A time to act for youth The Policy Address will soon be delivered. We believe that this is the perfect time to plan for the long term, in a visionary and sustainable way. We can start by ensuring that there are policies, plans and strategies in place for the city's young people. Plans and strategies that will cater for them in the long term. We need to start looking at young people today and see them as viable and sustainable resources for the development of Hong Kong tomorrow. Among the many areas that affect youth directly, the four most crucial are education, employment, housing and health. With regard to education, the two most pressing issues are affordability and number of seats. It is our hope that the Government will seriously consider increasing public funding through grants and also speed up the process of establishing private universities. Both the issues could then be tackled, giving young people the hope that a higher education is something to which they can aspire. In terms of employment, we urge the Government to expand its successful and existing employability initiatives and trainings. We also hope that the Government will invest more in internships and open lines of credit for would-be entrepreneurs. There is furthermore a need to create more job opportunities particularly in the creative industries. Housing in Hong Kong has become inaccessible and unaffordable, particularly for young people. It is our hope that the Policy Address will focus on correcting the imbalances in the housing market, including increasing land supply and curbing inflated property prices. Finally, the system of subsidized health care in Hong Kong is not tenable for the long run. Now is the time for the Government to encourage young people to look into medical insurance schemes that will benefit young people when they need it in the future. It is necessary, therefore, to start a health education campaign, informing young people that insurance is beneficial for their material comfort and livelihoods in the future. The Policy Address provides a great opportunity set into motion policies, plans and strategies for the city's youth. This way, we can be sure that the young people of today are viable and sustainable resources for the development of Hong Kong tomorrow. News HKFYG's organic farm gets USDA certification and completes renovations Consumers are increasingly health conscious but organic vegetables are expensive. To assure customers of quality and authenticity, the HKFYG organic farm, near the Ho Pui Reservoir in the Tai Lam Country Park, now sells the only products in Hong Kong that are packed with the USDA organic seal. The farm recently completed renovations and accommodates 300 people, with multi-purpose rooms equipped with facilities for seminars and workshops. Tailor-made leisure and educational programmes can be arranged. Contact Tinsang on the hotline, tel 2680 9080, or email organicfarm@hkfyg.org.hk to order supplies or arrange a visit. Just Published A time to act: new issue of Youth Hong Kong: surveys interviews and features Education, employment, health and housing   the upcoming policy address Back at school   youth, teachers, parents and school social workers   Students adapting to change: surveys, perspectives, guidance   Interviews   Bernard Chan Douglas So Lester Huang Shelley Lee Trey Lee Features   Travel Arts & culture City In the loop youth culture Email youthhongkong@hkfyg.org.hk to request a copy Visit www.hkfyg.org.hk for the online version Many thanks to partners 100 chairs decorated by students to go on show with Muji and Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design HKFYG and the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design are collaborating on this creativity project with sponsor, Muji (Hong Kong) Co Ltd. Muji is donating 100 tough cardboard chairs and 100 students in deprived areas will decorate them at school workshops. They will go on display in an exhibition at the major Hong Kong arts happening, the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design Detour 2010, in the Central Police Station, Hollywood Road, as well as at some Muji retail outlets. Joanna has more information, tel 3106 0600. Mid-Autumn Warmth and Giving with U.C. (Asia) Services Ltd & Fortress U.C. (Asia) Services Ltd and Fortress have generously supplied HKFYG's VNET with 130 moon cakes. The two companies are participants in VNET's Heart to Heart project. The moon cakes were distributed to the elderly in Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai by about 100 young volunteers. The young people are being recruited from the HKFYG Jockey Club Wang Tau Hom Youth SPOT, the HKFYG Jockey Club Ping Shek Youth SPOT and Pui Shing Catholic Secondary School. More info about this is available from Doris, tel 2169 0032. Beat Drugs Fund supports two HKFYG outreach projects Two Beat Drugs Projects run by Federation Outreaching Social Work Teams in Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung and Sai Kung/Wong Tai Sin districts have just been approved by the Beat Drugs Fund. One will examine risk and protective factors at school and offer family skills training to parents. The other is Project Shine II - following hot on the heels of the first, very successful Project Shine, which ended in August 2010. Building on past experience, it will offer counselling to high risk and habitual drugs users. A clinical psychologist will join the team which will be supported by partners in the local community, including government departments and district organizations. For details of the school-based project, please contact Edward, tel 2701 8866. For more information about Project Shine II, contact Leo, tel 2487 6151. Towngas launches latest Flame restaurant and kicks off Young Chef Training programme In a new initiative called Igniting Bright Futures, Towngas is giving young people the chance to train as chefs. Launched on 16 September, the programme involves several youth outreach organizations, including HKFYG, and is open to those who find it hard to meet life's challenges. Contact YEN, tel 3113 7999, for more details. Events Enter the HKFYG Walkathon in November and help raise funds for youth Sunday 28 November will see us joining forces with partners and supporters for the HKFYG 50th Anniversary Walkathon. We'll start at 10am from Shatin's Hong Kong Science Park and head along the Tolo Harbour Cycle Track to Taipo Waterfront Park. Visit http://walkathon.hkfyg.org.hk or click here. If you would like to be a sponsor click here. More details from Brenda, tel 3755 7102.