YMCA 2022 March Perspective
29-03-2022
Cover Story
Supporting You Through the Pandemic – The YMCA is Online and Offline!
Our upgraded “anti-epidemic web page”
Covid-19 once again has Hong Kong in its grip. This disease continues to have enormous impacts on the lives of people all across our city. To promote health and safety to our community, the Association recently launched an upgraded version of our “anti-epidemic web page”, integrating a platform that provides diversified and useful content for those who are confined under home quarantine. The content aims to help people strengthen their overall wellbeing during this challenging period and create public unity so that we can all fight the pandemic together.
Comprehensive wellbeing and practical disease prevention information
The upgraded page features eight elements:
(1) Disease prevention information
In order to provide practical, useful, accurate, up-to-date, and safe pandemic-related information to the public, the Association gathers information and suggestions on disease prevention from experts and the medical community. The pages also link to the relevant government websites so as to offer real-time information about the progress of the pandemic in Hong Kong.
(2) YMCA online events listings
Despite the current restrictions in place, the Association continues to interact with the public and offer a diversity of free online activities for people of all different ages. Some activities that have space quotas require advance registration, while others are held regularly. Everyone is welcome to participate, as the YMCA wants to support all of Hong Kong as we battle this epidemic together.
(3) Facing the pandemic with faith, hope and love
During this difficult time, we believe that prayer and meditation will help us bless and care for the world. The platform shares different methods of relieving stress and encourages making time for gratitude during the epidemic. It also explains how, if you are in quarantine, you can find opportunities to organise your thoughts as a way to decompress and get to know yourself better.
(4) Fighting the pandemic with our partners
Covid-19 is ruthless, yet in Hong Kong, love and care persist. At this time, grassroots groups are the most in need and the Association is keen to help them in partnership with businesses and other organisations. Through this platform, we invite enterprises and organisations to join hands with us and provide aid and donations to disadvantaged groups across the city. If you or your organisation can make a contribution, please contact us through the online form in the page.
(5) Providing emotional support
The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong’s Counselling Unit has prepared a series of emotional counselling pages with information to help relieve pressures caused by the pandemic. The Association has set up a new dedicated email address and helpline for people in need of emotional support, helping people express and discuss their feelings with professionals.
(6) Home workouts and fitness tips
While people are forced to stay home and study and work remotely, there is a persistent risk that they will not have sufficient daily physical activity – something which increases health risks. The Association’s Sports and Recreation Unit offers fitness tips on the platform, providing online workout videos and sharing exercise and fitness tips that allow people to stay healthy even when indoors.
(7) Volunteer services
The Association’s YM Volunteer programme encourages everyone to find ways to serve the community in different ways during the pandemic. Interested parties are welcome to sign up on the webpage. As volunteer opportunities will come up from time to time, please check back frequently!
(8) YM eConnect
Want to renew your membership or sign up for an event without leaving home? YMCA members now can renew memberships, register for activities and perform other functions through the YM eConnect membership and volunteer online system.
Partnering with powerful network to offer anti-epidemic assistance
Partnering with old and new friends to offer anti-epidemic assistance
Earlier this month, the Association received 200,000 rapid Covid-19 tests – SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen detection kits – donated by Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited. These test kits have been distributed to our childcare service centres, elderly and rehabilitation centres, schools, and campsites; benefitting an estimated 12,000 families.
The Siu Sai Wan Centre also received a grant of HK$100,000 from the Hong Kong Jockey Club to purchase such anti-epidemic materials as rapid antigen test kits, hand sanitiser and masks for grassroots and ethnic minority families. These items are expected to benefit 3,000 Chai Wan residents.
In addition, the Association has also received donations of pulse oximeters, rapid antigen test kits, antipyretic tablets, hand sanitiser, masks, canned food, and other items from enthusiastic organisations and members of the public, including Y's Men's Club of Hong Kong; Ms Chan Yee Man, the Deputy District Governor of the Y's Men International Hong Kong District; the Lions Club of The New Territories, Hong Kong; and Mr Sze Tak Yuen. All these donated items have been given to elderly people living alone, and ethnic minority and grass-roots families. We express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have made donations.
What’s News
GOFA Fitness 30-day free trial for members!
Staying physically active and maintaining regular exercise habits is important, especially during the pandemic. GOFA Fitness, an AI-powered audio and video-based home workout smartphone application, is continuing and deepening their collaboration with the Association, offering a 30-day free trial code for our members. Members just need to download the GOFA Fitness app and enter the discount code “GOFASUPPORT” to gain access to a large number of AI-based workouts, including yoga, Pilates and other types of exercises that can be done at home for free. GOFA Fitness is also about to launch a Fitness Challenge, where users can work out online with friends and relatives through professional sports programmes. Please click here for details. For inquiries call 2705 2725.
Opening our campsites as short-term accommodation for care home staff
Three of our campsites, Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Lions-YMCA Junk Bay Youth Camp and the Y's Men-YMCA Wong Yi Chau Youth Camp, are now open to staff working in residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities. These can be rented as temporary short-term accommodation, and over 250 places are available. This initiative aims to quickly provide suitable accommodation for staff who are taking care of the elderly and people with disabilities. Interested parties or people with enquiries can contact the main camp office at 2642 9420.
Highlights of Our Activities
“YMCA x Tencent Technology Open Online Course”
The fifth wave of the epidemic has greatly affected daily life in Hong Kong, particularly the lives of primary and secondary school students, who have been unable to learn in a face-to-face environment and have had most of their extra-curricular activities cancelled. Earlier in March, Tencent Holdings Limited and the Association jointly organised the “YMCA x Tencent Technology Open Online Course”, offering free courses for about 40 primary and secondary school students at Association schools. The course covers four major topics: Artificial intelligence research, product planning, exploring the operational creativity of Internet products, and “The Wonderful World of Programming”. The ultimate aim of the course was to enhance students' interest in science and technology and maintain their motivation to learn during the pandemic.
Course selection
YMCA Counselling Unit x Mindful Joyful Living
The first module of this course focuses on mindful, joyful and nonviolent communication. The course combines the concepts of nonviolent communication with “mindful joyfulness”, aiming to help participants to master basic theoretical and practical methods to move them from a state of “unconscious reaction” to “conscious response” in a comprehensive and systematic way. We hope that the course will help the participants build a life of mindfulness and joy, helping them heal, transform their minds and improve their ability to communicate.
After completing modules 1 and 2 of the course, students can then enrol in a mentor course, which is designed for those wishing to become certified trainers in International Nonviolent Communication.
Date and time:
Date: 8/7 - 29/7/2022 and 12/8 - 2/9/2022 (Fridays, 8 days in total)
Time: 09:30 to 13:00 (28 hours in total)
Venue: 8/F, Chung Kiu Commercial Building 47-51 Shan Tung Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Language: Cantonese and English (with Cantonese translation)
Target participants: Social workers, teachers, counsellors, clergy, leaders, parents, psychotherapists, helpers, and anyone else who is interested!
Course fees: Original price – HK$7,000 (*early bird discount – HK$6,800)
*Discount is available to those who complete registration and payment on or before 8 June 2022
For more information, please click here
For enquiries, call 2332 4899 (Mr Ma)
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