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Dr.Rosanna Wong, DBE, JP
 

18 Years Old and Climbing – Literally !

Turning 18 is when an individual attains the age of majority in Hong Kong. Coming of Age at 18, therefore, is full of meaning. Not only are there greater expectations and trust placed upon 18 year olds by society, but they are also now expected to bear the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. This transition form adolescence to adulthood is celebrated the world over, in families and in communities.

For the past six years, the Federation has also publicly celebrated this magical occasion. Since 1998, we have encouraged 18 year olds to take an oath, led by a prominent member of the community, by which the youth vowed to take their civic duties and responsibilities seriously and to show commitment to the community.

This year, we have decided to complement the oath taking ceremony by also inviting those young people who will turn 18 to participate in hike from The University of Hong Kong to Victoria Peak, a distance of approximately 3 km.

The participants of this trek will be encouraged to dress up in costume, while also undergoing various ‘tests’ and ‘trials’ on the route, all conducted in a spirit of fun and enjoyment. The ascendant trek, as well as the activities along the way, is to symbolise the upward journeying of young people, that they can reach the peaks of their own ambitions and desires, in spite of obstacles and challenges.

Each participant requires a sponsor, because this event is to raise funds for disadvantaged children and young people who live in our community. Therefore we urge you to come and join us! Sponsor an individual and encourage any 18 year old that you might know, friend or relative, to join in this trek to help support young people and the work of the Federation.

Do call the Partnership Office on 21239598 for more details.

***Blossoming into Adulthood***

 
Blossoming into Adulthood
Reaching the age of majority is celebrated throughout the world. In Hong Kong Coming of Age is celebrated when one turns 18 and is finally considered an 'adult'. These new adults are now old enough to vote, old enough to make binding contracts, old enough to make a will and old enough to buy and sell property. They are also eligible to hold any office, unless otherwise provided for by law. Turning 18 also allows an individual to obtain a driver's license, allows them to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages and allows them to gamble legally.

With all these increased responsibilities and possibilities, young people need to set goals and plan for the future.

In Hong Kong, celebrating the Coming of Age is linked to the “May 4th Movement”, which took place in 1919, when Chinese youth bravely took the lead to reform the nation. Those reaching the age of majority are asked to follow the footsteps of their predecessors and serve their home city, their motherland and the world, by taking an oath to be a responsible adult. Similar Coming of Age ceremonies are also celebrated in Japan, Korea and Israel.

The Federation will once again organize a public ceremony to mark this auspicious occasion. Along with taking an oath to pledge their commitment and duty to the community, the young people will also be participating in a trek up to the Peak from The Hong Kong University. This short and symbolic walk will be a sponsored event to raise money for less privileged young people in Hong Kong.

We encourage all our partners to join in this exciting event. Do sponsor a participant!

Click here to learn about the ambitions of some 18 year olds.

 
 


Studying Overseas
As globalization takes root, more and more young people are seeking educational opportunities abroad to broaden their international outlook. According to statistics from the Education and Manpower Bureau, in 2002, the number of Hong Kong students studying in Australia was listed as 6,564, followed by 4,651 studying in Canada and 2,698 being educated in America. The table below shows some of the most popular destinations for international students.

Number of Foreign Students in Selected Countries 2000/2001
    Country Number of Foreign Students Number of Foreign Students from Asia Percentage of Asian Students in the Total Number of Foreign Students
  1. United States 475,169 294,230 61.9%
  2. United Kingdom 225,722 74,400 32.9%
  3. Germany 199,132 67,658 34.0%
  4. France 147,402 19,828 13.5%
  5. Australia 105,764 67,849 64.2%
  6. Russian Federation 64,103 28,013 43.7%
  7. Japan 63,637 58,170 91.4%
  8. Canada 40,033 14,414 36.0%
  9. Spain 39,944 1,131 2.8%
  10. Belgium 38,150 2,609 6.8%
Source: Global Education Digest 2003: Comparing Education Statistics Across the World, UNESCO Institute of Statistics

 

Helping Youth to Find Career Opportunities
The Federation and the Home Affairs Bureau will co-organize the Youth Career EXPO (青年就業博覽) on February 8-9 at the Exhibition Gallery and Plaza of the Kwai Tsing Theatre. The EXPO will also mark the establishment of the "Employer Network" (僱主網絡), a connection of industrial and commercial organizations, which will become more actively involved in helping young people find jobs. By February 3, 2004, a total of 50 corporations had already joined the Employer Network. Click here to view the list.

Through face-to-face interactions at the Youth Career EXPO, employers are provided with the possibility to recruit directly from the 700 newly graduated Positive Life Ambassadors, Tourism Development Assistants and Young Ambassadors, all of whom have undergone some form of training by the Federation. The Federation is extremely grateful to all those who will participate in this exciting event, especially since more than 500 jobs will be made available to young people.

Even if participating at the February event might not be possible, the Federation urges all its partners to offer employment or training to young people to help their burden. For more information on how you can help, please do not hesitate to contact us on 3113 7999 and we will be able to put you in touch with some very eager, hardworking and enthusiastic young people.


 


Fashionable Youth
One of the highlights at the Youth Career EXPO is a Catwalk Show. The Federation's
Positive Life Ambassadors will model around 20 sets of causal clothes on loan from
Esprit and EDC. Not only the Ambassadors have a chance to show off the clothes,
they also show off their own artistic and performing talents!


 


Spreading Holiday Warmth to Deprived Families
Over the Lunar New Year holidays, Calbee Four Seas Co., Ltd. very generously sponsored the redemption of 213 Radish Cakes. The Federation passed on these vouchers to several families of the Federation's Integrated Service Project for New Arrival in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts. The recipients all enjoyed the food and had a warm holiday.

Holidays are a wonderful opportunity for partner organizations to express their care and commitment to the more vulnerable of our community. Please do call the Partnership and Resource Development on 2123 9598 and see how you can spread the good cheer along with the Federation!

 

Dialogue Session with Dr. Sarah Liao
On January 16, over 500 young people spent a wonderful afternoon interacting with the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr. Sarah Liao. This meeting was part of the "Dialogue Session with Policy Makers" organized by the Federation. Dr. Sarah Liao shared her personal insights on a broad range of issues, from reclamation of the harbour, to personal matters like studying, family relations and even the criteria for choosing a husband! All those who attended enjoyed the session.


 


Youth, Internet and Pornography
The Whampoa Integrated Youth Centre of The Church of United Brethren in Christ interviewed 619 students and young people in Kowloon City in November 2003. 73% of the respondents admitted accessing pornography on the Internet. However, about the same number of them (72%) agreed that pornography instilled wrong concepts of sex in young people.



Child Sex Abuse Cases on the Rise
Latest statistics released by the Hong Kong Police Force reveal an alarming rise in the number of child sex abuse cases. These statistics show that, in 2003, there were 1,028 child abuse cases in Hong Kong of which 61% (611 cases) were sex abuse cases. This was an increase from 599 (out of 1,044) in 2002.

 


Who Wants to be the President? Not Many Teens!
Nearly 8 out of 10 teenagers in the United States said that they were not at all interested to have President Bush's job, according to an ABCNEWS/Weekly Reader Poll. Their reasons cited included, having no interest in politics or having other career plans (40%); the job having too much responsibility or stress in the job (20%), or the workload simply being too great (15%). One respondent said, "I don't want to get assassinated". However, most teens (57%) were interested in the 2004 presidential election campaign. The poll, conducted by phone on

January 7-11, 2004, interviewed 505 young people between the ages of 12 to 17 years. Click here to learn more.


 


The First International Students Conference on AIDS

The first International Students Conference on AIDS will take place at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania on February 2-6, 2004, under the theme "Youth: Force for Change!" 500 students from different parts of the world will assemble to discuss and exchange real life experiences and knowledge on issues related to HIV/AIDS. The Conference will also have a cultural component and performances will be held, each carrying messages related to this deadly disease.

To view the previous issue, simply click here
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