The Social Innovation Festival “10DAYFEST”, an annual signature event of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was opened today (9 October) followed by a Festival Vernissage: Social Gastronomy.
A group of 28 “Honourable Chefs” including the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung joined Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing, and PolyU President Professor Timothy Tong, together with 28 celebrity chefs and 28 low-income families to prepare a feast using surplus fresh food. It aimed to raise public awareness of reducing food waste and highlight the importance of social innovation in managing surplus fresh food and reducing wastage.
Speaking at the event, Mr Cheung said the Club would be marking its 130th Anniversary by seeking further ways of contributing to the community’s long-term sustainability. In the coming three to five years, the Club would have three overarching themes, strategically focusing on the areas that could help build Hong Kong into an age-friendly city, channel youth energy into social innovation, and support sports projects that could create lifelong positive values and hopes.
He also said that the Festival was one of the signature events of the JCDISI. Through supporting this Festival, the Club hoped to encourage creativity that could improve the well-being and quality of life of the community and drive public engagement and interest in design and social innovation, so as to bring positive impact to social issues.
This year’s 10DAYFEST features a variety of exhibitions, workshops, movie screenings, seminars, and lectures under the theme of “design and society”. Events will enable the community to not only learn what social innovation is, but also co-create and share ideas with local and international designers, political and financial leaders, academics and other professionals to strive for new perspectives and positive change, echoing the festival tagline: “Social Innovation – Be A Practical Dreamer”.
From 10-19 October, visitors to the exhibition gallery in the Jockey Club Innovation Tower will be able to see the finalist entries in the Design for Well-being Award, also funded by the Club’s Charities Trust. The award is aimed at acknowledging, celebrating, promoting and inspiring creative solutions that improve well-being and healthy living in contemporary Asian and Western Pacific cities. The winners will be announced at the gala dinner of the 6th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities on 29 October.
As one of the long-term partners of PolyU, the Trust has donated over HK$527 million to the University, including HK$249 million for the construction of Innovation Tower and establishment of JCDISI, plus three years of its operational costs.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung (2nd right) pictured with Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing (3rd left), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University President Professor Timothy Tong (3rd right), The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Vice Chairman Joseph Lee (2nd left), School of Design Dean Professor Cees de Bont (1st right) and JCDISI Director Alvin Yip (1st left).
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Photos 2/3:
The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung (centre) uses surplus fresh food to prepare a spicy chicken dish with celebrity chef Jacky Yu (right) and Chan Qin-yan (left) who is from a low-income family.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung (2nd right) pictured with Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing (1st right), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University President Professor Timothy Tong (1st left), celebrity chef Jacky Yu (centre) and Chan Qin-yan (2nd left) who is from a low-income family.
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