#1
International Convergence 2009
Introduction
The theme of this year’s International Convergence is ‘Around the World in 30 Days’.
The focus of this year’s project is “Cultural Sparks”. Hong Kong is a multi-cultured cosmopolitan city. With various cultures, conflicts sometimes happen due to misunderstandings. However, we believe that a mixture of diverse cultures can create positive sparks and allow different cultures to appreciate each others’ uniqueness. Through looking at a country from a native’s perspective, participants’ understanding of a culture will be deeply fostered.
The scheme will last for approximately four weeks, during which the participants will learn about the culture, history, language and current affairs related to an assigned country. They will partake in activities as well as experience the cultural practices of their respective countries to cultivate their interest and to deepen their knowledge.
The project will conclude with a day in which participants set up booths to display what they have learnt about culture and their respective countries in the programme. Apart from that, the participants will experience the rituals and daily lives of different cultures in which the participants will demonstrate and exchange their knowledge of their assigned countries with guests who have assisted in the organisation of the project.
Countries
Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Thailand
Programme Schedule
Freshman Day
Date : 1st November 2009 (Sunday)
Time : 13:30 - 18:00
Junior Day
Date : 14th November 2009 (Saturday)
Time : 14:00 - 18:00
Senior Day
Date : 28th November 2009 (Saturday)
Time : 9:30 - 18:00
Cultural Experience Sessions
2nd November 2009 – 20th November 2009
Cultural Project Week
21st November 2009 – 27th November 2009
Acknowledgement
Student Advisors
Germany: Miss Cornelia BAUER
India: Mr Taha SHAH, Miss Aarti REDDY, and Miss Rea ARA
Iran: Mr. Habibullah Rezai
Israel: Miss Stephanie GOLAN
Mexico: Mr Cristobal MARTINEZ YANES
Spain: Mr Rafael SAIZ GARCIA
South Africa: Miss Angela AMOAKO
Thailand: Mr Bam LEARTPRAPUN
Supporting Consulates in Hong Kong
Mr Achim SCHKADE
Deputy Consul-General
German Consulate General in Hong Kong
Mr. Andres PENA
Acting Consul-General
Consulate General of Mexico in Hong Kong
Mr L.D. RALTE
Consul-General
Consulate General of India in Hong Kong
Mr Juan Luis Flores ARROYUELO
Consul-General
Spanish Consulate General in Hong Kong
Mr Abdollah NEKOUNAM
Consul-General
Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of IRAN
Miss Tembi TAMBO
Consul-General
South African Consulate-General
Mrs Emanuelle AMAR
Consul (Administrative & Consular)
Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong
Mr Jitti SUWANNIK
Consul-General
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Hong Kong
Supporting Cultural Societies and Schools in Hong Kong
Mr. Sven SALZMANN & Ms. Ute RECKZEH
German Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Hong Kong
Mr. Gurmel SINGH
Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple
Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre
General Education Unit, University of Hong Kong
School of Modern Languages and Cultures, University of Hong Kong
Mr. Rabbi Sinai BURNS & Miss Pauline NGAN
Ohel Leah Synagogue
The United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong Wat Bhavana Hong Kong,The Dhammakaya International Society of Hong Kong Ltd.
Carmel School of Hong Kong
Other Supporting Parties
German Swiss International School
Renaissance College
Wah Yan College, Kowloon
Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section)
Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong
#2
Youth Summit 2010
Introduction
With a well-established reputation as a world-class cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong faces the inevitable question of sustainability and continual progression of her present status. Bearing the theme “Beyond Boundaries, Project Prosperity – the Six Industries”, investigating the six industries as proposed in the Policy Address 2009-2010. As Hong Kong faces an increasing competition with neighbouring regions such as Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, alternatives have to be arrived at in the development of Hong Kong, propelling her towards a knowledge-based economy and increasing her competitiveness.
The emphasis of this year’s Youth Summit will be on the possibilities and potentials of these six industries as an alternative to the traditional industries in the development of Hong Kong, as well as the prospects in specific fields, such as education services, innovation and technology and cultural and creative industries.
Objectives
- To enhance participants’ awareness of social issues
- To inspire participants to think critically and analytically
- To encourage the exchange of ideas among participants
- To provide a channel for them to express their ideas in public
- To develop a sense of belonging to Hong Kong
- To develop the creative potentials of participants through providing solutions to existing problems
Target Group
120 Secondary 4 and Secondary 6 students in Hong Kong
The participants should:
- Display an interest in current affairs
- Be able to think critically
- Be outspoken
- Have an active engagement in school activities and volunteering services
- Be conversationally fluent in Cantonese and English
Details of the Summit
Leadership Groups
• Low-income Group
• Middle-income Group
• Small and Medium Enterprises in Hong Kong
• Big Companies
• Professional
• Environmental Activists
• Foreign Companies in Hong Kong
• Government 1 (Land Use)
• Government 2 (Education, Health & Home Affairs)
• Youth
Commission Groups
• Education Services
• Medical Services
• Testing and Certification Services
• Environmental Services
• Innovation and Technology
• Cultural and Creative Industries
Interviews and Excursions
Participants will visit or interview organisations or guests that are related to their Leadership Groups. Dates for these visits or interviews will be confirmed at a later date.
Working Language
All discussions will be conducted in either English or Cantonese, and all written documents will be in English.
Resolutions
All the resolutions passed will be followed up by our Association to ensure that the voice of the youths is heard and that responses may be given. As our past practice, the resolutions will be sent to the relevant government departments, the Legislative Council and the press.
Programme Rundown
Orientation Day
Date: 30th January 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 13:30 - 18:00
Day 1
Date: 31st January 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 09:30 - 18:00
Day 2
Date: 6th February 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 09:30 - 18:00
Venue: The University of Hong Kong
Day 3
Date: 20th February 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 09:30 - 18:00
Hong Kong Youth Summit
Date: 28th February 2010 (Sunday)
Time: 09:30 - 21:00
Venue: The University of Hong Kong
Interviews and Excursions
Dates: 1st February 2010 - 19th February 2010
#3
Volunteer Training Scheme 2010
Introduction
Bearing the theme ‘EXPLORE: EXPerience the earth, LOve the living, REach to reality’ for this session, our association hope that our activities could inspire teenagers of Hong Kong to devote themselves to serving the community and raising their awareness about global issues. We also hope that students would discover their dreams and aspirations through our projects throughout the year.
Through workshops and service programmes, participants will be provided the opportunity to ‘Experience the earth” by learning about the needy in Hong Kong and serving the community. We hope to instil in our participants “Love for the Living” by assisting them in designing their own service programmes to serve two target groups, elderly and ethnic minority children. Geared with experience, skills and a passion to serve, it is hoped that participants will be able to “Reach to reality” and continue to contribute to social services in the future.
Similar to other projects organised by our Association, this scheme will offer educational programmes such as training workshops and seminars to well-equip the participants with practical skills and specific knowledge in dealing with different clients. In addition to these sessions, a four-week Service Project will be held. Participants will focus on two different targets, namely the elderly and ethnic minority children. Half of the participants will be encouraged to interact with young clients of ethnic minority groups. Meanwhile, the other half of the participants will be focusing on serving the elderly.
In order to achieve a long-term dedication in our participants, we would like to emphasise the continuity of passion in service in our participants. Most of the service projects offer one-time service sessions and lack continuity. In view of this, we would like to build up the idea of continual service – that their passion should not extinguish after the service programme.In order to achieve this goal, participants will engage in bi-monthly visits after the scheme.
Apart from continuity, our hope this year is to cultivate a sense of global citizenship in our participants through INGO visits and experience sharing by international volunteers. Visits will be organised to international organisations serving ethnic minority children and the elderly during the project. Participants can interview volunteers who have engaged in services overseas and learn from their dedication and experience.
Lastly, it is our sincerest hope that through the Volunteer Training Scheme 2010, participants will not only recognise their obligation, but also realise their own strengths and weaknesses in the course of interacting with like-minded peers.
The theme of this year’s project is ‘Helping Hearts, Linking Lands’. Through the Volunteer Training Scheme 2010, we hope that our participants can traverse both land and culture with their passion to serve. Apart from gaining local experience of service, we would like to give participants a global perspective so that they may apply the experience gained to doing international voluntary work. The principle of continuity will be put into practice.
Programme Rundown
Orientation Day
Date: 13th March 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 14.00 – 18.00
Service Project (Stage 1)
Date: 14th March 2010 (Sunday) - 26th March 2010 (Friday)
Volunteer Day
Date: 20th March 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 12.00 - 16.15
Adventure Day
Date: 21st March 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 08.00 - 18.00
Pledge Day
Date: 27th March 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 14.00 - 17.00
Service Project (Stage 2 to Stage 4)
Date: 2nd April 2010 (Friday) - 24th May April (Saturday)
Organisation Visits
Date: 8th April 2010 (Thursday) - 21st April 2010 (Wednesday)
Evaluation Meetings
Date: 25th April 2010 (Sunday) - 7th May 2010 (Friday)
Closing Ceremony
Date: 8th May 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 13.30 - 18.00
Continuity
Around 1 session will be arranged monthly or bi-monthly to maintain the continuity of the projects. Details will be given after the Scheme is completed.
Target Group Participants should:
- be Form 2 or Form 3 secondary school students in Hong Kong;
- have a high degree of social awareness;
- demonstrate initiative in taking up social responsibilities;
- have a passion for serving the community; and
- be enthusiastic, responsible and prompt.
#4
Interflow Camp 2010
Entitled “Ecovation”, Interflow Camp 2010 will focus on the theme of sustainable green lifestyle. The term “Ecovation” is the amalgamation of sustainability and a concern for ecological processes. Its inspiration often follows a desire to live a lower impact lifestyle and a higher environmental conscience. The camp will simulate a United Nations Climate Change Conference (Copenhagen 2009), where scientists and climatologists from 8 different countries (here represented by the participants) meet to discuss the roadmap for a sustainable lifestyle, as well as brainstorm new ideas of how the idea of ‘green’ can be incorporated into the lives of people. The ‘conference’ will be chaired by politicians, hereby represented by members of the Executive Committee and the Organising committee, each of whom pursuit different agendas. Amongst them will be some who wishes to promote profit over environment and are hindering the world’s well-being.
During the meeting process, the participants, playing the role of youth scientists, will have to perform creative and challenging tasks which require creative thinking, team cooperation, presentation, communication, and other inter-personal skills. One of the key highlights of the camp would be a "Cap and Trade" game, where the widely proposed model of carbon trading is played out with different countries having different levels of production, resources, and thus a difference in carbon production. The theme game aims to inform participants the core of the principles of our climate change development on a global perspective.
It is hoped that through this simulation, participants will be given ample opportunities to let their ideas and imagination soar and potentials to be unleashed. The Camp also aims at helping participants to overcome their self-limitations, develop their original thinking and problem-solving skills. Through enjoyable workshops and educational games, participants will be able to exchange their ideas with and learn from their peers.
Target Group
80 Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 students from local secondary schools and international schools
Participants should:
• Be Secondary 3 to Secondary 5
• Be responsible and prompt
• Be able to think critically
• Be active and creative
Tentative Programme Rundown
Orientation Day
Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 13:00 - 17:30
Venue: Kwun Tong Maryknoll College (100 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon)
Interflow Camp
Date: 27th July - 29th July 2010 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Venue: Po Leung Kuk Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp
Visitations to Organisations
Date: Between 10th July 2010 and 27th July 2010
Venue: EcoHome and EcoPark