Congratulations to young entrepreneurs The establishment of a small recycling company called Ecosage has been supported by the Federation's Youth Business Hong Kong programme. Small beginnings can lead to great progress. The company has been nominated as a finalist for the Youth Business International Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Congratulations to Alex and Felix, who started up the company, for their hard work, determination and sense of responsibility. Improving awareness of the need for environmental conservation by helping to tackle Hong Kong's waste management was the central vision behind Ecosage's founders. This business model is a wonderful example that other young entrepreneurs can follow. It is one we at HKFYG heartily endorse. Good luck to Ecosage at the final selection coming up next week in Mexico City! The Youth Business Hong Kong programme was set up by HKFYG in 2005. Since then it has received 977 applications for funding and mentorship from young people wishing to set up in business. 85 applications, supported by business proposals, have been approved, and 135 young entrepreneurs have benefited from seed funding as a result. 70% of their companies, which have created over 300 jobs, are still in operation today. Just published Youth Work for the i-generation: latest Journal of Youth Studies now available from the Federation The HKFYG's Journal of Youth Studies, serial no. 26, has just been published. Its main theme is youth work for the generation of young people who have grown up with the internet. Articles include discussion on problems associated with the internet, including cyber-bullying and internet addiction, and how they may be tackled. Academics and other writers from Taiwan, Mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong have also contributed articles on moral development in young people. Read the abstracts at http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/eng/jys26.html. Contact Amy, tel 3755 7037 for further details. Public perception of today's youth causes concern: HKFYG Youth Poll Survey Findings of the latest Federation Youth Research Centre telephone poll have just been published. Unusually, they relate the opinions of the public in general, 500 of whom were asked what they thought of today's youngsters. Nearly 61% admitted that they did not understand the mindset of the younger generation, and a worrying 66% were not confident that today's youth would make Hong Kong a better place. A large majority of 88.5% thought youngsters were spoiled, and over 77% said they liked challenging authority. On the positive side over 45% of respondents thought youth now were smarter than the previous generation and over 44% believed they were genuinely concerned about society. A full Chinese press release is at http://yrc.hkfyg.org.hk/chi/p199.html. More details of this interesting poll can be obtained from Sharon, tel 3755 7039. Many thanks to partners Lisa's Collection provides coveted collectibles for HKFYG 2010 Charity sale The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Hotel will be the bustling location of a fabulous sale on Saturday 25 September from 10am-4pm. A wide variety of high-value antiques, gorgeous jewellery and finely crafted ornaments will be on display for would-be buyers to select from. Part of the proceeds of the sale will go towards The HKFYG Youth Support Fund which offers assistance to young people in need. For a quick glimpse, go to http://charitysale.hkfyg.org.hk. For your own collectible printed catalogue, call Bonnie 3755 7101 or Brenda 3755 7102. Smartliving Technologies Ltd donates nearly-new speakers A donation of 81 sets of audio equipment has been made by Smartliving Technologies Ltd. These Emerson speakers will be distributed to units and youth members to enjoy the experience of being surrounded by sound. For details of this environmentally friendly donation of lightly used hardware, contact Bonnie, tel 3755 7101. Student exchange trip to Australia funded by Sir Robert Black Trust Fund The Sir Robert Black Trust Fund has approved a grant for an exchange programme in Adelaide called Leadership Training and Self-enhancement. It is being organized by the HKFYG Youth Exchange Unit in preparation for next summer. The fund will sponsor 30 junior secondary students, two staff members and a volunteer for 10 days. The trip to Australia includes visits to local schools, youth organizations, and the parliament, as well as community service for the elderly, training in team-building and problem solving skills. For details please contact Angel Cheung tel 35868455. Events HKFYG 50th anniversary charity walkathon enter now! If you'd like to support young people while taking care of your own health, join us on Sunday 28 November at 10am. We will be walking 5.5km from Shatin's Hong Kong Science Park along the Tolo Harbour Cycle Track to the Taipo Waterfront Park. Entry forms are at http://walkathon.hkfyg.org.hk or you can use this form. Download a sponsorship form here. More details from Brenda, tel 3755 7102.