Caring Companies and the Federation

For the past few years, more and more Hong Kong companies have demonstrated exceptional corporate citizenship through support and encouragement of such initiatives as volunteering, mentoring and partnerships towards building up a strong, vibrant and caring society. To honour companies who have done their utmost towards the community, The Hong Kong Council of Social Services, to widespread acclaim, awards these businesses with the Caring Company Award. Each winner is then entitled to carry the Caring Company

logo throughout the year as visible proof of its commitment to social responsibilities. This award not only recognises excellence, but can also be seen as a motivator of strategic partnerships between businesses and the social services.

The Federation has been very fortunate that many businesses have joined hands together in collaboration and partnership. We are especially proud that we could successfully nominate five of our existing partners to be awarded the Caring Company Logo for 2003-2004 (please read the details below).

The Federation now encourage more partnership with even more companies, especially in relation to the development of young people who are the future of Hong Kong. We look, not only for financial support, but also welcome sponsorship of projects and programmes; contribution of expertise, time and other resources; volunteering and mentoring, among other areas of collaboration.

We encourage you to join with us. Be the next Caring Company! Help us develop a Caring Community! Please call our Partnership Office to learn more.

In recent years, there has been a strong global trend towards investors and companies embracing the principle of corporate social responsibility. This is a process whereby businesses and companies assess their responsibility to the societies in which they function, seeking ways towards to contribute towards the development and sustainability of the community.

Hong Kong too has benefited from this process, as more and more corporations become actively involved in social and charitable activities. Over the past year, the Federation has joined in partnership with a number of corporations and successfully nominated five of our existing partners to be awarded the logo of Caring Company 2003-2004 by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. We are proud of our partnerships, which include CITIC Ka Wah Bank, Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Ltd.,
I-CABLE Communications Limited, Ming Pao Enterprise Corporations Ltd., and Shell Hong Kong Limited.

• CITIC Ka Wah Bank partnered the Federation to promote volunteerism among young people in Hong Kong. As a result of the Bank's generous sponsorship, the first ever Conference for Youth Volunteers was organized in October 2003 encouraging more young people to participate in volunteer activities.

• Four Seas Mercantile Holdings Ltd. is a long partner of the Federation. To encourage local and international confidence in Hong Kong after the SARS outbreak, the company sponsored free food and drinks for 10,000 youth volunteers to form the words "Hong Kong" and a big red heart at the Hong Kong International Airport as part of the "Taking Off with Hong Kong in Unity" initiative on June 7, 2003.
  

• The Federation's Youth Volunteer Network assisted I-CABLE Communications Limited to form its Corporate Volunteer Team. The team has been actively involved in different volunteer activities to serve the underprivileged of our society.

• Ming Pao Enterprise Corporation Ltd. collaborated with the Federation, Radio and Television Hong Kong and the Asia Television Limited to organize an annual series of "Sharing Sessions for Young People on Appreciating Life" (活出我天地) for local secondary and university students, which began in May 2002. In this series, renowned and respected individuals from the community shared their experiences with young people, encouraging them to appreciate the beauty and wonder of life.

• To nurture entrepreneurship in young people, the Federation's Youth Employment Network joined hands with Shell Hong Kong Limited to launch Project LiveWIRE since April 2002. Through talks, seminars and mentorship programmes, the project offered assistance and support for young people through the different stages of a business start-up.

The Federation warmly congratulates our five partners for being awarded the Caring Company Logo 2003-2004 and we express our gratitude to all our partners. We look forward to collaborating with more corporations to build a more caring society. Please do not hesitate to contact the Federation's Partnership and Resource Development Office at 2123 9598 for further discussion or look at our new subsidiary website www.hkfyg.org.hk/support for more details.

Length of Compulsory Education

In Hong Kong, there is a 9 year compulsory education system, which has been in force since 1978. A Compulsory Education Policy helps to improve the quality of the local workforce. The difference in the length of Compulsory Education varies from countries around the world, ranging from 4 to 13 years.

Discovering the Wilderness of South Africa

The Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience is an annual exchange programme sponsored by Cathay Pacific Airways Limited and co-organized by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. Now in its 10th year, the programme sponsors a number of young people to attend a special environmental education course in South Africa. A wonderful experience to widen the horizon and expand the world view of the young people, the 2004 Cathay Pacific International Wilderness Experience will take place from 21 to 30 July 2004. Hong Kong students aged from 16 to18 and who have experience in community service and voluntary work are cordially invited to join. Click here to apply online now!

Walking for Health

With the sponsorship of the Sai Kung District Council, the Federation's Tseung Kwan O Youth S.P.O.T., has joined hands with the Healthy City Promotion Committee and the Haven of Hope Christian Service to promote the healthy habit of walking ten thousand steps a day to the residents of Tseung Kwan O. 100 young Tourism Development Assistants of the Federation have regularly organized educational activities related to healthy living in the community. To spread the message further, a guide has just been released introducing the beautiful walking trails in Sai Kung. Click to learn more!

Business to Spread Love and Care

To celebrate its 16th anniversary, AEON Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited has joined hands with The Hong Kong Council of Social Service to organize the AEON Love and Care Campaign from October 2003 to September 2004. Between the 1st and 16th of each month, AEON will place a set of exhibition panel introducing five service projects by different non-profit organizations with donation boxes and collection boxes requesting public support. The Federation is honoured that the Youth Volunteer Network's Youth Volunteers Caring Action Movement, the Farm Road Youth S.P.O.T's Helping Hands Ambassador Programme and the Jockey Club Hung Hom Youth S.P.O.T's College of Volunteer Projects have been selected as 3 of the 55 projects to enter into the Monthly Donation Programme.

Inter-disciplinary Task Force on Youth Employment and Training Established

On 16 March 2004, the Government announced appointments to a new Task Force on Continuing Development and Employment-related Training for Youth. Chaired by Dr. Philemon Choi, Chairperson of the Commission on Youth and the Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mrs. Fanny Law, the Task Force will focus on coordinating various training and employment programmes targeted at non-engaged youth. Two young people were included in the Task Force to represent youth's opinions and concerns. In addition, the Federation's Supervisor of Youth Employment, Mr. Gary Tang, was also appointed as a member of the Task Force representing the social welfare sector. Click here for details.

Disturbing Figures on School Bullying in Hong Kong

After extensive media coverage of school bullying, the Education and Manpower Bureau asked over 1,000 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to report the cases of persistent bullying from September 2003 to February 2004. The results were very disturbing. Over 28% of schools in Hong Kong have handled cases of persistent bullying in the past 6 months, in which, 55 schools have handled 4 cases or above. Cross-sector collaboration must be fostered to combat this worrying trend.

Sharp Rise in Attacks on Teachers by Students is Worrying

On March 10, the Education and Manpower Bureau released the statistics of attacks on teaching staff by students over the past 3 academic years. The statistics are very alarming. The number of physical attacks on teachers by primary students rose from 5 in the academic year 2000-01 to 13 in 2002-03. The corresponding number of attacks by secondary students increased from 27 in 2000-01 to 46 in 2002/03. A total of 7 students were arrested for these offences in the past 3 years.