YMCA 2023 December Perspective
27-12-2023
Cover StoryYMCA is awarded again for our Environmental, Social and
Governance (ESG) Impact report
Following YMCA’s consecutive second-year winning of the “Platinum Award for Outstanding ESG - NGO/NPO” in the “ESG Achievement Awards 2022/2023” organised by the Institute of ESG & Benchmark in recognition of our efforts in the implementation of ESG, we also received the “Best Sustainability Report for Non-listed Company Commendation” in the Hong Kong ESG Reporting Awards (HERA), reflecting recognition for our performance in the realm of sustainable development. Additionally, we were recently awarded for the first time the "ESG Special Recognition Award" at the "TVB ESG Awards 2023”, a testament to our commitment to promoting sustainable development in Hong Kong society alongside various stakeholders and corporations.
YMCA introduced the ESG concept in 2019, committed to providing social services guided by ESG principles to have a positive impact on the community and respond to current issues related to sustainable development such as climate change and ageing population.
Climate Change
The issue of climate change is pressing. To create a better environment for our future generations, YMCA is committed to constructing a sustainable community to promote the well-being, growth, and development of young people. For example, in pursuit of establishing green and sustainable future communities, we have engaged in a collaborative effort with Y-Care corporate partner - ARUP, a global built environment consulting firm, a collaboration that has enabled corporate volunteers, alongside university and high school students, to come together and address urban development challenges through the application of design thinking.
Mental Health and Ageing Population
Given the intense social pace and the post-pandemic effects in Hong Kong, many individuals experience varying degrees of psychological and physiological issues. Our social service units, including schools, recreation and sports centres, professional therapy, hostels and campsites, etc., aim to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual health of service users through gospel sharing, counselling, and recreational activities, while also enhancing their confidence, resilience, ability to recover, and emotional stability when facing adversities and challenges. With the ageing population trend becoming a major public concern in Hong Kong, our elderly service units actively promote various sports suitable for the elderly and provide them with activities to express their emotions, with the goal of not only caring for their physical well-being but also improving their mental and emotional health, so as to enable them to continue contributing to society and enriching their complete physical, mental, and spiritual vitality.
Sustainable Development of the Community
With the continuous decline of the youth population in recent years, nurturing the health and productivity of the new generation has become especially important in promoting and maintaining the sustainable development of our future society. In light of this, the YMCA has been vigorously promoting STEAM education to improve students' soft skills as well as their academic performance. For instance, the Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School has recently added physical computer flight simulation facilities and small aircraft cabins, to complement the aviation programme which has been integrated into the regular STEM curriculum to create an environment and atmosphere conducive to scientific research and popular science within the campus.
Furthermore, since 2015, YMCA has continually established inclusive partnerships fostering integration between the business and social welfare sectors with over 100 corporations through the 'Y-Care CSR Scheme'. We encourage corporate employees to participate in volunteer activities, giving back to society and thereby promoting corporate social responsibility and building a sustainable community.
Through our efforts in the areas of health, physical and mental development, education and employment services, we provide a wide range of services aimed at improving the physiological health, emotional balance, and resilience of our service users in the face of adversity, as well as enhancing their leadership and social skills, and increasing their sense of belonging to the community. By participating in our activities, members have already joined together to advance ESG initiatives, working alongside us to construct a better community for the future.
Please click here for more information about The 2021-2022 ESG Impact Report | Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong
What's NewsThe Cityview Donated Homemade Scones for Charity Sale
On 4 November, pastry chefs from The Cityview prepared 1,000 mini scones to support the “Sandy Bay Charity Fair at DKCH (The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital)” organised by The Society for the Relief of Disabled Children - SRDC, Hong Kong. The proceeds from the event would sponsor the upgrading of medical facilities at the hospital, enabling all participants to relish in culinary delights while contributing to a good cause, thereby enriching the event with a deeper, more varied significance!
YMCA Peace Day
In response to World Alliance of YMCAs Peace Day 2023, the Love and Peace Action Working Group held 'Peace Day 2023' on 18 November with the theme of 'War and Peace.' Led by volunteers from the Vietnam Service Exchange Group, 56 students from the Chinese Y.M.C.A. Primary School were introduced to the impacts of war through immersive experiences, singing peace songs, painting, and guided exhibition tours. The service group also shared insights from their experiences, spreading a message of peace.
Featured ProgrammeSunday's free go-to place: YM Chill Day
"The Body, Mind and Soul Work Group will hold the "YM Chill Day" on 14 January 2024 (Sunday). It aims to create a comfortable and interactive space for all to enjoy fun activities and interactive experiences that nourish body, mind, and spiritual health!
The "YM Chill Day' will bring together a handicraft market, free YMCA workshops, art workshops, sports trial classes and a designated children's play area. There will be fun activities such as hand-brewed coffee, hand-painted Henna patterns, yoga, comprehensive myofascial relaxation, trampolines for children, balance bikes, and other activities. People of all ages or whole families are welcome to join and enjoy a day of enhancing body, mind, and spiritual health!
Date: 14 January 2024 (Sunday)
Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: YMCA Kowloon Centre
23 Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
(Exit D of Yau Ma Tei Station).
*Free entry, with many free activities!
Event details: https://www.ymca.org.hk/zh-hant/R-Day
Bridges Street Heritage New Year Guided Tour
In October 2023, the government declared the Chinese YMCA Bridges Street Centre as a statutory monument according to the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. In order to allow the public to appreciate the century-old architectural history and learn more about the services of the YMCA, a New Year guided tour of the heritage site is now being organised. The tour will include an introduction to the Chinese YMCA Bridges Street Centre, the first indoor swimming pool with provision of both cool and warm water in Hong Kong, and the only remaining century-old, cantilever-supported wooden wok-shaped running track, the grand hall where the renowned literary figure Mr Lu Xun delivered his speeches, the indoor fireplace, the cornerstone, and the monuments of donations made by various merchants and dignitaries, etc. It will also introduce the building which is made of fair-faced red bricks and concrete with a design that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles
Activity content: The guided tour will be led and narrated by professionals, allowing participants to get up close with the facilities that have been in use for over a century, review the history of Bridges Street Centre, and gain insight into the evolution of the services provided by the YMCA. The entire activity will last about 45 minutes.
Date: 21 January 2024 (Sunday)
Number of participants: 15-20 people
Fee: Free
(participants will receive a commemorative fridge magnet from the Bridges Street Centre after the tour)
Registration: Register in person at Bridges Street Centre or click this link https://bit.ly/3GSjxgB
Registration deadline: 7 January 2024 (Sunday)
Online registration tutorial: https://shorturl.at/elvAL
Enquiry: 2540 0526
Jockey Club Active Elders Programme – “Mindfulness through Sports”
This is a 36-month programme (from October 2023 to September 2026) which aims at encouraging people aged 55 or above to engage in "slow sports" and “mindfulness intervention” methods, coupled with the use of gerontechnology to promote physical, mental, and spiritual health, Participants can also become sports volunteers to help themselves and others.
The first mindfulness through sports activity was held in December 2023, and starting from January 2024, the programme will organise mindful sports training classes regularly on a quarterly basis. The training classes offer a rich variety of content, including slow exercise training, mindfulness introduction and practice, brief health check-ups, and gerontechnology experiences. The sports and experiential sessions in each season vary, including water sports, stretching/fitness/gymnastics, strolling/walking/jogging, sports massage, Tai Chi, yoga, etc.
All activities are free of charge and are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Individuals aged 55 or above are welcome to register.
For details, please refer to the latest announcements on the programme's Facebook page.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulness.sports/
Website：https://sites.google.com/view/mindfulnessthroughsports
Programme Highlight“Activate ART Future” Mind and Body Health Promotion Programme
Funded by the Home Affairs Department and the Kwai Tsing District Youth Development and Civic Education Committee, the New Territories Centre organised the “Activate ART Future” Mind, Body and Spirit market on 12 November.
The event attracted many Kwai Tsing residents and was aimed at enhancing their interest in sports and arts. It also promoted proactive attention to maintaining a balance in their own and others' physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
The programme offered a variety of enriching activities, divided into four main themes, including "Soul Amazing Art Workshop", "Sports for Wellness", "Soul Happy Free Creative Playground" and "Metaverse/VR Experience Zone". The goal was to strengthen the positive development of body, mind, and spirit for all participants, enhancing their resilience to face uncertainties and challenges.
"Listen to S.U.M - Parent-Child Photography Tour"
In light of the widespread 'Sharenting' phenomenon - which refers to the act of parents uploading their children's growth clips or photos on social media and inevitably affecting the intimate parent-child relationship and feelings for their children - the Family Working Group held a two-day and one-night camp activity named "Listen to S.U.M - Parent-Child Photography Tour" at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village from 9 to 10 December.
This event introduced parents and children to the concept of “mindfulness photography”, experiencing photography through the element of mindfulness, enhancing understanding of the five aesthetic elements of mindfulness artistic photography. It encourages parents to listen more to their children's thoughts, creating a treasured moment together while reflecting on the privacy aspects involved. Throughout the event, each family fully immersed themselves in the joy of mindfulness photography, not only mastering new photographic techniques but also learning to listen more deeply to their children's perspectives.
This fostered an improved ability to share their own thoughts, and appreciate other people or things, resulting in a joyful family gathering.
YMCA Wong Yi Chau Youth Camp Open Day
Y’s Men International- YMCA Wong Yi Chau Youth Camp held an open day on 10 December to offer the public a chance to visit the campsite. More than 300 people visited the campsite, experienced the open day and participated in various activities, including zip-lining, mobile rope nets, archery, canoe paddling machine, plank painting, and pizza-making sessions etc.
Participants were highly engaged in all activities, with zip-lining and pizza-making being particularly popular. Everyone actively participated and enjoyed the range of activities prepared for the open day, spending a delightful day full of outdoor fun!
ESG Focus
Ever since 2019, the Association has been actively aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, embracing and implementing sound environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Since 2022, we have also been following “YMCA Vision 2030” to promote sustainability in Hong Kong. In addition to publishing our annual ESG Impact Report, we aim to integrate ESG principles into all aspects of our operations. We will continue to share significant updates regularly with our members in this column.
“Greenovation" - Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village Sustainability Program
The program, in collaboration with global built environment consulting firm Arup, involves the sharing of Arup’s corporate volunteers with students sharing strategies and urban designs for sustainable development, encouraging them to address urban development issues through STEAM education elements and design thinking. The program focuses on the designing theme of a "Liveable City", inviting secondary students to apply design thinking skills to propose a sustainable development plan for the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, which echoes the theme of “Low Carbon Community/Carbon Neutrality”: reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable lifestyles, including strategies such as the use of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, waste reduction, and advocating for sustainable transportation.
Arup's corporate volunteers also serve as mentors in the program, sharing industry knowledge with students. Additionally, students from various institutions including the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Education University of Hong Kong act as “peer mentors”, providing guidance and support to the secondary school students in the role of peers together with the corporate volunteers.
One of the activities of this program was a day camp held on 25 November at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, which included an urban development and sustainability workshop, a guided campsite tour, a design thinking workshop, and an exchange session where corporate volunteers and participating students shared industry information and interacted.
PAIN Kick Zone
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 www.ymca.org.hk/hcp or call 2783 3616 for inquiries.
Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a common ankle problem. The tibialis posterior muscle, extending from the lower leg, through the medial longitudinal arch and attaching to the bones on the inner side of the foot, is primarily responsible for maintaining the shape of the medial longitudinal arch.
When we do repetitive high-intensity exercise, the tibialis posterior tendon can be overly stretched, leading to inflammation or tears on the tendons and consequently failing to support the medial longitudinal arch. How do we know if we suffer from this dysfunction? Common symptoms include pain on the inner side of the foot and exacerbated pain after intense exercise. Here we introduce a strengthening exercise that strengthens the muscles on the inside of the foot to help support the medial longitudinal arch, thereby alleviating the burden and aiding recovery.
Towel scrunch
- Sit on a chair, place a towel under your feet
- Curl your toes and grab the towel
- Maintain the grip for 3 seconds
- Then relax your toes (as shown in the illustration on the left)
- Perform this once daily, completing 8-10 repetitions in 3 sets
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