The HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College will open in September 2006 as the Federation's first Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary school in Tin Shui Wai. At a briefing session on Sunday 15 January, Dr Rosanna Wong, HKFYG's Executive Director, and the newly appointed college principal will welcome all interested parents and give an introductory talk.

Venue

HKFYG Lee Shau Kee PrimarySchool Hall

Time

3:00 pm-5:00pm.

Click here to enroll

The LiveWIRE Awards presentation ceremony was held on 6 January at the Happy Valley racecourse. Mathew Cheung, JP, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour & Commissioner for Labour was Guest of Honour. Richard Wong of Red Magic Holdings Ltd took the two top awards. 3 Start-up Awards and 2 Participant Awards were also presented.

The Federation's "Youth Business Hong Kong" programme, launched last year, has now enrolled its second batch of participants who are involved in business start-ups. The seven successful applicants will receive seed funds and expert mentorship. For further details, contact Louisa Lau, tel 3113 7999 email ybhk@hkfyg.org.hk or visit www.u21.org.hk/ybhk

The Federation is organizing a Campus Concert with the Jabberwocks, Brown University's first all - male a cappella group, at 8:00pm on 15 January in the Jehovahjireh Concert Hall of the International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary School, Diamond Hill, Kowloon. Free admission. Please call 2564 1277 or visit www.u21.org.hk to reserve seats.

Raman Hui on creativity and giving back

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly".

Henri-Louis Bergson

Bergson' philosophy is shared by Raman Hui, supervising animator for the Oscar-winning Shrek and Hollywood blockbuster ANTZ. Born in Hong Kong, Raman always liked watching Disney and Japanese cartoons as a boy. His interest in drawing, painting and sculpture grew and in 1984 he went to the Polytechnic Institute (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University) to study graphic design.

After working at Quantum Studios in Hong Kong, he went to Sheridan College in Canada to learn more about computer animation. In 1989, he started his full time career at PDI (later acquired by DreamWorks). Life is all about creativity, perseverance and hard work according to Raman.

"Perseverance is what you need in every single task. Never give up, even when there are setbacks. Good, strong computer animation comes with lots of practice."

He and his team create proprietary software to portray the attitudes and emotions of their characters. Paying minute attention into detail, especially to complex facial features, allows the audience to grasp subtleties. Remember Princess Fiona and the cute talking donkey in Shrek? Credit goes to Raman and his team members.

"Working with more than 200 people on Shrek was never easy but teamwork was vitally important. My job was to bring my teammates together to work for a common goal."

He attributes his success to hard work, believing firmly that even talented artists cannot succeed without effort. He echoes the sentiments of American activist, calligrapher and author, Mary Lou Cook, who said, "Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun."

"The most important thing of all is to enjoy the process of creation. I learn something every day and am always excited about connecting with my audience," says Raman.

For young people planning a career in the creative arts, Raman's advice is:

"Don't think of the rewards or what you can get from a job. You've got to learn to appreciate and enjoy the work process itself."

Raman not only wants to encourage young people to love their work but also to understand themselves. His second charity book, Piccolo, carries this message:

"We should learn to be ourselves and stay true to our dreams even though we might not always achieve them. Just remember to be yourself."

A recent partnership with Kiehl's and Raman Hui makes HKFYG a beneficiary of charity sales of Piccolo. Copies are available at Kiehl's outlets at The Landmark in Central, Russell St. in Causeway Bay, Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong and Harbour City, TST. In December, Raman talked to about 150 young people about his experience of life and work. Although based in the US, Raman feels he belongs in Hong Kong and always wants to give back to his community. He hopes to have more involvement in community and charity work here and to see youth more deeply involved in creative industries in both Hong Kong and China.

A man full of passion for life and work, Raman concluded by encouraging:

"Come on, lads, come and experience the fun of creation."

All the best to Raman. We look forward to seeing his latest work, Shrek 3, to be released in summer 2007.

Facts & Figures

A snore may mean more

Children who snore are not uncommon. A 2002-03 Chinese University study* of 6,471 primary schoolchildren in Sha Tin and Tai Po showed that over 7% were habitual snorers and that 75% of them were bad-tempered as a result. 23% had poor results at school and the same percentage were hyperactive. The facial features and genetic traits of Chinese people predispose them to snore.

* South China Morning Post 28 November 2005
** Chest (2003) vol. 124 pp. 587-593