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Jockey Club-funded youth scheme to be extended at community level

12/17/2012

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust announced today (17 December) that it will extend “P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme” to the wider community from 2013 to 2015 with the partnership of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across the city.  The extended programme is expected to help 84,000 young people face challenges encountered along the road to adulthood.  P.A.T.H.S. Principal Investigator Professor Daniel Shek unveiled the details at a press briefing today.

Professor Shek said that with the Trust’s continuous support, about 213,000 students from more than 280 local mainstream and special secondary schools had participated in the programme since 2005, and over 7,000 teachers and social workers had received training on P.A.T.H.S. topics.  Students who joined the school-based programme commended its positive impact on their personal growth and said they had made better progress in developing positive attributes such as resilience and overall competence.

Shek also told the media that P.A.T.H.S. had gained both local support and international recognition.  The project was listed as one of the city's important youth enhancement programmes by the HKSAR Government, and had been adapted and implemented in Shanghai, Macau and Singapore.  In addition, the findings of a P.A.T.H.S. five-year survey were published last year in The Scientific World Journal, an internationally-respected resource.  P.A.T.H.S. was also listed as an effective programme in a recent issue of The Lancet.

Although more than half of Hong Kong's secondary schools have now joined P.A.T.H.S., students of non-participating schools have yet to be reached by the team, Professor Shek observed.  “We are therefore delighted to launch a three-year community-based programme with the Jockey Club’s support.  Through collaboration with NGOs in all districts, a maximum of 70 community projects will be implemented, which are expected to benefit 84,000 young people in the next three years.  We hope that more students in the community will benefit from the programme, so as to help them resist temptations and handle challenges.  It will ensure they have positive holistic development, as well as decrease the occurrence of adolescent risk behaviour.”

P.A.T.H.S. trainer Florence Wu, who has taught the programmes for seven years, says she is very supportive of the idea and concept of the project.  She has found that mutual support between students is developed in time through the project, in turn promoting their bonding and social competence.

The P.A.T.H.S. community-based programme comprises two major components.  The first is a training programme based on teaching units of the school-based programme, with at least 10 hours of learning to promote whole-person development in students.  The other is an activity-based programme on positive youth development, with a focus on students' psychosocial competencies, their family life and the promotion of healthy peer relationships.  

In order to continue the project’s anti-drug education efforts, the Club has partnered Radio Television Hong Kong, the Narcotics Division and Wai Yin Association to produce an eight-episode TV series, Drug Battle 2012, which will be broadcast starting from next week. 

P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme was initiated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in 2005, in collaboration with the Government’s Social Welfare Department, Education Bureau and five universities in Hong Kong.  The project is aimed at helping local junior secondary students explore their potential, establish self-identity, foster closer ties with others, and develop positive beliefs and clear values.  Further details of P.A.T.H.S. are available at www.paths.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.

Attachment

Infographics on P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme

Former P.A.T.H.S. participants Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (2nd right), P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (1st left) and Li Po-kay (1st right) share their experiences.
Former P.A.T.H.S. participants Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (2nd right), P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (1st left) and Li Po-kay (1st right) share their experiences.

Former P.A.T.H.S. participants Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (2nd right), P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (1st left) and Li Po-kay (1st right) share their experiences.
Former P.A.T.H.S. participants Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (2nd right), P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (1st left) and Li Po-kay (1st right) share their experiences.

The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (centre), P.A.T.H.S. Principal Investigator Professor Daniel Shek (3rd right), the Cluba£į?s Executive Manager, Charities, Imelda Chan (1st left) with students Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (3rd left), and P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (2nd right) and Li Po-kay (1st right).
The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (centre), P.A.T.H.S. Principal Investigator Professor Daniel Shek (3rd right), the Cluba£į?s Executive Manager, Charities, Imelda Chan (1st left) with students Toto Yeung (2nd left) and Kristy Wong (3rd left), and P.A.T.H.S. trainers Florence Wu (2nd right) and Li Po-kay (1st right).

Students Toto Yeung (left) and Kristy Wong (right) and P.A.T.H.S. trainer Florence Wu (centre).
Students Toto Yeung (left) and Kristy Wong (right) and P.A.T.H.S. trainer Florence Wu (centre).

P.A.T.H.S. had gained both local support and international recognition over the years.
P.A.T.H.S. had gained both local support and international recognition over the years.

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