With the busy schedules of Hong Kong people, dining may be the rare chance to communicate with family members to show their love and care. So that’s where the Happy Family Kitchen comes in, a project funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in collaboration with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) and the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong, aiming to encourage people to treasure the cooking and dining time with their family members for enhancing their communications.
Following the success of the project launched in Yuen Long in 2010, the project has been extended to Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing Districts. Today (20 October), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So joined Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung, HKCSS Chief Executive Christine Fang, FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor TH Lam together with celebrities Jerry Lam and Lily Hong to attend the project’s public education event at the Citywalk in Tsuen Wan.
Mr So noted that surveys revealed that Hong Kong has the longest working hours among Asian cities, with people spending more time in their workplace than at home. “One way of overcoming this problem is this Happy Family Kitchen project which, like in Yuen Long District, can help residents in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing appreciate and treasure communicating with their family members during cooking and dining time.”
Happy Family Kitchen is a family-based, public health-focused project supported by evidence-based scientific research conducted by local community groups, welfare and academic sectors. Social workers and teachers from 21 service units and 20 secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens will join hands to introduce the “Five-Taste Model” which comprises “Eat happily”, “Eat with flow”, “Eat with gratitude and praise”, “Eat healthily” and “Eat enjoyably”. They will also promote the message of family health, happiness and harmony (3Hs) to residents and students through various activities, serving 1,000 families in the districts.
In addition, the project team will distribute 15,000 copies of Happy Family Cookbook to residents and will share the practice manual with frontline social workers to promote the Happy Family Kitchen messages and skills to a wider community.
Two weeks earlier, a musical created by talented youngsters and their families premiered as part of the 3Hs Family Drama project, also held under the auspices of the FAMILY Project. It aims to promote bonding and positive communication among school children and their parents, and bring family members together to build a healthier, happier and more harmonious family. After the premiere, the musical will be brought to one hundred primary schools across the territory to further spread these messages.
FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society is a citywide project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with HK$250 million funding, in collaboration with the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong. The project aims to identify the sources of family problems, devise suitable preventive measures and promote the “3Hs” through a citywide household survey, intervention projects and public education programmes. Further details of FAMILY are available at www.family.org.hk.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.7 billion in 2012. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$16 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So, says the Happy Family Kitchen project which, like in Yuen Long District, can help residents in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing appreciate and treasure communicating with their family members during cooking and dining time.
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Photos 2, 3
The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd left), Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung (2nd left), HKCSS Chief Executive Christine Fang (1st left), FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor TH Lam (3rd right), celebrities Jerry Lam (1st right) and Lily Hong (2nd right) attend the Happy Family Kitchen Project Public Education Event.
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Officiating guests pictured with representatives of participating organisations and schools.
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Celebrities Jerry Lam and Lily Hong play games with the audience and share their ways of developing a happy family.
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Photos 6, 7
The public learns more about the Happy Family Kitchen project through thematic mini-games at the public education event.
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