Cycling for Love 2025 supports rural revitalisation and fosters exchange
Joined hands with the Chengdu YMCA, we organised “Cycling for Love 2025” from 17 to 22 April in Chengdu. The event brought together young people and volunteers from Chengdu, Hong Kong, and other regions, focusing on promoting rural revitalisation and youth entrepreneurship. 54 participants cycled approximately 100 kilometres along the Chengdu Tianfu Greenway, Qionglai Greenway and various ecological parks. They visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the national 5A-rated tourist attraction Chengdu Tiantai Mountain Scenic Area, where they observed fireflies and learned about Chengdu’s natural environment.
In response to the national rural revitalisation strategy, we and the Chengdu YMCA also jointly established the “YMCA Handicraft Workshop” in Gaoxing Village, Qionglai City. The workshop provides a platform for local young people to develop entrepreneurial skills, promote traditional rural handicrafts, and contribute to rural revitalisation across five key areas in industry, talent, culture, ecology, and organisation. The workshop will incubate rural talent, while benefitting the local community, and facilitating interaction and exchange between young people from Hong Kong and Chengdu.
During the trip, participants also visited a local school on Earth Day (22 April 2025) to teach students about environmental protection through interactive games and workshops, which helped contribute to sustainable development. Funds raised from the event have been used to support local rural revitalisation projects and improve students’ lives.
Participants expressed gaining valuable experiences. Zhang Ruodan, a member of the University YMCA (The University of Hong Kong), shared: “The most memorable part of the six-day trip was the mutual care and support among the team members. Waiting for each other in the morning mist, singing together… these moments added beautiful memories to the cycling journey. Also, during the Earth Day environmental education activities at the school, I felt that the students truly enjoyed the interactive games and learning.”
“Cycling for Love 2025” responded to the national rural revitalisation strategy, while establishing a sustainable development platform for exchange and cooperation between young people from Chengdu and Hong Kong to foster cultural exchange and enable both YMCAs to work together towards “Meaningful Work” under the YMCA Vision 2030.
2025 Hong Kong Secondary School Mini-Movie Competition
Recent surveys show young people are feeling lost and powerless when it comes to school, life, and even work. They need a way to express themselves and be heard. Therefore, this year’s Hong Kong Secondary School Mini-Movie Competition aims to raise awareness of youth mental health under the theme “
Heartfelt Filming, Soulful Screening !”, encouraging young filmmakers to tap into their creativity and share their inner thoughts and feelings through film. It is a chance to break down communication barriers and connect with friends, family, and the wider community. Let’s step into their shoes and see the world of youth through mini-movies.
Format: Participants can choose any genre, such as narrative, music video (MTV), or documentary. Submissions should be mp4 or mov files between 3 and 10 minutes long.
Categories: Junior Division (Secondary 1-3) and Senior Division (Secondary 4-6)
Awards: Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, as well as Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Performance, will be presented in each category. Winners will receive trophies, certificates, and prizes. Merit awards will also be given with certificates and prizes.
Deadline for Registration and Submission: 27 June 2025 (Friday)
Deadline for Registration and Submission: 27 June 2025 (Friday)
How to Join: Participants must submit the application form, a link to their film, and a brief synopsis through the competition website:
www.ymca.org.hk/minimovie2025 by the registration deadline.
For Enquiries：2857 7700／6888 6307
YMCA recognised in Labour Department's "Good Employee Recognition Campaign"
Our Human Resources Department nominated two outstanding colleagues, Cham Kwok Wing, Samson and Loo Pui Wah, for the Labour Department’s “Good Employee Recognition Campaign” in recognition of their contributions.
Following a rigorous selection process based on five key areas in work ability, customer service, adaptability, teamwork, and sense of belonging, both Cham and Loo were awarded certificates and medals in mid-April as part of the ” Good Employee Recognition Campaign 2025″, commending their exceptional performance. The Jordan Centre also received a Team Award certificate and medal in the same scheme, acknowledging their outstanding achievements and contributions to the organisation.
CYM Youth Swimming Team achieves outstanding results at lifesaving competition
The CYM Youth Swimming Team sent 34 members to compete in the first round of the “2025-26 Age Group Lifesaving (Pool) Competition” organised by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society on 12 April 2025. The team secured an impressive tally of three gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.
In addition, eight swimmers from the CYM Youth Swimming Team participated in the selection trials for the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society’s Hong Kong Lifesaving Training Team. Sze Hoi Ching was selected for the main team, while seven other swimmers were selected for the branch team. Sze was also chosen to represent Hong Kong in the Bauhinia Cup 2025 competition held on 30 April and 1 May.
S+ Summit cum Expo
Organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), the annual “S+ Summit cum Expo” took place on 20 and 21 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Over 160 social welfare organisations, social enterprises, and impact-driven companies participated in the event, with our organisation also in attendance. We set up a booth to showcase how we collaborate with our social enterprises and corporate partners to attract potential partners.
The expo attracted over 14,000 visitors, with our booth featuring an impressive, metre-tall panda balloon art installation created by our social enterprise, YM Balloon, which captivated visitors and provided a popular photo opportunity.
Several grassroots mothers representing YM Fleur, another YMCA social enterprise, were also present to share their personal stories working as floral assistants and lead floral arrangement workshops, demonstrating how YMCA fosters social inclusion and empowers underprivileged communities through innovative initiatives for greater social value.
Panda Robotics Dream Factory Programme 2025
Generously sponsored by our Y-Care corporate partner Dah Sing Bank, “Panda Robotics Dream Factory Programme 2025” offers a 16-hour STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) curriculum for primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong, incorporating this year’s panda theme. Currently, around 80 students are embarking on a journey of AI discovery, who are learning to use micro:bits to create robotic panda cubs and exploring the possibilities of AI cameras and facial recognition technology.
This programme targets students from low-income families in upper primary and junior secondary levels. The response has been overwhelming, with double the expected number of applicants. The initiative aligns with the YMCA Vision 2030 of “Meaningful Work” by providing diverse, high-quality training opportunities for young people in need.
Participants will also visit the “AI Education and Exploration Lab” at the Chinese University of Hong Kong to learn more about innovative AI applications in art, entertainment, and daily life.
Kornhill Centre Easter Student Volunteer Service
Over 40 student volunteers from Kornhill Centre, St. Clare’s Girls’ School, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, and Marymount Secondary School participated in two Easter volunteer activities.
The volunteers led 35 children in various group games, introducing them to the meaning of Easter and sharing the holiday spirit. The activities were enthusiastically received by the children. For the participating secondary school students, it was a valuable volunteering experience that encouraged them to serve the community from a young age, fostering a spirit of helping others, and spreading love and joy.
Kornhill Centre Easter Student Volunteer Service
Organised by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and sponsored by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the 68th Festival of Sport – Opening Ceremony cum Carnival took place from 11 to 13 April 2025 at D·PARK in Tsuen Wan. With the theme “Let’s Get Moving Together and Enjoy Sports!”, the carnival featured sports try-outs, performances, and demonstrations.
As a founding member of the SF&OC, we arranged for Kowloon Centre to offer Taspony try-outs at the carnival, introducing the public to this sport invented by the Nagoya YMCA in Aichi, Japan, and later brought to Hong Kong by the Association. Over 1,800 people tried out the sport. Taspony is easy to learn, played by hitting a soft ball with the palm of the hand, and suitable for all ages, a good option to promote parent-child interaction and encourage regular exercise for holistic wellbeing.
For more information about Taspony classes, please contact Mr. Shum at Kowloon Centre on 2783 3636.
As city dwellers who often work overtime and frequently perform repetitive motions, we are more susceptible to joint pain or sports injuries that can affect our quality of life. The Association’s Health Care Professions Department is launching a regular monthly column and publishing short articles about self-care. Topics covered will include arthritis, joint pain and self-healing. For more detailed health-related information, please visit our website: hcp.ymca.org.hk or call 2783 3616for inquiries.
Mulligan Concept — Manual Therapy with Pain-free and Instantaneous Response
The Mulligan concept was developed by Brian Mulligan, a New Zealand physiotherapist. Mulligan proposed that injuries or sprains might result in a minor “positional fault” to a joint causing restrictions in movement. Mulligan techniques have been developed to overcome the “positional faults” such as to restore pain-free movement in affected joints.
Tennis elbow is a common upper limb pain syndrome caused by excessive load on muscles and tendons due to frequent use of the hand. The following Mulligan technique can be attempted if you have pain over the outer side of the elbow while performing gripping action. Stabilise the upper arm against a doorframe, while the other hand pushes the forearm towards the direction of the doorframe. While maintaining this push, you would perform 10 repetitions of grip and release. The entire Mulligan technique should be completely pain-free. Ideally, this technique would be able to ease your elbow pain. If there are any adverse effects such as an increase in elbow pain afterwards, you should cease the treatment. If you have any questions, please consult your physiotherapist for further guidance.
#YM Throwback | Cycling for Love 2025
＊Some of the programmes are subsidised by the Social Welfare Department
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