YMCA and Dah Sing Bank partner for “Panda Robotics Dream Factory Programme 2025” integrating AI and innovative thinking
For the seventh consecutive year, we have partnered with Dah Sing Bank to deliver STEAM programmes for local students. This year, we have collaborated on the “Panda Robotics Dream Factory Programme 2025”, fully funding a three-month STEAM training programme for nearly 80 primary and secondary school students. The programme cultivates students’ creativity and technology application skills, while integrating the skills into their daily lives. Combining AI, facial recognition, coding, and artistic design, students successfully created robotic pandas with facial recognition capabilities!
An exhibition showcasing the students’ work and a closing ceremony were held at the YMCA College Of Careers on 5 and 6 July. 40 robotic pandas were on display, with the venue transformed into a bamboo forest, merging reality and a futuristic vision for an immersive technological and artistic experience.
Primary 5 student, Lam Wai Lok, shared his learning experience, describing the three-month STEAM training programme as incredibly engaging. He noted that the hands-on experience of building a robotic panda made learning fun and unique, and expressed his idea to incorporate fingerprint recognition to further enhance the robot’s intelligence.
Mr. Johnny Wong (right), our Acting General Secretary, presented Ms. Phoebe Wong (left), Deputy Chief Executive, Senior Executive Director and Group Head of Personal Banking of Dah Sing Bank,with a panda-themed dried flower arrangement to express sincere gratitude for Dah Sing Bank's unwavering support for the programme.
“Dah Sing Bank has a strong partnership with YMCA, and we are committed to supporting innovative STEAM projects that give young people a chance to explore new technologies and grow,” said Ms. Phoebe Wong, Deputy Chief Executive, Senior Executive Director and Group Head of Personal Banking at Dah Sing Bank. “We hope this project sparks creativity and shows students the importance of innovative technology skills for the future.”
Mr. Johnny Wong, our Acting General Secretary, added, “We are fully behind the national drive to ‘invigorating China through science and education’. We have been working with Dah Sing Bank for years to bring exciting STEAM projects to students, from drone programming and metaverse creation to smart furniture design. This year’s programme combining AI robotics with the national treasure panda are just the latest example, and we look forward to our next big STEAM project with Dah Sing Bank to benefit even more students.”
Representatives from Dah Sing Bank award certificates to several outstanding students in recognition of their achievements.
In addition to facial recognition, the robotic pandas also incorporate a remote-controlled car design.
The “Panda Robotics Dream Factory Programme 2025” consists of three key parts: 16 hours of classroom training to provide students with solid grounding in STEAM basics; a visit to the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s AI laboratory led by Dah Sing Bank volunteers and YMCA instructors for students to see real-world AI in action; and finally, an exhibition where students showcase their creations, experiences and acquired knowledge.
After the closing ceremony, the learning continued with a hands-on STEAM workshop, where students helped Dah Sing Bank staff build their own 3D panda robots as teaching assistants – a perfect way to put their learning in practice.
Let's build family bonds - "Family Adventure Camp" now open for registration
Get ready for a parent-child adventure combining Soci Game (simulated social game) and an overnight camp experience! Our Family Social Work Working Group presents the “Family Adventure Camp”, where parents and children can tackle challenges together, building unbreakable family bonds through laughter and cooperation.
Activity Highlights:
- Simulated Growth Challenge Game: An immersive Soci Game experience using role-playing to understand life’s journey, challenges, and the power of family.
- Kids’ Wilderness Cooking: Little ones transform into young chefs to cook delicious meals in the great outdoors.
- Parent Workshop: Expert insights on nurturing resilience and a sense of competence in children.
- Kin-Ball Fun: Families unite to play Kin-Ball and enjoy the joy of movement and connection.
- Evening BBQ: What better way to end a day at the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village than with a family BBQ?
Event Details:
Dates: 27-28 September (two days, one night family camp)
Location: Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village
Target: YMCA members aged 6-18 and their parents
Quota: 18-20 families* (first come, first served)
Fee: $160 per person
Guest Speaker: Ms. Josephine Ling
Workshop Topic: “Family Resilience” Parent Workshop
*Note: Each family group is limited to four participants, and children must be accompanied by a parent.
For more information and registration: https://shorturl.at/FdDJc (Registration deadline: 22 August)
For enquiries, please call: 2557 3748 (Ms. Chan) / 2727 5445 (Mr. Cho).
Joint-U Guangzhou Internship Programme 2025
To encourage Hong Kong youth to gain a deeper understanding of national development and experience the first-hand workplace culture of the Greater Bay Area, we teamed up with the Guangzhou Center for Youth Exchange between Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao, to launch the Joint-U Guangzhou Internship Programme 2025, supported by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission as part of the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland.
This year’s programme received an enthusiastic response, attracting over 150 applications from young people aged 18 to 30. Following interviews and company selections, 13 successful candidates embarked on a 46-day internship journey, with their placements covering various sectors, including volunteer services, AI, and public utilities, allowing them to explore innovation and opportunities within the Greater Bay Area.
The launch ceremony took place in Guangzhou on 14 June, with Dr. Jim Hui, our Acting Deputy General Secretary, leading the delegation. He encouraged participants to embrace a “beginner’s mindset”, remaining open and engaged in their learning. He shared, “The workplace is different from campus. You need to observe more, ask more questions, and transform your professional knowledge into practical skills.”
Following the ceremony, participants took part in a community handicraft activity led by local volunteers, experiencing the fusion of traditional culture and social service for a warm start to their internship journey.
The Cityview and Kowloon Centre shine in waste reduction efforts
The Cityview and the Kowloon Centre were awarded the “Hong Kong Green Organisation Certification – Wastewi$e Certificate” by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), in recognition of their dedication to waste avoidance and reduction, material recycling, green procurement, and environmental training for staff. The Cityview was further distinguished with the “Excellence Level” accolade, acknowledging its successful implementation of over 80% of the non-mandatory assessment criteria, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental protection.
Y-Care CSR Scheme celebrates a decade of partnership promoting care for community and employee wellbeing
Over 100 corporate representatives gathered at The Cityview on 26 June join the Y-Care CSR Scheme 10th Anniversary cum 1st H-Care Health-Friendly Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony. The lively atmosphere, complete with photo opportunities, saw guests capturing memories of this significant milestone.
Themed “A Decade and Beyond: Building a Sustainable Tomorrow Together”, the event recognised over 70 companies and organisations for their contributions to community care and employee wellbeing. Mr. Ho Kai Ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, delivered a congratulatory address, commending the Y-Care CSR Scheme’s decade of service and praising the corporate sector’s commitment to employee wellness. He encouraged businesses to continue fostering a healthy and supportive workplace culture.
Professor Thomas Wong of the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development delivered a keynote speech titled “A Sustainable Future Begins with Heartfelt CSR”, sharing insights on how businesses can collaborate with social service organizations to address societal needs and drive sustainable development.
Over the past ten years, the Y-Care CSR Scheme has collaborated with nearly 200 corporations, serving a total of 38,650 individuals. The Scheme’s scope covers social support, healthcare, and mental wellbeing, demonstrating the power of corporate-community partnerships in building a caring society.
Be a Global Citizen Campaign Award Ceremony broadens youth perspectives
The 2024-2025 Be a Global Citizen Campaign Award Ceremony took place on 22 June at the Kowloon Centre. Over 150 young people received Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, recognising their efforts and participation in promoting the ideals of global citizenship. The event employed innovative methods to engage youth with global issues. Seventeen groups participated in an original live action role playing (The Distant Call), which simulated wartime scenarios involving resource allocation and ethical dilemmas. This immersive experience encouraged deep reflection on the values of peace and inclusion, and enhanced understanding of “Just World”, one of the four pillars of “YMCA Vision 2030”.
Dr. Rose Luqiu, Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism, Hong Kong Baptist University, delivered an inspiring keynote speech titled “Reflections Behind Conflicts”, sharing her personal experiences from warzone reporting and volunteer work. Her insights prompted profound reflection amongst the students on conflict, humanity, and peace.
Several distinguished guests attended the award ceremony, including members of the Global Citizenship Steering Committee Mr. Joe Wong, GBS ; Professor Alex Fan, MH, JP; Professor Edwin Chan; Dr. Janet Chan; Mr. Oscar Xue; and Dr. Jim Hui, our Acting Deputy General Secretary. The Chairman of the Global Citizenship Steering Committee, Mr. Andy Tsang, GBS, PDSM, JP, also shared an encouraging video message, urging young people to equip themselves, understand their country, and broaden their global horizons.
The first Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao Greater Bay Area Elderly Paper Plane Competition takes flight
The popular “Hong Kong Elderly Paper Plane Competition”, pioneered by the Association, soared to new heights this year to become the first “Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao Greater Bay Area Elderly Paper Plane Competition”. Generously sponsored by Y’s Men International Hong Kong District, the exciting event took place in June at the Siu Sai Wan Sports Centre.
This year’s competition attracted 46 teams representing 25 elderly service organisations from across the Greater Bay Area, with a total of 381 enthusiastic participants creating a truly spectacular atmosphere. Teams travelled from as far as Qingyuan (Shek Kok team) to compete, and a delegation from Macau attended as observers, adding to the grandeur of the event. After several rounds of spirited competition, the champions emerged with impressive winning distances of 15.41 metres for the women’s division and 23.13 metres for the men’s division. Congratulations also to our YMCA Po Shek Wu Neighbourhood Elderly Centre team for achieving the runner-up position.
Around 40 dedicated volunteers from the Jordan Centre, Siu Sai Wan Centre, Kwun Tong Centre, and Y’s Men International provided invaluable support, ensuring the smooth running of the event. The championships not only showcased the vitality and creativity of our senior citizens but also fostered inter-regional exchange and strengthened community bonds.
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.
Elderly Fall Prevention Exercise
Elderly falls can cause injuries and even bone fracture. There are many reasons of fall, which include obstacles, slippery floor, poor lighting, insufficient muscle power or endurance, and insufficient balance. The following balance training activities help reduce risk of falling.
Tandem Standing (hold 10-20 seconds, 10 repetitions, twice per day)
Stand near stable furniture, railings or wall in case of fall. Stand with 1 foot in the front and 1 foot at back. Try to put big toe of foot at back as close as possible to the heel of foot in the front. Keep your balance and hold. Then change another foot to the front. If you feel confident with this tandem standing, you can change to single leg standing.
Stepping Exercise (10 repetitions, 3 sets, twice per day)
Put a firm and stable stool or step next to stable furniture, railings or wall in case of fall. Step on the stool with 1 leg slowly, then step back to original position slowly. Then repeat with another leg. The stepping should be performed slowly to promote training effect.
＊Some of the programmes are subsidised by the Social Welfare Department
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