The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (or HKFYG, ) is a non-profit organization in Hong Kong, committed to developing youth services. Founded in 1960, the Federation has since been involved in providing activities and facilities for the physical, social, educational, cultural development of Hong Kong's youth.
Their services can be divided into 12 core areas. Each year, HKFYG offers more than 10,000 activities organized by over 60 service units with 5 million participants annually. The HKFYG also took an active role in anti-drug campaigns in secondary schools in Hong Kong. They have made 30,000 "Anti-drug in School Resources Packs" and distributed them to secondary schools. "Decoding Life" is also a new counseling service provided by HKFYG. It helps teenagers to avoid group violence and teaches them conflict handling skills.
Mission and objectives The goal of HKFYG is to help young people to fully live their potential and develop well physically, socially, educationally and culturally. Words From Executive Director They accomplish this by setting up helping and caring networks, launching various activities and participating in educational work. Innovative facilities and services are constantly updated to meet the ever-changing trends and hence best accommodate teenagers need.
HKFYG also wants to raise the public awareness concerning issues about teenagers. They have published magazines every half year reporting the findings of the research on the latest phenomena or trends among young people. Publications of HKFYG
History
Establishment The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups was founded in 1960 by George Stokes, who was sent to Hong Kong by the British Christian Welfare Council to develop local youth services. Later in 1962, it was officially established as a society registered under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151).Hong Kong Societies Ordinance In the first decade, the organization mainly collaborated with other youth organizations in delivering youth services.
The Federation was incorporated in 1970 under the Provisions of the Companies Ordinance.
Development
1970s and 1980s In 1970, the Youth Counselling Centre was established, targeting young people with emotional and adjustment problems. Three service units, School Social Work, Outreaching Social Work, and Family Life Education, also came into full service in the late 1970s. The Federation's Constitution was revised in 1981. Several China and overseas youth exchange projects and study tours were launched since the mid-1980s to enhance the young people's understanding towards China and their international exposures. In 1989, the self-financed Tsuen Wan Indoor Sports Centre, a joint venture with the Hong Kong Housing Society, was established.
The 1990s In 1993, Youthline (關心一線) was officially set up by the organization. It is the first ever counseling hotline service in Hong Kong, subvented by the Government. In 1996, two small group homes (兒童之家) were established to provide rehabilitation services for mildly mentally handicapped children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18. In 1998, the territory-wide Youth Volunteer Network was established to promote volunteerism among young people. The Federation began a modernization process to its youth centres since the late 1990s.
The 2000s (decade)
The Dragon Foundation was jointly established by the Federation, the Home Affairs Bureau of HKSAR (traditional Chinese: 民政事務局), and the Home Affairs Department (traditional Chinese:民政事務總署) in 2000, with the vision to facilitate networks among Chinese youth worldwide.
In the same year, Leadership 21 was established to offer a variety of comprehensive leadership training programmes for young people. In 2002, all youth centres, teenager centres and integrated youth service centres were renamed Youth S.P.O.T. (traditional Chinese: 青年空間), meaning the Space for Participation, Opportunities and Training. On 29 May 2004, the organization hosted its first ever Flag Day. The Hong Kong Melody Makers (香港旋律), a youth choir, was formed in the same year with sponsorship from The Dragon Foundation.
Education
Two schools were built under the Federation with donation from Lee Shau-kee. The first primary school began in 2000, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Lee Shau Kee Primary School (香港青年協會李兆基小學), located in Tin Shui Wai. The second school, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Lee Shau Kee College (香港青年協會李兆基書院), was opened on 26 April 2006 as an English medium DSS school.
On 19 December 2008, its 28-storey headquarters, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building (香港青年協會大廈) located on Pak Fuk Road, North Point, was officially opened. Later in the year, the Federation started its quarterly journal, Youth Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building (traditional chinese:香港青年協會大廈; abbr.:青協大廈) is a 28-storey social service complex located on 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, Hong Kong, next to the Quarry Bay MTR station. The opening ceremony was held on 19 December 2008.
The Building accommodates the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Head Office, as well as some sub-units of the Social Welfare Department and head offices of 9 other social service agencies and organisations. It is equipped with various facilities and amenities, including a 434-seat auditorium, two multi-function theatres, a multi-media youth and children’s learning centre, meeting rooms, as well as the Café 21, the first Youth Social Enterprise Project launched by the Federation. The facilities are available to social service organizations and the public for booking.
Structure
Patrons, advisors and the council Position Information of the responsible person Patron John Lee Ka-chiu (traditional Chinese: 李家超), GBM SBS PDSM PMSMChief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Senior Adviser Dr. Rosanna Wong Yick-Ming (traditional Chinese: 王䓪鳴), DBE JP Adviser to the Mainland Affairs OfficeAndy Ho Wing-Cheong (traditional Chinese: 何永昌), MH
The Council consists of the President, Vice President, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary, Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors and Members. Committee members The nine Committees of the Federation are: Youth Service Advisory Committee Audit Committee Committee on the Provident Fund for the Federation Committee on the Federation-Staff Contributory Medical Scheme ICT Committee Board of Advisers of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups' Lee Shau Kee Youth Exchange Fund Incorporated Management Committee of the HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School School Management Committee of the HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College School Management Committee of HKFYG Kindergartens
The Committee members are responsible for different area of the Federation to maintain its operation.
Membership There are different kind of membership, including child, youth, senior and parent. After registered as a member, people can get involved into a wide range of activities and services. They can also receive bi-weekly publications to update the news of the organisation. Outstanding members and volunteers will be nominated to participate in local and overseas competitions and exchange programmes.
Services The Federation focuses on providing 12 core services with more than 60 units in operation.
Youth S.P.O.Ts The HKFYG has 22 Youth S.P.O.Ts (traditional chinese: 青年空間) . These youth centres provide space and opportunity to learn and develop. They focus on Strengthening Classroom Learning, Continuous Learning Opportunities and Experiential Learning in a Societal Context, offering tailor-made programmes in combination with other provided services. Each Youth S.P.O.T. is equipped with both an M21@Youth S.P.O.T. station to facilitate development in creativity and enhance interactions with the community through social media, as well as a LEAD Lab to provide a platform to learning through engineering, art and design.
The NEIGHBOURHOOD First project (traditional chinese: 鄰舍第一) has become a core component of community-based services through the S.P.O.Ts, while the Community Team Sports project encourages young people to get physical by participating in sporting activities and learning the values that come with team play.
M21 multimedia services
By using the Internet, social and new media, the HKFYG connects with young people on their terms and through their chosen mode of communication. M21.hk (traditional Chinese: M21媒體空間) is a multimedia centre with the slogan, “It’s all about YOUth” and consists of the Media Lab, the Media Academy and Media Broadcast. The M21 Youth Production Team gives young people a wide platform for imagination and innovation, and offers them hands-on operational experience in production, which is then screened through the M21 Internet Radio and TV, a broadcast network linked up with campus TV and community channels for the public.
Sports, leisure and cultural services Sports Centre, Camp & Outdoor Centres
The Tsuen Wan Indoor Sports Centre was established in 1989 as a joint venture with the Hong Kong Housing Society. The centre concentrates on nine series of training courses for its members, which included sports, dancing, music, wushu, academics, information technology, experiential learning, language development and creativity programmes for children. Two Outdoor Activities Centres were built in Tai Mei Tuk and Stanley for daytime activities. Two camp sites, Lamma Youth Camp and Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Camp, are provided with accommodation.
The Hong Kong Melody Makers
The HKFYG (The Hong Kong Melody Makers) (香港旋律)is a youth choir formed in 2004 by the Federation with sponsorship from The Dragon Foundation. The team consists of several small a cappella ensembles. In 2009, members of the choir won the 3rd Asian Youth A Cappella Singing Competition in South Korea.
Hong Kong Youth Dance The HKFYG Hong Kong Youth Dance (香港起舞) was formed in 2008, with a focus on hip hop, jazz funk and modern dance. The dancers are of ages between 15 and 25.
Counseling The Federation provides various counseling services, including hotline, face-to-face, web-based counseling and school-based social workers services.
Counseling Centre The Youth Counseling Centre was established since the foundation of the Federation. It is now located on 5th floor in the HKFYG Building. Counsellors are professionally trained social workers, offering support through the telephone (Youthline) or the internet (MSN).
Youthline 27778899 Youthline is the first ever hotline counselling service provided in Hong Kong. It was set up by the Youth Counseling Centre in 1993, funded by the Social Welfare Department.
Centre for Internet Addiction Seeing that the internet has become a fundamental element of teenagers' lives, the Federation set up the Centre for Internet Addiction to promote a healthy habit on using the Internet. A student supporting campaign was launched from 2006 to 2008 to help the Internet-addicts. "Play Wiser" was the slogan of the campaign, meaning Well-balanced, Intellectual, Safe, Executive and Rejoice.
Gambling Counseling Centre Legalization of soccer gambling in Hong Kong leads to an increase in the number of gamblers. As a result, the Center was established on 1 February 2007 with monetary sponsorship from Ping Wo Fund of the Home Affairs Bureau to provide counselling and treatment services to pathological gamblers and their families members. In addition, it is to promote the anti-gambling to the public, particularly the youth, to prevent them from addicting to gamble and to develop a healthy life by offering different activities. Community program and outreach services are conducted to care for the needy.
Student Guidance Team The program is started in 2002 to provide in-school counseling service in primary schools.
School Social Work Unit