500 students on special train to Expo 2010 The chance of a lifetime is coming up for 500 youngsters aged 15 - 19. Come 29 June, they will be on a special train to Shanghai, going to one of the decade's greatest events. China is hosting the World Expo, with over 200 countries and organizations represented. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd, Prince Jewellery & Watch Co, Hopewell Holdings Ltd, and Hopewell Highway Infrastructure Ltd are the trip's corporate sponsors and the youngsters will have a dedicated escort of 100 youth volunteers. The Federation and The Dragon Foundation are co-organizing this 6-day exchange tour, and during the visit youngsters will not only see the inspirational exhibitions, they will also meet local students and community leaders. What an eye-opener this will be, with the world's innovative spirit on show. Enrolment for participants from all secondary schools is taking place now and the deadline is 24 April. Contact Bonnie, 3755 7101 or Angel, 3586 8455, for more details. News HKFYG Standard Chartered English Public Speaking Contest grand finals soon The HKFYG Building will be the venue for the finals of this year's contest on Saturday 10 April. Tension will rise as the judges make their selections and the winner of the Senior Division will go on to represent Hong Kong at the English Speaking Union's International competition in London in May. Prizes include book tokens worth HK$1,500, $1,000 and $500 for the champions, first and second runners up respectively, in both Junior and Senior Divisions. Contact Ellsik, tel 21690255 for more details. Grand Opening of the "Hang Seng Bank-Leaders to Leaders Lecture Series 2010" The Hang Seng Bank is a staunch supporter of the HKFYG Leaders to Leaders Lecture Series and the bank's Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive, Mrs Margaret Leung will join Prof Lap-chee Tsui, Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Hong Kong, and Dr Rosanna Wong, Executive Director of the Federation, on Wednesday 14 April in the HKFYG Building Auditorium, 5.15pm to 6.30pm to launch this year's programme. Call Rita, tel 21690255 for more details. Courses on government exam preparation and physiotherapy at the HKFYG Centre for Continuous Learning In April and May this year, two courses will begin at the Centre on the 1/F of the HKFYG Building in North Point. In April, there is a useful exam preparation workshop for Hong Kong Government recruitment, and from May till July there will be a course suitable for those who wish to be assistant physiotherapists. Contact Sophia, tel 3755 7024, for full details of these and all other courses.   Many thanks to partners Grand Charity Raffle in aid of Youth Wellness Centre: tickets on sale mid April Raffle tickets will go on sale mid April at all HKFYG's service units and Youth S.P.O.Ts. Go to http://www.u21.hk/partnership/raffle2010/ for details of prizes and sponsors. Buy tickets now, and WIN! Life Banking Seminar sponsored by VISA for secondary schools A seminar at the HKFYG Building on Saturday 27 March focused on three kinds of capital: social capital, human capital and financial capital. With sponsorship from Visa Hong Kong Ltd, this event in the Life Banking programme invited Louis Cheung Kai-chung, an artist, and Mr Hung Chung-yam, former cycling champion, as guest speakers. They shared their personal experience and views on social networking, brand building and financial management skills with over 100 senior secondary students. A three-session workshop which will elaborate on the same theme will be held in two secondary schools in late June. For details, please contact Miranda Ho, tel 3113 7999. Free tickets from Hong Kong Dance Company for dramatic performance of Painted Face On Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 March, over 60 students watched a performance by the Hong Kong Dance Company in the Kwai Tsing Theatre. Based on a famous Chinese ghost story, the action on stage portrays betrayed love being replaced by hatred and unleashes a spirit so malevolent that turns men and women into monsters. Call Brenda, tel 3755 7102, for more info. Primary pupils visit Hong Kong Flower Show with Hang Seng Bank A group of students from the HKFYG Lee Shau Kee Primary School went to the flower show in Victoria Park this month, courtesy of sponsorship from the Hang Seng Bank. Many had never been before and were quite thrilled with the beautiful displays they found. The trip was made possible through the bank's kind funding of the children's admission and transportation fees. Call Iris, tel 3755 7107, for details. Events Hong Kong 2010 International a cappella Festival March - April The festival's opening concert, last Saturday at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, was a great success, with Eclipse from the US, Riltons Vanner from Sweden, MICappella from Singapore and local singers, Ivana Wong and Khalil Fong as well as the Federation's Hong Kong Melody Makers. Coming up soon we have A cappella in town on Friday 9 April 8pm, at Y-Theatre, Youth Square, Chai Wan, (tickets $100-$200). There are also two free outdoor concerts. One was last Sunday at Ocean Park. The next is on Saturday 10 April at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza at 3pm. The 2010 a cappella Real Premiere will be on Tuesday 13 April City Hall Concert Hall at 8pm (Tickets $200, $350, $500) and the culminating event will be the Rock Hard a cappella theatre, retracing Hong Kong's myths and legends on Thursday 22 April at City Hall Theatre, 8pm (Tickets $100, $200, $300). Tickets now on sale from URBTIX. Call Kenneth, 3755 7070 for more details. Visit http://acappella.hkfyg.org.hk Six winning teams at Odyssey of the Mind local competitions to represent Hong Kong at World Finals The competitions were held, courtesy of venue sponsor, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, and with the support of the Quality Education Fund, on 27 & 28 March with Mr Barry Cheung, Chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority as Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony. Over 500 students from 63 schools and youth centres took part in the event. Click here for a list of the winners. Contact Becky, tel 25616149, for further information.