|
| Is reading a gender issue? |
|
Imagine a young reader settling down with a new book on a rainy afternoon. Is it a girl or a boy? Most of us would say it's a girl. Why is that and where does Hong Kong stand internationally for reading ability?
10 year-old girls and boys in Hong Kong are better readers than their peers worldwide except for Russia, according to a study released late last year,* but the boys still trailed the girls. Statistics are consistent. From the UK to the US, from Kuwait to Singapore, boy readers generally lag behind girls. However, in the US, Hong Kong, and Turkey, boys did better at certain reading tasks in certain grades. The tables could turn as electronic books catch on, given that technology is traditionally seen as a male preserve. But girls are rapidly catching up in that area too.**
|
|
Check out the latest HKFYG poll on Hong Kong youth's reading habits in Just published
*Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS): http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008017.pdf [accessed 26/6/08]
**http://www.computersforschools.co.uk/news.html?id=16 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Thank you partners |
|
eBay joins TVB artistes with online auction power to support HKFYG
HKFYG fundraising goes digital with a 6-month auction campaign that starts on Friday 25 July, thanks to eBay and TVB. A new site is being officially launched at www.ebay.com.hk/charity. There will be monthly auctions of celebs' outfits, props and accessories and proceeds of this multi-phase auction series, hosted by eBay, will go to HKFYG. eBay has raised more than US$100 million for charities worldwide since 2000 and this campaign gives TVB fans a 7/24-hour platform on which to bid for gear from their favourite celebrity and contribute to HKFYG as well. Contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101 for more details.
Hang Seng Bank treats kids from low income families to fun table tennis day
150 underprivileged six to twelve year-olds had a great time on 28 June being coached in table tennis and looked after by over 30 volunteers from Hang Seng Bank's staff. Contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101 for more info.
|
|
Cruise and Learn with Hong Kong Electric
Over 100 underprivileged teenagers from Tseung Kwan O district were the lucky participants in a Hong Kong Electric Company Cruise & Learn community programme earlier this month. They went on a 2-hour cruise with 30 corporate volunteers looking after them on the company's double-decker ferry. First stop was Lamma Power Station where the youngsters learnt about electricity generation in Hong Kong. Then they cruised around the harbour, seeing the city from a new perspective and taking in several landmarks from seaward, including Cyberport, IFC and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Contact Katie, tel 3755 7076, for more details.
Tai chi warm up for the Olympics with aTV and Li Fai
15 July saw over 50 youngsters and 50 seniors, at a primary school in Heng Fa Chuen, learning tai- chi with Hong Kong's well known teacher Li Fai in a lively partnership co-organised with aTV in the run up to the Olympic Games.Contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101 for more details.
Career paths seminar at the Construction Industry Council Training Academy
6 July, 2/F Theatre, Construction Industry Council Training Academy (CICTA), Kowloon Bay Training Centre with Mr. YAN Chi-hung, Vice-chairman, Committee on Home-School Cooperation, Ms HSU Siu-man, Supervisor, HKFYG and 2 CICTA senior lecturers, Mr KWOK Siu-wing and Mr YUNG Keung-shing speaking about recent developments in the construction industry and environmental protection. Targeted at Form 4-5 students and parents, with the focus on choosing study and careers. Contact Siu-man, tel 2788 3433, for details.
|
|
|
|
|
| What's new |
|
A big hit for a capella in town
The Harvard Din & Tonics joined vocaldente from Germany, the Popphone Singers from Taiwan and the Federation's own Hong Kong Melody Makers for a suave and swinging evening of polished voices and fine dining on Sunday 20 July. Financial Secretary, the Hon John Tsang and Mrs Lynn Tsang graced this Federation musical charity dinner event with their presence and nine tables of generous donors tapped their feet to the rhythm of witty arrangements taken from classic jazz, rock 'n' roll, swing and folk.
Carrie Lam talks to HK 200 students about conservation and urban regenerati
Mrs Carrie Lam, JP, Secretary for Development will be at the HKFYG Auditorium on Friday 25 July 6-8pm, speaking about heritage conservation and urban regeneration with a group of current and past Hong Kong 200 programme participants. Contact Amy Fung, tel 3755 7133 for more details of the event and Kelly Lai, tel 2169 0255 for info about Hong Kong 200.
Free talks on food and investments at HKFYG Centre for Continuous Learning
Thursday 31 July 7-10pm review and forecast for the economic environment
Details at http://clc.hkfyg.org.hk/0821a01d.htm
Sunday 3 August 3.30-5pm choosing the right food to maintain good balance
Details at http://clc.hkfyg.org.hk/0821c01a.htm.
Contact Rocky, tel 3755 7025 for more info.
Olympics on TV at HKFYG
Cafe21 at HKFYG's HQ building in North Point and all Federation Youth SPOTs will be showing footage of the Olympics for three weeks starting 8 August as part of the summer programme 2008. Olympic-related activities are upcoming soon as well. Contact Marian tel 3755 7072 for details.
Price hikes for books spur efforts at HKFYG's recycling Project Rebook
HKFYG's second hand bookshop, Project Rebook, is a dynamic youth social enterprise which sells textbooks as part of its efforts in recycling. Since the shop opened in May it has already collected about 4500 books. 70% are in Chinese and 27% are in English. They cover the gamut, with the bulk in children's titles, fiction, art & design. The rest are mostly non-fiction including travel guides, cookery, health and living. There have already been 7 book collection days and 6 book fairs and collection boxes are at the Youth SPOTs and Cafe21 in the HKFYG building. Visit http://yse.hkfyg.org.hk/rebook/ for more info. Contact Tracy, tel 3113 7999 for other details or if you'd like to donate and want to know the location of your nearest collection box.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Just published |
What are Young People Reading?
Feedback from 12-34 year-olds in HKFYG's Youth Poll no. 174 showed:
 |
almost 50% said books were their favourite reading material |
|
over 77% said they read books during the past year |
|
18.6% preferred the Internet |
|
more girls than boys read newspapers, whether they are free or not, making HK an exception to the usual rule |
|
over 33% said they read books mainly in the pursuit of knowledge |
|
other frequently cited reasons were to " kill time" or "satisfy interest" |
Of these:
|
the average spent nearly an hour per day on reading |
|
the time was down by 10 minutes on the 2005 survey* on the same topic |
Reading is still an important part of young peoples' lives world wide and 2008 is National Year of Reading in the UK. In our Hong Kong survey:
|
over 50% gave reading 6 points out of 10 for importance, up a little since the 2005 survey |
|
writing got only 4 out of 10 points on average, compared to reading |
Visit http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/chi/press_releases/2008/research/reading.html
& http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/yrc/chinese/yr-p174c.html for the full Chinese press release.
Call Sharon, tel 3755 7039 for more details.
*HKFYG Youth Poll 142
|
|
New HKFYG titles for all interested in youth work at the Hong Kong Book Fair this week
There is something for social workers, parents, teachers and anyone interested in youth work. Topics covered by books from HKFYG at this week's book fair range from adventure training and working with youth-at-risk, to volunteer management and motivation, parent-child conflict mediation and rehabilitation projects after the Sichuan earthquake.
Come and see us at booths 2A36 & 2E40 Hall 2 Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre 23-29 July 2008. Visit: http://www.u21.hk/u21_2006/bkfair2008/t5_01.asp and find a complete list of HKFYG books on sale at the fair here. Contact Brenda, tel 3755 7108 for details. |
|
|
|
|
