Free Entry! Your Perfect Indoor Summer Day Out for the Family - "Building Joy in Every Step" Handmade Playground
This summer, treat your children to an experience that is both fun and meaningful. The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong proudly presents the “Building Joy in Every Step” Handmade Playground, taking place on Sunday, 5 July 2026 at D·PARK in Tsuen Wan. With free admission and no prior registration required, we warmly invite members and families to kick off the summer holidays early and dive into a day of pure fun and quality family time.
This special event has been co-created by our University & College YMCA volunteers together with local families. It is part of the celebrations for the YMCA’s 125th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the University & College YMCA’s Playground Builder Project, we have built a unique play space filled with warmth and creativity. Through play, children are encouraged to learn, explore and grow, while the event also promotes the importance of the “right to play” as advocated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
(Photo 1)
(Photo 2)
In previous years, the University & College YMCA’s Playground Builder Project organised handmade playgrounds at Luk Yeung Sun Chuen, Tsuen Wan (Photo 1) and Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village (Photo 2), providing joyful play experiences for local families.
A Decade of Dedication: Advancing the Mission of Play from Local to Global
Initiated a decade ago by a passionate group of the University & College YMCA volunteers, the Playground Builder Project is driven by a mission to advocate children’s right to play worldwide. Starting from humble beginnings, the team has travelled to various developing countries and has successfully built eight playgrounds across six countries, bringing joy and equal play opportunities to underprivileged children. Locally, the project continues to promote handmade playgrounds, encouraging the public to reflect on the value and importance of play in children’s holistic development.
“Building Joy in Every Step” Handmade Playground
Date: 5 July 2026, Sunday
Time: 12:00 – 19:00
Location: Atrium, L1, D・PARK, Tsuen Wan
3 main highlights:
- Handmade Play Facilities: Enjoy unique equipment like wooden track cars, a roller slide, a tyre see-saw, and a climbing frame, all suitable for children aged 4 to 12.
- Booth Games with Prizes: Take part in inspiring and interactive booth games themed around STEM and parent-child teamwork.
- Special Interactive Exhibition: Explore the YMCA story, revisit programme highlights from our fantastic programmes, and witness the boundless creativity of children.
No registration is needed – just come along! We look forward to seeing you there and joining us in promoting the Children’s Right to Play.
Event Details: https://uniycy20.ymca.org.hk/pb10
For enquiries: 2705-2231 / [email protected]
We Invite You to Join the 14th Hong Kong Sign Language Song Competition!
Organised by our Y’s Men’s Centre for the Deaf as part of the “Connecting Mind, Body & Spirit through Sign Language” Project, the preliminary round of the 14th Hong Kong Sign Language Song Competition will be held on Sunday, 20 September 2026. Applications are open from now until 15 August. Interested groups can download the competition rules, important notes, and application form from the link below(Chinese version only):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1s4f8JPdtCvHXT-3KKDwYmYBEGRTNuX1-
After filling out the application form, please email it along with the lyrics of your chosen song to [email protected]
(Please use the subject line: “Application for the 14th Hong Kong Sign Language Song Competition”)
Alternatively, you can submit your application directly through this online form: https://forms.office.com/r/9UyB0ywDkb
For enquiries, please call: 2717 1754（Jasmine Chan）
WhatsApp：6708 5715
YMCA College of Careers Students Honoured in the 2026 Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund
Three students from the YMCA College of Careers have been recognised in this year’s “Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund” for their outstanding academic results and diverse talents, a wonderful showcase of the College’s commitment to excellence in both professional studies and holistic development.
Dr. Thomas Man, our Chief Education Officer (pictured first from left), attended the award ceremony with the three winning students to celebrate their success. Fung Yu Hin, a student in the Higher Diploma in Social Work programme, was awarded the “Outstanding Performance Scholarship” of HK$30,000. Meanwhile, Cheng Ching Yan and Cheng Sum Yu, both from the Higher Diploma in Specialty Coffee and Café Business Management programme, each received the “Talent Development Scholarship” of HK$10,000. The excellent performance of these three students is not only a testament to their personal hard work but also a reflection of the College’s dedication to nurturing students’ professional skills and all-round development.
The “Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund” aims to commend students studying at non-profit-making institutions for their remarkable achievements in academic pursuits, personal growth, and well-rounded development.
Recognising Over 80 Corporate Partners for Bringing Positive Energy to the Community
This year, 58 companies were honoured as Y-Care CSR Scheme corporate partners, while another 25 businesses and organisations were recognised as H-Care health-friendly organisations.
Since launching the Y-Care CSR Scheme in 2015, we have been actively collaborating with the business community, leveraging shared expertise and resources to drive a wide range of community services for vulnerable groups. To celebrate the outstanding contributions of our corporate partners in fostering a caring, inclusive, and health-friendly culture over the past year, we held the Y-Care CSR Scheme cum H-Care Health Friendly Award Presentation 2025-26 on 23 May at Olympian City 2. We were delighted to welcome Mr. Ho Kai Ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, who encouraged the business sector to continue injecting positive energy into society through partnership with YMCA. As part of our 125th-anniversary celebrations, participants from our “Magical Dance Fusion” Youth Dance Training programme, sponsored by Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s “Disney Dance-Off Project”, put on a lively dance performance, showcasing their talent and youthful energy.
This year, a total of 58 companies were recognised as Y-Care corporate partners, and 25 organisations were named H-Care health-friendly organisations, reflecting the business community’s strong commitment to social services and workplace wellbeing. Among them, Amity Foundation Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort received the top honour of “Y-Care Diamond Partner”. The programme continues to bring together cross-sector strength, expanding our service network and social impact while promoting corporate social responsibility and a health-friendly culture.
Mr. Ho Kai Ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, delivers a speech.
Participants of the “Magical Dance Fusion” Youth Dance Training programme put on a fantastic performance to celebrate the occasion and showcase their achievements.
Odyssey of the Mind World Finals 2026: Hong Kong youth taking on the world!
The Odyssey of the Mind World Finals (27-30 May 2026, Iowa State University, USA) saw the Hong Kong regional champion teams from the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong compete. The 99-member delegation joined over 900 teams from worldwide.
Beyond tackling “Long-Term” and “Spontaneous” problems, participants build global connections through the Opening Ceremony, Banner Parade, Pin Trading, and Creativity Festival. The Hong Kong delegation also hosted a Chinese calligraphy booth, attracting 500+ visitors to experience Chinese culture firsthand.
Participants described the Finals as an unforgettable and valuable learning experience. It not only enabled them to exchange creative problem-solving skills with global teams but also helped them build cross-cultural friendships, sparking their passion to continue participating in the future.
Odyssey of the Mind broadens participants’ international horizons and enhances their skills in teamwork, innovative problem-solving, and STEAM applications.
Hong Kong Elderly Paper Plane Competition 2026 Attracts Over 400 Seniors to Show Their Vitality
Organised by our ”Flying without Boundary” working group, the Hong Kong Elderly Paper Plane Competition 2026 was held on 18 May 2026 at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. This year’s event attracted a record-breaking 400 seniors aged 60 and above, with 50 teams from 27 elderly service units across Hong Kong taking part. Every participant was fully engaged, diligently practising and refining their paper plane folding techniques to achieve the furthest and most stable flight. The competition was fierce, with the best throw in the men’s group reaching 20.92 metres and the women’s group reaching 15.32 metres, truly showcasing the vitality, focus, and spirit of our seniors.
In the group awards, the championship went to the Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service Chan Tak Sang Memorial Neighbourhood Elderly Centre. The first runner-up was the H.K.S.K.H Lady MacLehose Centre Dr. Lam Chik Suen District Elderly Community Centre. The second runner-up position was a tie between the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel – Hong Kong District Limited Kin Sang Church Elderly Centre and the Sik Sik Yuen Ho Wing Neighbourhood Centre for Senior Citizens.
The event not only encourages seniors to be active with their hands and minds, improving hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness, but also provides a valuable opportunity for different service units to connect. It fosters interaction and friendship among the elderly, allowing everyone to experience the joy of active ageing in a fun-filled atmosphere.
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.
The Cityview Nurtures Future Talent Through ESG Principles to Support Youth Career Development
The Cityview is actively putting its ESG principles into practice, focusing not only on business growth but also on giving back to the community and nurturing future talent. By strengthening its connections with the academic world, the hostel is creating valuable career exploration and learning opportunities for young people, fostering a closer link between education and the industry.
Recently, The Cityview welcomed a group of Form 4 students studying Tourism and Hospitality Studies from Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Kwok Yat Wai College for a visit. This gave the students a first-hand look into the practical operations of the hotel industry. They toured The Cityview’s various facilities and gained a deeper understanding of its environmental policies, business philosophy, management model, as well as the entry requirements and career prospects within the hospitality sector.
This on-site experience provided the students with a clearer insight into how a hotel really works, which will be hugely beneficial for their hospitality management studies. The students were highly engaged throughout the visit, actively asking questions and showing a keen interest in the industry. It is hoped that this visit will inspire them and help lay a foundation for their future careers in related fields.
Looking ahead, The Cityview will continue to promote various school partnerships and community engagement activities. By strengthening these ties with the education sector, the hostel aims to cultivate a new generation of talent equipped with both professional knowledge and a strong sense of social responsibility, contributing to the sustainable development of the industry and the wider community.
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.
Phone Users Alert: The More You Use Your Phone, the Stiffer Your Neck?
Spending prolonged hours looking at your phone with your head in a downward position can cause forward head posture, which is a relatively forward head position compared to your shoulders.
The weight of an adult’s head is 10 pounds on average. The more forward your head is, the more stress is put on your neck muscles.
This may lead to neck pain, stiffness, and even rounded shoulders. However, a simple exercise can be used to improve the endurance of the deep neck flexors.
- Sit upright with your shoulders relaxed.
- Look straight ahead and keep your chin level.
- Use your index finger to guide your chin backward, as if making a double chin.
- You may feel slight tension in the anterior neck.
- You may feel some resistance in the posterior neck.
- Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 10 times.
#YMCA Event Highlights | Cycling for Love 2026
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