Media

The Jockey Club Intergenerational Learning and Reading Project (The Project) will organise a graduation ceremony on January 13, 2024 (Saturday) at Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), for its young-old (aged 50+) graduates to celebrate their achievements with their families and friends. Graduates will also take centre stage, showcasing their winning performances in previous competitions. Intergenerational performances, such as storytelling, singing and recitation, will be performed by the respective champions of the competitions. The highlight of the event would be the drama performance, which uses Po Toi Island, a place full of ancient and natural wonders, as background. The seniors are well-prepared to put on a wonderful show for the audience as it will be their third time performing.

The Project, administered by the Faculty of Education of HKU and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, aims to help young-olds stay young cognitively. It serves as an intergenerational and life-enriching collaboration by engaging young-olds as teachers for children mainly from K3 to P1 in a series of educational and interesting intergenerational activities, including (1) writing digital books, (2) storytelling, (3) poem recitation, (4) sing-along, and (5) drama activities. Moreover, seniors were able to make new friends throughout the project. This innovative project, which spanned over two years, has brought significant improvement to seniors’ cognitive health and psychological well-being.

Here are some of the positive comments received from our participants:

1. “After participating in six workshops, my cognitive ability test has significantly improved compared to before participating in the project.”

2. “I am not confident in hiking because of my weak muscles. After joining the hiking team several times, I have regained my confidence and my physical strength has improved.”

3. “My daughter participated in the intergenerational competitions with me, and we have more common topics now. My daughter said I am very busy but very happy after participating in this project!”

Members of the media are welcome to attend the event to learn more about how the Project has benefitted the young-olds and the children they taught, and how it could help reduce government expenditures on seniors’ health care in the long run. Details are as follows:

Date:                         January 13, 2024 (Saturday)
Time:                         2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (Media registration time: 1:50 pm)
Mode:　                    Face-to-Face
Venue:                       Loke Yew Hall, Main Building Campus, HKU, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
                                   (HKU MTR Station Exit A1)
Rundown:
2:00 pm – 2:10 pm　Opening remarks
2:10 pm – 2:25 pm　Souvenir presentation ceremony
2:25 pm – 3:30 pm　Award presentation ceremony
3:30 pm – 3:45 pm　Sharing session
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm　Showcase performances 
                                      - Intergenerational Choir Team
                                      - A22 Intergenerational Dance Team
                                      - Storytelling Champion
                                      - Singing Champion
                                      - Recitation Champion
                                      - Intergenerational Drama Team
                                      - 120 Band Team
Language:                   Cantonese

For media enquiries, please contact Dr Ivy Chan, Project Manager of the Jockey Club Intergenerational Learning and Reading Project (Tel: 3917 4314 / Email: ivychan6@hku.hk) or Ms Cheryl Cheung, Senior Manager (Development and Communications), Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 3917 4270 / Email: chercheung@hku.hk).