Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

Crossover Lab Initiative 2023 (the Project), co-presented by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) and Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (the Association) successfully concluded in July. Through this 5-month project, over 700 youths had been invited to enjoy a series of art and cultural programmes in the West Kowloon Cultural District (the District) with the aim to broaden their horizons. They were also encouraged to bring their art and cultural experiences back to the community. By sharing their learning with more than 2,100 members of the public, this project benefits both individuals and the community.

To engage the youth in the wonder of performing arts, they were given a unique opportunity to enjoy Magic Tea House in the Xiqu Centre. Through learning about the basics of Cantonese opera, they could enrich their understanding of this art form and its cultural significance. In addition to enjoying the performance, an interactive play-and-learn workshop “CrewKids Online Mission” provided children with an introduction to the role of the backstage theatre production crew, with live facilitators offering insights into the skills and technical equipments required to stage exciting performances. This workshop consists of a virtual backstage crew experience on a multiplayer gaming platform, where participants get to help in different backstage positions to learn about performing arts from another angle.

Other than performing arts, participants also visited the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ under the guidance of docents and educators respectively. In the Guided Visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, they had the chance to appreciate Chinese cultural heritage as well as the art treasures from other parts of the world up close, and to gain insights into daily life in the Forbidden City from dawn to dusk. At the Guided Visits to the M+ Collection, participants were able to discover behind-the-scenes stories about highlighted objects from the M+ Collection, including their makers and artists.

With all this marvellous adventure in the District, what was even more exciting was that some of the youth were motivated to bring their newfound art experiences back to the community through participating in the focus activities. After visiting the Hong Kong Palace Museum, ethnic minority youth tried incorporating elements of Chinese traditional culture observed from Chinese ceramics into their traditional art form, Henna. They then served the community by providing free Henna drawings to the public in Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai, aiming to introduce traditional cultures of different places to the public, as well as to promote cultural inclusion in Hong Kong. For participants of the Guide Visits to the M+ Collection, they took part in training on photo shooting and creative works from professionals for before visiting the District. During their visit, they applied what they have learnt and created their own artworks to illustrate the District. Their artworks had also been submitted to the I See ______ in West Kowloon: Photography and Creative Works Competition. Outstanding works were subsequently exhibited in an exhibition in Lam Tin, allowing youth to introduce the District to a wider community in their unique perspectives.

The project had opened a gateway for young people to embrace art and culture, and encouraged them to serve the community. We hope it becomes a nourishing ground for their artistic development which further encourages the youth to unleash their potential and to explore the District as regular visitors in the future!

YMCA Harnessing the Power of Youth Innovation to Create Sustainable Cities

Our YM Volunteer division launched the “YAU Urban Change ‘Transchanging’ Sustainable City” volunteer training programme this year. Running from February to May, volunteers first attended a series of training sessions and then participated in the “Human Library Event” on 6 May, where they shared with members of the general public their efforts and achievements in the various community change projects. Topics included street history, public spaces, recycling, and community greening, among others.

 

A total of 25 young volunteers, aged 15 to 24, were divided into five groups to undergo training and brainstorm community change projects. Then, in February, renowned urban studies scholar Dr Sampson Wong led the volunteers in visiting Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok to observe the city and provide them with a wealth of insights into the urban planning, arts and culture, and history of the areas. Another tour to learn more about the city was led by the Vice-Chair of the Hong Kong Architecture Centre, Ms Sarah Mui Sze-hwa, and its Director, Mr Choi Kit-wang. Through on-site visits and street interviews, they encouraged the volunteers to think more deeply about the pressing issues facing residents and the community. It was our great honour to invite Town Planner Ms Maggie Wu Ho-kei of the Planning Department to be the guest speaker, who was kind enough to share her knowledge and experiences related to urban planning and offer a new perspective on land use in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok. Finally, the five groups of young volunteers were able to put what they had learnt into practice by collectively devising and implementing unique community change projects to improve the neighbourhood.

 

Although the programme has come to an end, we firmly believe that it is also a new beginning. With the effort being put into promoting sustainable development at various levels in the community, we are committed to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all.

 

For more details about the event, please read the full press release.