First Hong Kong international a cappella festival coming up this spring Music transcends language barriers and crosses age barriers. It's an expression of joy and a wonderful outlet for youthful creativity. The Hong Kong 2010 International a cappella Festival, from 27 March to 22 April, will showcase in music the inventiveness of the human voice, unaccompanied by any other instrument, courtesy of the Mega Events Fund, the Tourism Commission, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Consulates General of the United States and Sweden. The festival will bring to Hong Kong some of the world's best young exponents of a cappella. They are coming from Japan, Singapore, Sweden and the USA, to perform alongside our very own Hong Kong Melody Makers. As well as the organizations mentioned above, HKFYG is presenting this festival with the support of The Dragon Foundation, RTHK, Sino Group, Ocean Park and ArtMap Thank you all for making Hong Kong's first international a cappella festival, happen! Click here for more details or contact Kenneth, tel 3755 7070. News Hong Kong Youth Dance take the stage at Youth Square in Chai Wan Hong Kong Youth Dance will be putting on their annual performance in Chai Wan's Youth Square next month. The performance kicks off at 8pm on 20 March. Don't miss it - the HKFYG troupe will be tripping the light fantastic. Odyssey of the Mind competitions at Hong Kong Institute of Education The Guest of Honour at this year's Odyssey of the Mind Competitions will be Mr Barry Cheung, Chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority. The event, on the weekend of 27-28 March, is organized by HKFYG with the kind assistance of the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Just published Youth poll on social issues and the 'Post-80s Generation' Last month's Youth Poll Series no. 193, asked 500 young people aged 15-34 how they felt about social issues. Nearly 70% said the deepening poverty gap angered them, 67% complained about frequent changes in educational policy, and 64% said high property prices were the most likely to annoy them. A large majority (42%) thought government had done less to reduce the poverty gap than in the previous year and 72% felt powerless to affect social policy in Hong Kong. On a personal level, nearly 72% were satisfied with their quality of life but the 'post 80s generation' (20-29 year-olds) were equivocal about their opportunities for social mobility. Findings for this age group were also compared to a similar survey conducted in 2007 (Youth Poll Series no 164). Among those in their 20s there was a sharp fall, from 49% to 16%, in those who felt an increasing sense of belonging to Hong Kong. Furthermore, the percentage who felt an increasing sense of responsibility to HK dropped from 36% in 2007 to 24.5% in 2010. For the full Chinese press release please visit http://libra.hkfyg.org.hk:8080/yrc/chi/p193.html Call Sharon, tel 3755 7039, for more information.   Many thanks to partners Rice giving supported by Au Bak Ling Charity Trust and youth volunteers Low-income families endure much hardship so HKFYG's Youth Volunteer Network (VNET) has launched a rice-giving project with generous donations from the Au Bak Ling Charity Trust. The project will begin in April 2010, with 240 youth volunteers distributing rice to 2,000 low-income families in 10 districts throughout Hong Kong. The effort not only fills some of the basic needs of poor families, but also provides a chance for youth volunteers to show their community that they care. Contact Anna for more information, tel 21690032. Correctional Services Department donates to HKFYG The 57th Autumn Fair of the Correctional Services Department Sports Association was held on 28 November 2009 in Stanley. The Federation was a beneficiary of the fair's sale of work from correctional institutions around Hong Kong. The sale included arts, handicrafts and toys, as well as rattan and wooden furniture made by prisoners. Contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101 for details. 2009-2010 Hong Kong FLL Robotics Tournament with Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Semia Ltd, Innovation and Technology Commission and Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Semia Ltd, the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) and the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), are continuing to support Hong Kong FLL Robotics Tournament which will be held on 27 February this year, 9am-5pm at Hong Kong Science Park. 60 teams from 48 schools have enrolled and students aged 9-16 will design robots under the guidance of coaches. Winning teams may represent Hong Kong on the mainland or overseas. At the same time, HKFYG will be celebrating the opening of its new Centre of Creative Science and Technology (CCST) which has generous support from ITC and HKSTPC. CCST aims to nurture youngsters' creativity and innovative spirit while they are at school. The Hon. Marjorie Yang Mun-tak, JP, Non-Official Member of Executive Council, has been invited as Guest of Honour. Contact Alice, tel 23950161, for further information. More support for the new Youth Wellness Centre from Raffle donors Delta Air Lines, Inc, Synergis Management Service Ltd, Kiehl's, Panda Hotel, Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Ltd thank you for your prize donations Hong Kong International Airport thank you for your cash donation Cafe de Coral Fast Food Ltd, Hung Fook Tong Holdings Ltd thank you for offering discount coupons to be printed on raffle tickets. Would you like to give a special raffle prize? There is still time! Please call Bonnie as soon as you can, tel 3755 7101, or Brenda, tel 3755 7102. The download donation form is here: http://partnership.hkfyg.org.hk/eng/pdf/ HKFYG_Raffle_Ticket_2010.doc All new raffle donations welcome!