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New
Zealand Student Ambassador Selection Programme 2006-07
The Federation has been
invited as a co-organizer of this Programme which is
run by the Education and Manpower Bureau, New
Zealand Trade & Enterprise, Longman and Wing
On Travel. Six
students aged 18 and above will be appointed as New Zealand
Student Ambassadors. They will receive 6 weeks of education
and adventure training with a 3-week tailor-made tourism
and hospitality learning programme. Six
students aged 14-17 will also be selected for a 3-week
custom-made English language learning programme in New
Zealand from May-June. These programmes provide the experience
of travelling, living and learning in New Zealand as
well as an eco-tour. The students are expected to share
this experience with schools in Hong Kong on their return.
For details, please visit
www.newzealandeducated.com/
HongKong
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Asia
World-Expo & YWETS Exhibition Trainee Programme
The Federation is launching
a new youth training programme with Asia World-Expo and
has full support from the Labour Department's Youth Work
Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS). The programme
gives ten young people 6 months of on-the-job training
in exhibition planning and operation. They will also
learn about the administration of logistics. Trainees
will be responsible for customer service, learn how to
handle customer complaints and provide back-up for event
organizers and exhibition participants.
Click http://www.yen.org.hk/
newyen/yen/sp8.php for more
information.
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HKIRC/HKDNR
offers free blog space /domain names for youth
Registered Federation u21
youthnet members can now obtain free online space and
domain names courtesy of the Hong Kong Domain
Name Registration Company Ltd and i010.com
(International) Ltd. They can
create their own blog and website, making use of the
features, functions and templates offered. This way,
they can share and find information, making communication
and exchange of ideas simpler and faster. Click here
to read the details:
http://www.u21.org.hk/u21%5F2006/
promotion/free%5Furl/
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Hong
Kong Odyssey of the Mind Programme 2007
The local competitions
have been a great success in recent years so the Federation
and the Education and Manpower Bureau are organizing
the Programme again in 2007 with The Hong Kong
Institute of Education (HKIEd) as co-organizer. The local competitions
will be held at HKIEd on 31 March and 1 April next
year. Championship teams at local level usually represent
Hong Kong at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals,
held annually in the US in May. We are very grateful
to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their
offer to cover accommodation and meals for these local
teams. It gives them the chance to demonstrate their
abilities and benefit from meeting and exchanging ideas
with participants from 10 other countries including
China, Japan, Singapore and Germany.
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Federation
invited to support “Run with your heart 2006"
The Federation has been
invited as a supporting organization for “Run with
your heart 2006," organized by the Hong Kong
Elite Athletes Association (HKEAA) and sponsored by AIA
Foundation.
The event is on 31 December at the Hong Kong Sports
Institute and will raise money for charity. Participants,
in teams of 4-12 members, will complete a 12-hour relay
run from 11am to 11pm, with one team member running
on the 400m athletic track throughout. We are helping
to recruit young people for this special event. Click
here to read more:
http://www.hkelite.org/
newweb/run.htm
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| Upcoming
events |
"I
am a Volunteer" Ceremony
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Date: 3 December
2006
Venue: Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Keith Legg Sports
Field
Participants: over 1,000 youth volunteers
Guest of Honour: Prof. Arthur Li, Secretary for Education
and Manpower |
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| HKFYG
Lee Shau Kee College: invitation for F.1 admissions
2007/08 |
Deadline for
applications: 13 January 2007
Information: tel 2146 1128 fax 2146 1662
Website: http://www.hlc.edu.hk
e-mail education@hkfyg.org.hk |
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| Teenage
obesity: a risk for life |
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Children who are obese
between 11 and 15 years old double their risk of dying before
50.* This is very worrying indeed and we must minimize that
risk.
Will you help us?
Obesity has risen sharply with the mushrooming of fast food
outlets on the city's streets and the drop in outdoor exercise.
A combination of busy streets, pollution and the attractions
of the computer screen have all contributed. What can be
done to show reluctant youth how cool it feels to be fit
and how much good it can do their self esteem? |
The Federation
has just begun an exciting new programme: one hundred outdoor
winter youth activities, making the most of Hong Kong's marvellous
natural environment. The first is HKFYG's Youth Challenge:
Multisport Adenture Race in Sai Kung next week, an exhilarating
experience for participants. We would love to involve you
in our plans for eco-tours, sports climbing and orienteering
events, to name just a few.
Call Bonnie in Partnership, 2123 9598, to find out more.
See below for comments from parents, teachers and Chung Kin-man,
the well-loved mountaineer.
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| Feature
Story |
| Fitness: parents
and teachers in the war on fat Healthy,
nutritious meals are the first step in the ‘battle of
the bulge,' followed by plenty of exercise – something
that many of today's school children are most willing
to avoid for extra time online. As child obesity climbs
throughout the developed world (see this week's Facts & Figures),
the combined efforts of schools and parents are needed
as a counterbalance.
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At the brand new HKFYG Lee
Shau Kee College in Tin Shui Wai students learn how important
physical and health education is. The subject has a special
place in the curriculum, as PE instructor, Bonnie Mok said: |
I don't only teach sports, I teach how
to keep fit and healthy. Most of our students are slim
and we will help them stay that way, learning about the
benefits of good food as well as exercise. The school tuck
shop offers healthy options, with less fat and more vegetables.
Drink vending machines all have water and when students
come to my classes, that's what they bring instead of high
calorie soft drinks.
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| The school's goal is to motivate students to
adopt a lifestyle that will stay with them for good but we
need
parents'
help too. They have central role to play as role models in
the battle against obesity. Unfortunately, they can serve
as a visible warning of what happens if you don't look after
your health: |
| ‘I'm determined not to look like my mother when I'm over
30,' said Natasha. ‘Being chubby runs in our family but that
doesn't mean I can't stop myself putting on weight. Appearance
matters a lot to me and that's how I persuade my two little
girls to come out for a jog with me at the weekend.' |
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| Andy, a health-conscious parent with daughters
in secondary school commented: |
| ‘It was much easier to get the girls out hiking when they
were in primary school. Now they don’t much like coming with
us but prefer to do sports with their classmates. They are
very influenced by their peers and I think the school should
arrange more PE lessons to encourage them. Still, it’s important
to emphasize a balanced diet at home.’ |
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Bonnie responded by saying:
‘We need parents’ cooperation of to keep students in good
shape. We organise talks with parents to explain how we
tackle this part of the curriculum. There has to be a balance
in all things, both diet and exercise. Girls tend to eat
less if they think they are getting fat, instead of taking
exercise, but they tend to eat less of the good things!’ |
| All the parents interviewed felt highly responsible
but also pointed out the limitations imposed by living in
a crowded, competitive city, full of tempting snacks: |
| ‘Fast food at home is banned,’ said Lakshmi. ‘Sport
is seen as something ‘extra’ in Hong Kong, never just a
normal part of everyday play. ‘Perhaps lack of space or
the stress placed on other extra-curricular activities is
the culprit. I think my children miss out on the simple freedom
to play outdoors after school, using up all that excess energy.’ |
|
Gary’s boys take plenty of exercise but still
tend to be overweight:
‘They rarely eat fast food but they do love to eat. We always
encourage them to take more exercise but it’s very hard with
their tight schedule and weekend tutorials.’ |
| Unfortunately, if children grow up without
vigorous exercise they are even less likely to enjoy it as
teenagers or young adults. The draw of virtual games is a
much greater. We asked Chung Kin-man, the first Hong Kong
mountaineer to reach the peaks of the highest mountains on
all seven continents, to give us his view: |
| ‘When I visit schools, I urge all the students
to get outside and enjoy themselves. I think fun competitions
can motivate. HKFYG’s Adventure Race in Sai Kung is a good
example. Just taking part can give a real sense of achievement
and pride. Working in teams is another motivator and when
teams are together everybody tries harder. It’s natural.’ |
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| In the last 20 years, the attitude of Hong
Kong people to exercise has changed dramatically. No longer
do you get laughed at when you go out for a run here. The
current campaign for health and fitness is one HKFYG thoroughly
endorses and we are organising many outdoor activities in
the coming months. Join us. As partner or participant, you
are more than welcome. Check your e-newsletter for details. |
| Facts & Figures |
Obesity:
no magic bullet
Chinese University reports high blood pressure
in 32.3% of 11-18 year-olds in a survey of over 2000 children
from 14 schools.* An earlier government survey** revealed
that one in eight children exercised infrequently while
research at the University of Hong Kong suggests that most
children spend less than 15 minutes a day doing anything
that might keep them fit.*** This has led to the promotion
of exercise to counteract obesity and promote health. Hong
Kong is still behind the US and the UK when it comes to
prevalence
of
obesity
through lack of exercise, even though data from HKU
suggests that children here are some of the most inactive
in the world. |
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A recent overseas study of
545 4-year-olds in Scotland showed no difference in body
mass index (relationship between weight and height) after
increased exercise over 6 months. It improved motor skills
and mental agility but made no change to weight. No data
was presented about the diets of these children. One in
three British children aged 2-15 are classed as overweight
and 14.3% of its children are obese, making UK the most
obese in Europe.**** Closer to home, Japan is seeing record
obesity rates with 24% of people aged over 15 considered
overweight*****. Changed diet is a very important factor
and controlling weight means controlling what you eat.
Exercise alone is not enough.
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Food
for thought: mothers and babies
Clever children who are sociable and good
at tasks involving co-ordination tend to have mothers with
a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy according
to recent studies.* Plenty of folic acid in maternal nutrition
is similarly good for brain development in infants. Since
the early 20th century, it has been believed that breastfeeding
also contributes to IQ and IQ tests have consistently shown
this correlation. |
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However, the latest research** done by the
Medical Research Council and Edinburgh University on a group
of 5,500 American children shows that the correlation has
nothing to do with the breast-feeding itself but is caused
by mothers who breast-feed being more intelligent than those
that don't. A 15 point difference in IQ level more than doubles
the chance that a mother will breast-feed – a choice that
is believed to have many other benefits, even if it does
not bestow intelligence on the suckling babes.
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