YMCA 2024 September Perspective
24-09-2024
Cover Story
"MASTER PEACE Knitting" for Inner Peace
In response to the "Culture of Peace" advocated by the United Nations, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (YMCA) has launched "A Culture of Peace Campaign" since 2007 and celebrated the third Saturday of November every year as our "Peace Day", with a view to spreading the message of love and peace to the public through different activities and events.
The activity is divided into two parts, and we are currently recruiting members aged 10 to 24 to participate. Details are as follows:
Part I: Finger Knitting Workshop
Description: Learn how to knit a cushion with fingers (the knitted work will be given to the participants as a souvenir), and notes on visiting.
Date: September to November 2024
Time: 2 hours per session
Venue: Youth service units
For workshop details, please refer to the event webpage.
Part II: "Peace Day" Group Knitting and Visiting Activities
Description: Participants of the "Finger Knitting Workshop" will join a knitting activity at The ONE, Tsim Sha Tsui, and knit a "Peace Cushion" with their fingers on the spot. Participants will visit different districts in Hong Kong to give away the "Peace Cushion" and charity bags to the disadvantaged groups.
Date: 16 November 2024 (Sat)
Time: 14:00 - 18:00
Venue: The ONE Atrium UG2, Tsim Sha Tsui and all districts in Hong Kong
Target: Members aged 10-24, Participants must have attended the first part of the "Finger Knitting Workshop".
Target: members aged 10-24
Registration is free, sign up now!
Details of the events and register: https://www.ymca.org.hk/peaceday2024
Enquiries: 2705 2837 (YMCA International and Mainland Affairs Section)
Featured Programme
"Colour in Future's Dream" Parent-Child Colouring Contest
In October, YMCA will launch a family membership campaign - all new or renewing family members from October to November will be entitled to participate in the free "Colour in Future's Dream" Parent-Child Colouring Contest. Themed on the four pillars of the "YMCA Vision 2030", the event encourages children to express their future aspirations through colouring, while parents can educate their children on how to achieve a positive life and sustainable development. Let's paint a world full of hope, peace and harmony, and sustainable development.
Target: New or renewed family members from October to November.
Group: Junior (3-7 years old) and Senior (8-12 years old)
Deadline: 6 December at 6:00pm
Prize: There will be three prizes for champion, first runner-up and second runner-up, and 5 merit awards for each of the two groups as follows:
- Champion will receive a book coupon worth HK$1,000 and a certificate of merit.
- The first runner-up will receive a book coupon worth HK$800 and a certificate of merit.
- The second runner-up will receive a book coupon worth HK$500 and a certificate of merit.
- Five merit award winners will receive a book coupon worth HK$200 and a certificate of merit.
Successful applicants will be entitled to a gift on a first-come-first-served basis while stock lasts.
Results Announcement:
The results and winners will be announced in early January 2025 on the website of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, and the winners will be notified by mail to collect their prizes.
Details of the event: https://www.ymca.org.hk/coloringcontest24
What's News
The Harbourview and The Cityview receive the BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards
As part of our commitment to green and sustainable development, our two hostels' have been awarded the BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards by Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) this year. The Harbourview and The Cityview have been once again awarded the "BOCHK Corporate Low-Carbon Environmental Leadership Awards 2023 - EcoPartner" by FHKI again.
Respectively, The Harbourview has been awarded the "5 Years+ EcoPioneer Logo", while The Cityview has been awarded the "3 Years+ EcoPioneer Logo", in recognition of the hostels' dedication to the support of environmental protection and carbon reduction, and the corporate social responsibility to assist Hong Kong towards carbon neutrality over the years.
Wu Kwai Sha Youth Leadership and Wholistic Development Centre Basketball Team receives multiple awards
We would like to congratulate the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Leadership and Wholistic Development Centre Basketball Team for their outstanding performance in various basketball competitions in Hong Kong under the leadership of their coaches, and for winning the following awards.
- Participated in the MOS Summer League 2024 organised by The Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong from July to August 2024, and won the third place in Boys' Age 23 or below division (M23).
- Participated in the “18 Districts 3-on-3 Basketball Championships” jointly organised by Yuen Long Sports Association, North District Sports Association and Tuen Mun Sports Association on 18 August 2024, and won the champion in Girls' Age 17 or below division (F17).
- Participated in the 3-on-3 basketball competition organised by The Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong on 21 and 28 August 2024 and won the third runner-up in Boys' Age 16 or below division (M16) cup and the champion of the plate tournament.
- Participated in the Summer Basketball Challenge 2024 organised by Kowloon Centre on 25 August 2024, and won the champion and the first runner-up in Boys U16, champion in Boys U12, champion in Boys U9, and champion and the third runner-up in Girls U12.
Programme Higlights
賽馬會青年共遊系列 “The Year of Go! 「Play and Go 難我不倒」
Sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, organised by YMCA and fully supported by Commercial Radio Hong Kong, “The Year of Go!「Play and Go 難我不倒」”was successfully held on 1 September 2024 at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village. A total of 300 secondary school students aged between 12 and 17 took part in the programme, and worked together to complete various adventure games and overcome every obstacle in preparation for the start of the school year.
The event was joined by Dr. Jim Hui, the Assistant General Secretary of YMCA; Mr. Li Kai Hung, the Coordinating Secretary of YMCA; and Amber Au, the Director of Commercial Radio 903. Singers and groups such as Dear Jane, Kiri T, P1X3L, FOOLYA and Yan Ting Chow were also invited to participate in a series of adventure games as "Star Pals". Under the sunny sky, students travelled to different corners of the camp, breaking sweat and joining hands to take part in various challenges. The "Star Pals" even sang songs to cheer up the students, encouraging them to embrace positive energy and work together to overcome difficulties, so that they can embark on the new school year in good spirits.
For more information, please visit the event's social media platform on Instagram: ymca.goadventure.
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Greater Bay Area Opportunities Explorer Tour 2024
With funding support from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, our Career Planning Support Service Scheme organised the “Greater Bay Area Opportunities Explorer Tour 2024” from 19 to 22 August 2024, leading a group of 18 senior secondary school students to Guangzhou and Nansha to explore opportunities for further studies and employment in mainland China.
The programme was joined by Professor Xia Shaoqiong of School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, in the "OH Cards Workshop on Youth Career Planning" who explored the inner world with students and enhancing their self-knowledge. Hong Kong youths who have started up their own businesses in the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong students studying at the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jinan University shared their further education experiences in mainland China and the development opportunities in the region. The programme also included visits to the China Hotel, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Guangdong) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Incubation Base, the Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center and Nansha Innovation Bay, and hands-on experience with unmanned vehicles. During the 4-day and 3-night exchange programme, the participating students expressed great appreciation for the benefits they gained from the programme. Not only did they witness the rapid development of the country and the rapid advancement of technology, but they were also able to exchange views with Hong Kong students, professors and business entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area and learnt about the opportunities for further education and career development in the region, which helped broaden their horizons and supported their future planning.
Tsuen Wan Care with Heart Scheme - Mental Health Exchange Programme in Fiji
In collaboration with the YMCA Fiji, Tsuen Wan Centre organised the " Tsuen Wan Care with Heart Scheme - Mental Health Exchange Programme in Fiji" from 15 to 22 July 2024, leading seven students from three secondary schools in Tsuen Wan District to Fiji for an exchange programme. As Fiji was once regarded as one of the happiest countries in the world, the exchange programme aimed to explore the definition of happiness and gratitude in today's society. Participants were not only given the opportunity to discuss with local psychologists and young people about their concepts of mental health and their living conditions, but also stayed in a local village to experience life with local host families and villagers, where they were able to immerse themselves in harmony with nature.
Apart from feeling the power of gratitude and mutual love of the local villagers, the participants also gained a deep sense of contentment that transcends materialism and treasures what they have around them. They shared that the programme helped them step out of their comfort zones and redefine happiness in their daily lives with a strong and optimistic attitude.
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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.
Is shoulder impingement the same as "frozen shoulder"? The exercise approach can differ between the two!
Shoulder pain is a common complaint seen in clinical settings. Amongst shoulder pathologies, “shoulder impingement” and “frozen shoulder” are separate diseases often confused by the general public. Shoulder impingement refers to the increased compression or rubbing of muscles against bones due to shoulder joint space narrowing, whereas “frozen shoulder” describes the thickening of the shoulder joint, which can be thought of “gluing” the joint capsule itself and this adhesion limits the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder.
How to differentiate between “frozen shoulder” and shoulder impingement?
Shoulder impingement patients often complain of pain when raising the shoulder to a certain degree（as shown in picture 1）, i.e. “painful arc”, provoked by movement. However, frozen shoulder patients may suffer from moving the shoulder in any direction from initial position due to pain. Exercise approach of shoulder impingement focuses on strengthening muscles, while frozen shoulder focuses on joint stretching.
(Picture 1)
How to improve shoulder impingement and reduce reoccurrence risk?
The common causes of shoulder impingement could be overuse, muscle weakness around the shoulder, or poor posture. After the pain is relieved, let’s try this common physiotherapy exercise to treat shoulder impingement!
Rotator cuffs exercise: External rotation with theraband
- Prepare a Theraband and tie it with your palms, raise your elbow by side to 90-degrees. (as shown in Picture 2)
- Slowly pull the Theraband outward (Forearm rotate away from body), until forearm is pointing totally outward or at pain limited range. Squeeze the scapulas together and make sure the forearms are tucked in. (as shown in Picture 3)
- Slowly bring it back to starting position
- Repeat this movement for 10 reps per set, rest for 1-2 min, and repeat 2 more sets, perform this exercise 3 times per week.
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| (Picture 2) | (Picture 3) |
Discovering YMCA Channel
Y-Care CSR Scheme & Sport-Friendly Action Award Presentation
＊Some of the activities were subsidised by the Social Welfare Department
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