Press Conference and Thematic Seminar on the Survey Findings of “Hong Kong Youth Career Competitiveness and Future Challenges”
Gen Z Worried About Losing Their Edge in the Age of AI
The Young Members’ Council under our Association held a press conference on 1 February to release the “Hong Kong Youth Career Competitiveness and Future Challenges” survey findings, which revealed that Generation Z (Gen Z) generally lacks confidence in their own abilities, with nearly 40% of respondents indicating that it takes them a long time to overcome setbacks. In the face of the rising tide of AI, more than 60% expressed concern that their competitiveness may be affected. In response, the Young Members’ Council put forward several recommendations, including strengthening career development support and training programmes, enhancing young people’s “3Q” abilities—Emotional Quotient (EQ), Adversity Quotient (AQ), and Moral Quotient (MQ)—promoting a “Resilience Mentorship” scheme, and encouraging schools to implement “human–AI symbiosis” education that integrates professional knowledge with AI applications, as well as AI literacy education.
Following the press conference, a thematic seminar was held on the same day, featuring Mr. Kelvin Wong, Deputy Director of Knowledge Transfer Office at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, together with Dr. Ng Yuen Hang, Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Our Association’s Acting Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Jim Hui, also joined the seminar to share his insights. They explored approaches to nurturing youth career development in the AI era. The three experts emphasised that the greatest difference between humans and AI lies in human uniqueness, character, and emotional warmth—core abilities that technology cannot easily replace. They also highlighted that beyond mastering emerging technologies, young people must learn to transform knowledge into practices that balance efficiency with humanistic care. At the same time, they noted that volunteer service, diverse activities, and the guidance of positive mentors can effectively foster young people’s 3Q competencies and strengthen community connections.
For more details of the survey findings, please visit our website.
Celebrating 125 Years: Share Your Photo, Tell Your Story of Happiness
To celebrate our 125th anniversary, we are launching a photo project with the theme “Moments of Happiness: Light & Shadow.” We are inviting everyone in Hong Kong to capture those special moments where light and shadow meet, documenting the subtle yet genuine sparks of happiness in everyday life. Let’s bring our community together and celebrate hope and togetherness through your photos. When you press the shutter, what story will you tell?
Winning photos could even be turned into greeting cards and shared with the public. We warmly encourage our members, volunteers, and the general public to take part. Join us in capturing moments of happiness and connecting with our community through your lens.
How to Enter:
Participants will need to submit one photo (PNG/JPG, max 50MB) based on the theme “Moments of Happiness: Light & Shadow”, along with a short title or caption (no more than 20 words).
Categories:
- Junior Category (Ages 6–17)
- Open Category (Ages 18 and above)
* Categories are based on the participant’s age on the date of photo submission.
Prizes:
There will be a First, Second, and Third place winner, with two Merit Awards in both the Junior and Open categories.
- First Place: $1,500 gift voucher, an instant camera, and a winner’s certificate.
- Second Place: $1,000 gift voucher, an instant camera, and a 1st runner-up certificate.
- Third Place: $500 gift voucher, an instant camera, and a 2nd runner-up certificate.
- Merit: $100 gift voucher and a merit certificate.
Closing Date:
From now until 31st March 2026 (submissions close at 11:59 PM Hong Kong Time).
For any questions, please call Ms. Chong on 2434 0288 or Ms. Yiu on 2693 5097.
Sign Language Meets Aromatherapy Massage: A Healing Experience for Mental Wellness
Sign language can be healing for the mind and body! Our Y’s Men’s Centre for the Deaf will be hosting the “Connecting Mind， Body & Spirit through Sign Language” Project on 14 March at Kowloon City Plaza. Through an exhibition and video showcases, we will share practical mental health information and introduce how sign language can help build deeper emotional connections.
The event also features an aromatherapy massage experience to help you slow down and relax amidst a busy life. Participants will even receive a free bottle of aromatherapy massage oil after the session—bring the relaxation home with you!
Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to invite friends and recharge your mind together!
Enquiries: 2717 1754
WhatsApp：6708 5715
A Double Triumph for CYMCAPS at the Yuen Long Basketball Competition
A huge congratulations to Chinese Y.M.C.A. Primary School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams, who both advanced to the finals of the 2025-2026 Yuen Long District Inter-Primary School Basketball Competition. After a series of hard-fought matches, our boys’ team successfully defended their championship title, standing out from 35 participating teams. Their victory is a real testament to their dedication and hard work. Our girls’ team also played brilliantly, securing the runners-up spot among 21 teams, an equally commendable achievement. Having both teams in the finals and achieving such great results is a wonderful moment of shared pride for the school.
Basketball was invented by YMCA back in 1891, and our Association has long been committed to promoting sports and nurturing young people’s potential. Through sports, youth learn the value of teamwork, and build resilience in the face of challenges. These results are a wonderful reflection of the players’ tireless efforts and also highlight the success of our commitment to nurturing young athletes.
YMCA recognised for cross-border collaboration and disaster support at annual social welfare event
We are always keen to collaborate with partners from various sectors, sharing our professional experience and achievements to provide better and more resilient support for the community. Late last month, Dr. Arnold Cheng, our President; Mr. Johnny Wong, General Secretary; and Ms. Carman Wong, Assistant General Secretary, were invited to attend the 心連心惠民生·暖民心：回顧2025·展望 2026 event, co-organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Social Welfare Department, “Connecting Hearts”, and the Connecting Hearts Academy, bringing together leaders from the social welfare sector to discuss the future of social services.
During the event, our Assistant General Secretary Ms. Carman Wong, shared our experience of working with social welfare organisations in Chinese Mainland, showcasing the positive outcomes of cross-border collaboration in service delivery. We were also presented with a certificate of appreciation for our dedicated efforts in providing post-disaster support for Tai Po Wang Fuk Court. This recognised our swift response following the incident, which included opening our Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village to provide temporary accommodation for affected residents, as well as offering practical and emotional support, demonstrating our care through action.
Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue to uphold our service spirit, working hand-in-hand with partners across society to drive the ongoing development of social services in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
Winners of YM Volunteer@SCHOOL SDGs Themed Project Award embark on a volunteer trip to Guangzhou
In line with our theme “From Learning to Serving: Youth in Action”, our YM Volunteer team organised a three-day “Guangzhou Cultural Service Tour” from 23-25 January 2026. This trip gave the winning team of the YM Volunteer@SCHOOL SDGs Themed Project Award – students from Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School – a chance to step out of the classroom for an unforgettable volunteer journey. Co-organised by the Guangzhou YMCA and led by staff from our Shek Kip Mei Centre, the tour was a rich and profound cross-border service experience for the students.
The participants were deeply touched by their interactions with children with hearing and intellectual disabilities, as well as the elderly. Seeing the resilience of those they were serving, the participants learned to communicate in new ways, using clearer language and showing greater patience to build understanding. These moments not only boosted their empathy but also made them reflect on the true meaning of service: learning to listen to and understand others simply by being present for them.
For some participants, taking on roles like hosting or planning activities for the first time was a particularly profound experience. They went from feeling nervous to stepping up bravely, pushing past their comfort zones and finding new confidence through teamwork and thinking on their feet.
The participants described the trip as a valuable learning journey. It not only gave them a deeper understanding of social issues but also encouraged them to grow through reflection. They now hope to continue volunteering, keep broadening their horizons, and give back to the society through their actions.
Teachers witnessed how the students improved their social skills and developed a sense of responsibility and compassion in just a few short days of serving vulnerable groups first-hand. Through this shared experience, they began to grasp the true meaning of volunteering – life influencing life, and finding personal growth by helping others. These outcomes affirm the value of our long-standing mission to encourage young people to participate in volunteer work, allowing them to see a wider world and build self-confidence through service.
Since 2019, the Association has been actively involved in and implemented Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, formulated its corporate development policy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, and promoted sustainable development in Hong Kong in accordance with the “YMCA2030 Vision”. In addition to launching ESG impact reports, the Association is also committed to integrating ESG concepts into its daily operations, and this column aims to regularly share the Association’s trends in the ESG field with members.
YMCA honoured at Hong Kong Volunteer Awards 2025 for outstanding community care
We are dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and from all walks of life to get involved in a wide range of volunteer work, turning care into action to meet community needs and uphold our shared social responsibility.
We are thrilled to share that at the Hong Kong Volunteer Awards 2025, co-organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Agency for Volunteer Service, we received Non-commercial Organisation – Volunteer Hour Excellence Gold Award, a fantastic recognition of the selfless dedication of every one of our volunteers over the past year.
This year, our volunteers also took home an incredible 553 individual awards. A special shout-out goes to Mr. Thomas Ho, a member of our University & College YMCA, who won both the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Rising Star Volunteer Award and the Gold Award for Individual Volunteer Hours.
Looking ahead, we will continue to create innovative and meaningful volunteer projects. In line with our annual theme of “From Learning to Serving: Youth in Action”, we want to encourage even more young, as well as community members of all ages, to use their skills to give back to society and help change the world in action.
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.
What is an ideal sitting posture?
Do you often experience back pain after prolonged sitting? Nowadays people spend lots of time being sedentary, therefore it is important to learn the concept of ideal sitting posture. There are four main principles for a good sitting posture:
- Sit on your “sit bone”: Place your hand under your buttock to feel a bony structure inside, that is your “sit bone”, which is called ischial tuberosity in anatomy.
- Keep your shoulder and back relax: keep your back straight against the chair and relax your shoulder.
- Maintain a 90-90 knee and elbow position: Find a chair with an appropriate height so that your knee bend at a 90-degree angle. Relax your elbow next to your trunk.
- Keep your feet flat on floor: prevent sitting with crossed knee or ankles.
Gen Z: 'Volunteering is work that matters!' | #UnpaidWork | EP.2
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