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Sichuan: what to do next
Federation social workers who came back from Minyang gave graphic accounts of terrible devastation and a million or more displaced people living in makeshift tents. Everyone wants to help but although temporary housing is going up it could be many years before permanent reconstruction takes place. For some villages it may never happen. Meantime psychological trauma takes long term toll on the victims.

The urgent question is how to facilitate sustained efforts by social workers and volunteers, well equipped with the guidelines and skills they need to work with the people in shelters and temporary housing areas.
Disaster relief tent

An expert team including a member of Federation staff has recommended a 3-year plan to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau. HKFYG social workers would like to work with their Shanghai counterparts, using manuals that we are compiling on psychological support services, counselling, life skills, community services, volunteer training and management. These skills will be transferred to frontline workers who can speak the local Sichuanese dialects, offering practical advice, guidance and comfort to those in need.

We need your help and support for this essential follow-up action. Please contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7100 and offer what you can.
Thank you partners
Thank You, Partners

Enroll now for HKFYG．Mission Hills Youth Golf Camp 2008
Sponsored by and co-presented with Mission Hills Golf Club, the programme on 23-24 July 2008 will give youngsters aged 11-17 the exclusive chance to play and learn golf etiquette at one of the largest golf clubs in the world. Instructed by a team of renowned professional instructors led by Cindy Reid, they will learn about putting and pitching on the driving ranges, golf equipment, good manners and terminology. Enrolment forms at http://syp.u21.hk/theme_golf_camp. Contact Marian or Katie, tel 3755 7072.

Sincere thanks are due to the Sony Corporation of Hong Kong Ltd and Hung Hing Ying Scholarship/Bursaries (孔慶熒獎助學金) for their generous sponsorship of the Youth Arts Festival in Tin Shui Wai this summer. Activities for over 2,000 youngsters will include training workshops in drama, dancing and singing and culminate in a performance with 200 youth of the Broadway musical The Wizard of Oz on 20-21 September at the Yuen Long Theatre. Contact Bonnie 3755 7100 for more details.

 A Night at the Pawn: Charity Dinner & Cocktail Party Saturday 14 June 2008, 9:00 pm at The Pawn, 60-66 Johnston Road, Wanchai. Dinner by invitation, cocktail party $1,000 per admission. Thank you to all our generous sponsors and partners of the event in aid of Dragon Foundation flagship programmes. Visit www.dragonfoundation.net for more info or phone 2811 2779.
  
The Community Chest has passed on 250 free tickets to HKFYG Youth SPOTs from Ocean Park. This means that deprived children and youth from low-income families can have some fun as well as an educational experience at the theme park this June. Contact Ada, tel 3755 7102 for more details.

Software from Microsoft via TechDonation
New initiatives such as the Federation's youth social enterprise, Project Rebook and HKFYG Youth SPOTs that have upgraded their hardware recently, will be benefiting from discounted software from Microsoft. Programmes such as Microsoft Office and Visual Studio are available to eligible HK NGOs through the TechDonation programme organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. Visit www.techdonation.org.hk for information or contact HKFYG's Joe Yau, tel 3755 7061.

Three new membership benefits for u21 youthnet members
LS Folio Ltd has donated sample copies of the March issue of Animal Lovers magazine to every HKFYG Youth S.P.O.T introducing their publication to u21 youthnet members. Super Star Group is offering discounts for graduation banquets in any Super Star Seafood Restaurant (鴻星海鮮酒家), Dining Fine (嚼江南) or Bay Phoon Town (周記避風塘) restaurant, and discounts on Super Star Group cooking classes, from now until 31 August. Visit http://www.u21.hk/youthnet/premium/superstarrest/superstar_2008.html for details. Time Development Optical Centre is giving discounts till 31 March 2009 for eye tests and prescription lenses (excluding contact lenses). Visit http://www.u21.hk/youthnet/premium/dco/ for details and contact Marian, tel 3755 7072 with general enquiries.

Last chance for Famous Amos cookies
Famous Amos, the cookie maker, will give takings from its Father's Day charity sale of cookies for HKFYG's Flag Day. You can add your own support while making a special gift to dad. Funds raised will pay for extra tutoring and sports training for kids from low-income families. Contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101 and visit here to read about how to order.
HKOMP
What's new
Earthquake donation appeal
Nearly HK$450,000 was donated by young people in HKFYG's Sichuan earthquake donation campaign. All of them gave at least $20 at Youth SPOTs, schools, units and offices to help the victims of the disaster. Heartfelt thanks to all of them. Contact Katie, tel 3755 7076 or visit www.u21.hk/earthquake for more details of this multi-organization effort which was co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Summer Action 08
 The HKFYG summer programme has over 3,500 activities including an English Drama Training Competition, an exchange tour to Huangzhou and Olympics-related events to keep Hong Kong youth, busy, energetic, happy and healthy throughout the summer.
Visit www.u21.hk or phone 3755 7072, email info@u21.hk for details and a free copy of the programme.

60 bright young leaders are going to Geneva and New York this month on the Dragon Foundation 5th Global Citizenship Programme. The 2008 programme theme is ethical interdependence and the tours will include visits to non-government and international organizations. Many thanks to Ms Shelley Lee and Mrs Fanny Law for being delegation leaders in Geneva and New York.
Visit www.dragonfoundation.net for more details or phone 2811 2779.
Just published
Findings of the HKFYG phone poll survey, Youth Poll Series no 172, Reforming the Healthcare System: Are Young People Ready? were released last week. They showed:
78% would choose voluntary health insurance as their preferred option
70% were also in favour of out-of-pocket payments
57% favoured specific healthcare tax payments
50% thought healthcare reform was needed urgently
56% agreed with the concept of the public financing public healthcare

The survey of 514 young people aged 18-34 took place between 17 April and 26 May. Figures for those in favour of public contributions to healthcare are up compared to the 2001 HKFYG survey on this subject when only 48% were in favour. Those with private health insurance were also up, from 37% in 2001 to over 50% this year. Respondents gave HK's healthcare services a rating of 6 out of 10 and over 60% said they would make their own provision for medical care in old age. Visit these links for the Chinese press release: http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/chinese/yr-p172c.html & http://u21.hk/press/research/2008_06_03.html
HKFYG Building in North Point has service facilities such as multi-function halls, an auditorium, board room, theatre and meeting rooms available for rent. Click here for more details or contact Lillian, tel 3755 7098/7099 to make enquiries about booking and hire rates. HKFYG Building
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