS training scheme in this successful partnership. Eligible young people will receive a 9-month job placement at branches of McCafe from September 06 to May 07, learning the skills of coffee making, restaurant operations and customer service techniques.
Click http://www.yen.org.hk/
temp/mc.asp

for more information.


Airport Terminal Business Clerical YWETS Trainee Programme

This newly launched programme is jointly organized by the Federation and the Airport Authority Hong Kong. It gives 15 young people 6-months of on-the-job training in clerical work at the airport terminals. The Programme involves trainees in word processing, filing, data input and answering telephone calls. Click http://www.yen.org.hk/
temp/airport.asp

for more information.


Hung Fook Tong Shop Assistant Trainee Programme

The Federation is in partnership with Hung Fook Tong Holdings on a 6-month training programme for 20 young people. The trainees will be responsible for serving customers, product promotion and quality assurance. They will be trained in customer service skills and learn about shop operations.
Click http://www.yen.org.hk/
temp/hung2.asp

for more information.


Third NationMark Internship Programme

Organized jointly by the Federation and NationMark (HK) Ltd, this programme gives 12 young people a year of technical training in customer service techniques, hardware assembly and computer repair skills.
Click http://www.yen.org.hk/
temp/nation.asp

for more information.
Contact Joey or Daniel of Youth Employment Network (YEN) at 3113 7999 with inquiries.


Juvenile Delinquency Research Seminar

This seminar, organized by The Macau Juvenile Delinquency Research Society, the China Society of Juvenile Delinquency Research and the Institute of Crime Prevention and Control, Nanjing University, will take place from 6-8 August in Macau. The Federation's Youth Research Centre was invited to join as a co-organizer. Approximately 130 representatives from China, Macau and Hong Kong will attend and discuss recent trends in juvenile delinquency with respect to socio-economic factors in their regions. Behaviour of delinquents and correctional services will also be analyzed.


Seminar for HKCEE students and their parents

Before the release of the HKCEE results on 9 August, the Federation is going to organize this seminar entitled 『會考生升學多面睇』講座 with the Education and Manpower Bureau, Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Yuen Long District Limited and Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations, Tuen Mun on 4 August at CCC Hoh Fuk Tong College. Information related to F.6 admission procedures, further studies and ways to deal with pressure will be provided. HKCEE students and their parents are welcome to join the seminar. For more information please contact Kin Sang Youth S.P.O.T. at 2467 7933.


Free screening of the movie Click

Edko Films Ltd have generously donated 150 tickets to the Federation for the movie, Click. Young people and their parents are invited to the free screening on 7 August at AMC Festival Walk. On 12 August there will be a sharing session about the movie for approximately 30 participants at the Shaukiwan Youth S.P.O.T. Click features Adam Sandler and Kate Beckinsale and is about a busy architect who suddenly becomes able to control his career and personal life by a click on a magic remote control. Complications arise when the remote starts to overrule his choices.


3rd Hong Kong International Education Expo

The expo, organized by Neway International Trade Fairs Ltd, is supported by the Federation, Breakthrough, the Hong Kong Youth Association, the Hong Kong Youth & Tertiary Students Association, the Hong Kong Youth Power Association, The Hong Kong Award for Young People, Youth Network and the YouthOnline Association. It will be held from 4-6 August at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. 200 institutions from Hong Kong, China and overseas will provide up-to-date information on post-secondary education programmes, job training and continuing education. It is aimed at F.5 and F.7 graduates and their parents. There will be over 60 education seminars and counselling workshops at the Expo. Click here for more info: http://www.newayfairs.com/
hke/

 

 
 
Enhancing youth employability

Each summer, thousands of fresh entrants to the workforce mean a hive of activity. We match youngsters with vacancies, run career expos and hold workshops and seminars for job seekers. The Federation's Youth Employment Network (YEN) collaborates with the Labour Department on the YPTP and YWETS* training and job experience schemes for 15-24 year olds. Enrollment of 20,000 youngsters starts on 29 July. All 21 olf the Youth S.P.O.Ts will be involved in YPTP while YEN runs special YWETS projects, mediating between prospective employers and new recruits.

YEN is stepping up efforts in job matching and support services for employers. Successful collaborations to date include the Airport Authority, McDonald's, NationMark and Hung Fook Tong and we are very keen to find new YWETS partners. Click here for details. Hong Kong has an oversupply of low-skilled labour and a shortage of highly-skilled workers. 25% of male teenagers here are unemployed even though the unemployment rate fell to its lowest* in five years in May.** This situation exacerbates the growing wealth gap and creative use of resources will be essential to maximize the opportunities of Hong Kong's youth. We are determined to help. Will you help us?

Interested in becoming a YWETS partner? Read more in this week's Feature Story or contact Cheung Chi-wai, YEN, tel 31137999 email chiwai@hkfyg.org.hk

*YPTP (Youth Pre-employment Training Programme) focuses on school leavers' (15-19 year olds) employability, provision of modular training, job placement and career counselling. YWETS (Youth Work experience and Training Scheme) projects involve assessment of youth needs, targeting suitable employers and providing on-going case management and support (for 20-24 year-olds)
**down from 8.6% in 2003 to 4.9% (SCMP 17/7/06)


Feature Story
YWETS: a training scheme with purpose

The government's Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS) has been running for 5 years, providing on-the-job training and improving young people's employability. NGOs like the Federation cooperate with the Labour Department through their network of employers. Screening and placement of suitable candidates takes place before liaison with potential employers.

Job training has to be focused and relevant to be useful. The Federation's Youth Employment Network (YEN) has been working with the Airport Authority and McDonald's as well as companies such as NationMark and Hung Fook Tong. NationMark specializes in computer software while Hung Fook Tong makes herbal tea drinks. We asked them why they joined the scheme.

"We want to help relieve youth unemployment and can help ourselves find suitable recruits at the same time with a scheme like this," said Amy at NationMark. Amy is Senior Administrative Officer at the company and she said they were already into their third year of collaboration with YEN through YWETS.

  Case manager Daniel and trainee Mike

"The Federation approached us and we've found ourselves in a win-win situation. We show the company has a sense of corporate social responsibility and there is no denying that the YWETS trainees have a much lower drop-out rate during the probation period."

What makes the YWETS trainees different? One important point is that they get training in communication skills and dealing with pressure.

"At NationMark, we wanted the trainees to deal with hotline enquiries so they had to work under pressure. The Federation trained them to cope with negative reactions and crises. The result is that they are much better motivated when it comes to this aspect of customer services which many find difficult."

Mike, a NationMark YWETS trainee for the past year, gave us his feedback:

"I wanted a job in the IT field but had no past work experience. This is one of the main problems for young job seekers, along with interview techniques and lack of suitable academic qualifications. When I found information about NationMark at a HKFYG Job Expo I went for it. And I never looked back."

Mike will stay on next year. The staff mentors have helped him to settle down really well, both in the job and in his personal life. Meanwhile, his Federation training case manager, Daniel, gave him the necessary communication skills for customer services and dealing with difficult clients.

"Case mangers teach trainees how to know themselves first," explained Daniel. "If you need to be patient with difficult customers it always helps if you know about your own strengths. We also teach YWETS trainees how to co-operate with colleagues and relate to the boss with good manners, but that's just the start."

"Daniel acts as a bridge between us and the trainees," said Amy. "That makes for an immense improvement in communication, especially if we are working under pressure."

"For jobs with customer services the ability to be pleasant and polite, with the right sort of responsive attitude is very important," commented June, Deputy HR Manager at Hung Fook Tong. "Relevant work experience is not so important at this stage. Smart, energetic staff who are interested in the work they do are what we really need."

YEN has also sent YWETS trainees to work at the airport and McDonald's. The majority of feedback has been very positive. Employers can tell case managers at YEN about any problems with the trainees and they can pass on the message in a constructive way which builds confidence as well as ability.

"Naturally, we want to promote our corporate image," said June. "This scheme lets us do that and demonstrate social responsibility as well. But it does more than that. It helps youngsters establish goals, become integrated and learn what it means to be responsible citizens themselves."

For more information about YWETS contact YEN
tel 31137999 email chiwai@hkfyg.org.hk or
visit http://www.ywets.labour.gov.hk/eng/employer/employerMain.htm


Federation News

Hong Kong Young Ambassadors soon to be appointed

The Appointment and Awards Ceremony will take place on 11 August at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Ms. Au King-chi, Commissioner for Tourism and Dr. Eric Li, Chairman of the Partnership Committee of the Federation will be officiating guests. 230 Young Ambassadors will pledge to promote Hong Kong's fine reputation as a holiday destination and there will be awards for efforts made by last year's ambassadors.
Click here for details.
 
Facelift for u21 website
The website has a new, user-friendly look. You will find an interactive platform packed with information and services, both our own and links to other agencies. Go to www.u21.org.hk and see.
 
Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience 2006
This year, 8 Hong Kong students aged 16-18 will join this annual exchange programme from 22-30 August. They will join a special environmental education course in South Africa and enjoy the wonderful experience of widened horizons on this exciting wilderness tour.

Facts & Figures

Drug abuse: kid's stuff

The latest surveys of drug abuse in youngsters show that 25% started taking drugs before they were 14 and that the majority are left with abnormally low mental ability.

The survey done by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service* involved 1123 respondents who had contacted outreach social workers for help but only 485 had given up drugs as a result.

 

 

Drug cocktail

A 21-year-old had been on drugs since he was just 9 years old and over 3% had started by the time they were 12. There was a 15% increase in the under 21-year-olds. Over half of those surveyed said they used drugs at Hong Kong discos. Their most popular drugs are ketamine followed by Ecstasy and cannabis (77.5%, 62.9% and 48.1% respectively.)

The survey on mental ability** was done by the Hong Kong Playground Association over a period of 3 years on approximately 350 teenagers who agreed to take IQ tests and have CT scans to reveal brain damage. Over 80% of them were classified as slow learners and the worst affected showed signs of impaired cognitive functions and poor memory.

*SCMP report 24 July 2006 C4
**SCMP report 28 July C1

 

Federation Opinion Poll on how students spend their summer holidays

The Federation conducted an opinion poll from 12-15 July among 511 students in Primary 5 to Form 7, asking them what they did during the summer holidays. The survey showed that 51.7% of them look forward to summer holidays and want a balance between rest and study.

  cover summer programme brochure
When asked about things they most want to do during the summer holidays, 23.3% chose to play, 21.8% wanted to revise schoolwork and 18.3% wanted to learn a skill. Only 12.8% hoped to read more books, take exercise or travel. Over 70% had already enrolled for planned to take a training programme, with ball games and water sports being the two most popular. 33.8% said they need to take extra lessons at school during the summer holidays and needed to spend over 9 hours every week on this. 21.8% said they would spend over 5 hours on average every week in tuition outside school. Click here for the Chinese version of the poll. http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/chinese/yr-p151c.html

Service Spotlight

Employer Network
Youth Employment Network

The network was formally established two years ago to connect employers with potential youth employees. Effective, active liaison with the business sector is its core priority and job expos and training schemes are its core functions. If you are interested in these fruitful, cooperative partnerships contact Cheung Chi-wai, tel 3113 7999.