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Dragon Jamboree
2007
Jointly organized with
the All-China Youth Federation, the Home
Affairs Bureau and the Leisure
and Cultural Services Department, the
youth concert on 30 June will celebrate the 10th anniversary
of the establishment of HKSAR. A dragon dance at the
Hong Kong Coliseum will be followed by 10,000 young drummers
from the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong attempting
to set a new Guinness world record. There will also be
a performance by 10 pianists and a dance medley with
traditional and popular tunes. This is the fifth HKFYG
event on the dragon theme since the Dragon
at the Great Wall project in 2000. Supporting partners are RTHK, the Home
Affairs Department, the Education
and Manpower Bureau and CCTV. The sole sponsor is Dr
Stanley Ho's Shun Tak Holdings Ltd.
Click here for more info:
http://dj2007.u21.hk/
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Oasis Airlines sponsors Global
Citizenship trip to Geneva
The Dragon Foundation
is proud to present the 4th Global Citizenship Programme,
an annual flagship event designed to broaden young
people's international perspective and prepare them
as 'global citizens'. This year, 60 academically outstanding
students from local universities have been selected
to visit organizations in Geneva and New York. Many
thanks to Oasis Airlines for sponsoring the Geneva
trip. Students will meet global leaders, distinguished
academics and the heads of prestige enterprises in
both cities. The programme aims to inform participants
on the importance of ethical interdependence and the
art of leadership. Click here for more info: http://www.dragonfoundation.net/
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Hong Kong Young Ambassador
Scheme 2007
Building on past success,
the Federation and the Tourism
Commission will again
jointly organize the Hong Kong Young Ambassador Scheme.
The goal is to spread the message of Hong Kong's hospitality
and increase participants' sense of belonging. More
than 200 young people studying locally or overseas
will be appointed as Hong Kong Young Ambassadors this
summer. They are given training and background information
to help them promote the city's traditions, heritage
and tourist attractions. They are then stationed at
local tourist spots and help organise regional promotional
activities. Overseas they organise activities at schools
and colleges. Click here to learn more: http://ye.hkfyg.org.hk/hkfyg_hk/
new/index.htm
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Careers Expo
The Federation held a
successful Careers Expo with 13 business companies
and the public sector in Maritime Square, Tsing Yi
on Tuesday 22 May. We would like to express our sincere
thanks to all partners who helped us to enhance Hong
Kong youth career prospects by offering job vacancies
to the young people who came to the Expo. Click here for a list of our partners.
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Free Disneyland tickets
The Federation was delighted
to receive 290 complimentary tickets and beverage coupons
from Hong Kong Disneyland for this June and September.
Disadvantaged families and youth-at-risk will have
an opportunity to enjoy the gamut of Hong Kong Disneyland
entertainment which would normally be beyond their
means.
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Tickets for French ballet
40 tickets for a performance
by a French ballet company were donated by Mr
Leo Kung,
giving Federation youth members a valuable chance to
experience French culture. The show, entitled The
Creatures,
was by The Ballet Biarritz on Tuesday 22 May at Hong
Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. It was presented
by Consulat General de France as part of Le
French May.
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Free promotion of HKFYG Summer
Youth Programme
With sponsorship from
the Chinese Technical Press Ltd, the
Federation is enjoying a free advertisement for its
summer youth programmes in the monthly magazine for
primary and junior secondary school students, '數學與科技'.
This year, there will be 3,000 varied summer activities
including the HKFYG
- 2007 Divac Youth Basketball Camp, HKFYG Mission Hills
Golf Club Golf Training and the LEAD
Project. We warmly welcome any other
companies who would like to partner us in joint promotional
efforts. Contact the membership unit, tel 3579 4560
for details. |
New
Publications
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Youth & Leadership
Series
Learning Serving Leading
10-volume series now on sale.
Click here for
discount price list and full info.
Copies of the books are distributed by HKFYG Leadership
21. |
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Annual Plan 2007-08
Just released, the document gives details of work
in 06/07 towards goals indicated by key performance
indicators and sets out targets for 07/08. |
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| New
readers: please send your contact details |
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| The
Odyssey of the Mind: stimulating creativity |
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Encouraging imaginative, innovative
creativity is so important in Hong Kong today when children
are often fettered by the need to succeed academically
and get good jobs. The Odyssey of the Mind, a
creativity education programme that originated in the United
States does just that and more. It was introduced by the
Federation and the Education and Manpower Bureau in 1995,
since when 220 schools or youth centres have enrolled and
30,000 students have taken part. |
The programme's educational outcomes are not just increased
creativity. Communication skills, teamwork and problem solving
all benefit. Lessons learnt have crossover to other areas of
the curriculum and the results show in improved school work.
The best teams go on to compete with other top finishers at
the World Finals - this year at Michigan State University.
The trip takes place this week and fifty excited schoolchildren
are getting ready, practicing routines for their performances
and parades, remembering lessons taught by their coaches and
letting their imaginations free.
Would you like to explore the possibility of supporting
programmes like this? We would love to hear from you.
Read Feature Story for feedback from a
coach, a headmistress and an OMP judge. Contact Anita Lam,
tel 2123 9598, for more information. |
| Feature
Story |
Odyssey of the Mind: World
Finals coming up
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Each of the Odyssey of the Mind (OMP)
finalist teams chooses a basic framework within which to
work out their ideas. Two teams are doing a technical performance
with self-designed gadgets. Others built a vehicle or a
strength-testable balsawood structure. At the briefing
for this week's World Finals, they dressed up in crazy,
colourful, homemade costumes took their props and rehearsed
their lines. Meanwhile we talked to a coach, a headmistress
and a judge to find out how it all works. |
'They create something out of nothing or they
use something that already exists for a totally new
function,' said Katie Chan, a past OMP participant
and now a judge of some years standing who is going
with the six teams to the finals at Michigan State
University.
All the teams work co-operatively, brainstorming,
writing scripts, designing costumes and putting on
the performances. None of them relied on teachers or
coaches to provide more than administrative or logistical
support.
'Creativity is often overlooked at school,' said
Sammel Chong, a coach from King Ling College. 'The
OMP kids are rewarded more for their skills and how
they apply what they know, definitely not for coming
up with the right answer.'
Clio Chan, headmistress at the Creative Primary School,
is also a firm believer in OMP:
'Teams come back to school more proactive as a
result of taking part. They learn analytical skills
and they acquire the habit of critical thinking.
That is very valuable.' |
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The performances may be fables revolving around computer
games, futuristic inventions woven into classic fairytales
or moral messages built into cautionary tales of kings,
queens, robots and monsters.
'OMP is a very real experience
for these students,' said Clio. 'All of it is very direct, immediate
and hands-on. They use the internet to do their
research and internalize the processes they need
to go through to achieve results. That means
they learn both problem-solving and communication
skills.'
Those skills can stand young people in
good stead for life, let alone during their school
careers. Tackling mechanical problems is something
girls are conventionally excluded from. Writing
fairy stories is something many boys would shy
away from. OMP encourages participants to take
on non-conventional roles and to learn the research
techniques which will help them find what they
need in timely fashion.
'The process builds confidence
and the inclination to be proactive which is
transferable to the classroom,' added Clio.
Many
of the scenes are pure imagination and yet, as
Sammel said:
'Friendly sportsmanship is an integral part
of the finals. The kids really appreciate that
the goal is not just to win. They watch other
teams and really cheer them on. In Hong Kong
that's very rare.' |
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Another facet is the coach-student relationship which takes
on a new dimension.
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'OMP unlocks potential,' added Katie. 'There
is often rivalry and sometimes even a power struggle
but coaches are really surprised to find what the students
can create. It taught me a lot about teamwork and presentation
skills and it can bring out the best in those who don't
normally shine at ordinary school work.'
'They learn the benefits of co-operation and begin to
understand the role of constructive argument. It stimulates
perseverance and creative thinking' ended Clio. 'I
really think it's quite wonderful.' |
Katie, with experience as both performer/participant and judge
concluded succinctly:
'Preparations and performance are all about the efficient
division of labour but they also teach a useful principle.
A creation doesn't have to be unique but uniqueness is an expression
of creativity.'
Do you like the sound of this? Join our efforts to organize
these creative education programmes. We need partners and believe
we can help youth be more creative.
For more on The Odyssey of the Mind Programme contact Anita
Lam, tel 2123 9598, email anita.lam@hkfyg.org.hk or visit www.hkom.org.hk |
| Upcoming
events |
Hong
Kong Public Policy Innovation Award 2006/07 Award Ceremony
Strategies for Sustainable Development in Hong Kong |
Date Thursday 31 May 2007
Time 7pm
Venue Wang Gungwu Lecture Hall, Graduate House, University
of Hong Kong |
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Hong
Kong Student Science Project Competition
Final Judging and Award Presentation Ceremony |
Date Saturday 2 June 2007
Time 9am-1:30pm
Venue Meeting Room 301, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Centre
Guest of Honour The Hon Joseph Wong, GBS, JP, Secretary for
Commerce,
Industry
and Technology
Chairman of the Final Judging Panel Prof Tsui Lap-chee, Vice-chancellor,
University
of Hong Kong |
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Joint
Speech Day: HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School
& HKFYG Ching Lok Kindergartens at Yaumatei & Sai Wan
Ho |
Date Saturday 2 June 2007
Time 3pm
Venue Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
Guest of Honour Mr Lester Garson Huang, JP
Education
Commission member and President of HKFYG |
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| Global
Citizenship Programme 2007 Commissioning Ceremony |
Date Tuesday 5 June 2007
Time 4:30-5:15pm
Venue Auditorium of the Duke of Windsor Social Service Building,
Wanchai
Guests of Honour Mr James B Cunningham, United States Consul
General
Mr
Thomas Roe, Head of the Office of the European Commission
in
Hong Kong and Macao |
| Facts & Figures |
| The measurement
of creativity |
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Assessing creative potential is very difficult yet it
is hard to stifle creativity in a young child. Their natural
creativity is evident in play. Creative people of all ages
produce the unexpected and the exciting. Although they
might make use of skills and knowledge in the process of
creating something new, the roots of creativity are elsewhere
and difficult to define. As a result, measuring creativity
is complex. Nevertheless, attempts have been made to tabulate
creativity in terms of competitiveness in creative industries. |
In Hong Kong, the Home
Affairs Department devised a Creativity Index* in 2004, using
the work of Richard Florida** to establish criteria. He identified
technology, tolerance and talent as major factors for assessing
creativity levels when predicting economic growth through
the formation of new ideas. He considers young people as
the power house behind that growth because they are able
to work longer and harder, are more prone to take risks,
are more up to date and - particularly in cities such as
Hong Kong - are delaying marriage and parenthood.
Attempts to measure creativity in individuals have largely
failed and there has never been a successful CQ (creativity
quotient) of the same nature as the IQ (intelligence quotient).
However, there have been simple tests of divergent thinking
and problem-solving skills which rated fluency, flexibility,
originality and elaboration. *** The Creativity Achievement
Questionnaire, devised in 2005, **** has also been shown
relatively reliable. Nevertheless, convincing comparative
statistics are hard to come by.
* www.hab.gov.hk/fpublications_and_press_releases/reports/htm
**Florida, Richard The rise of the creative class www.creativeclass.org
*** www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity
**** Carson et al in Creativity Research Journal 17 (1) 37-50
2005
The Federation published a collection of articles on creativity
in Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 7(2) (number 14) 2004. |
Mini
questionnaire
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Please click on your answers and
reply by e-mail to po2@hkfyg.org.hk
Thanks for your help.
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The
Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups provides services
and facilities for the intellectual, physical, emotional
and social development of young people in the hope
that they will lead full and committed lives as responsible,
contributing citizens. It has ten core services focusing
on youth employment, volunteering, youth-at-risk,
counselling, education, parenting, leisure, culture
and sports, youth exchange, leadership training and
e-services.
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