The Community-based Social Innovation for Youth Program in Hong Kong

The Third “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition Prize Presentation Ceremony

HONG KONG SAR
– Media
OutReach – 16 July 2021 – A team of four Form 3 students from True Light Girls’ College
was crowned champion at this year’s “Social
Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition. Their winning solution “EGames Truck”,
a mobile entertainment center featuring different educational and entertaining
games, aims at tackling the mental health issues of the increasing population
of elderly citizens living in remote areas in the North District by regularly bringing
educational and entertaining games to their doorsteps. The winning team will join a Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS)-organized tour to Bali
next year to visit a
cluster of innovative
start-ups and social enterprises.

Supported by Citi Foundation and organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service,
the “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition is a pioneering challenge open to all secondary schools to
find sustainable solutions to community problems. Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau; Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong; and Mr. Chua Hoi
Wai, Chief Executive, HKCSS and Miss Gloria Lam Tsz Yan, Assistant District Officer, North District
Office, Home Affairs
Department, officiated at the award presentation ceremony today. Also attending
were representatives of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
(HKSTP), competition’s partnering and supporting organizations, as well as teachers
and students from the finalist teams.  Five
award prototypes were
showcased at the ceremony.

Each year a district in Hong Kong is selected as the focal area – Central
and Western District in its first year,
Kowloon
City District was next, then this
year North District
was the focus. Through experiential learning in the community and comprehensive
training in design thinking, technology, and making prototypes, as well as
interaction with local citizens with the support of the District Office and NGOs in the area,
participating students are challenged to identify a community issue and
come up with solutions to address it. This year, 45 teams from 28 secondary schools
submitted their proposals. 15 finalist
teams were invited to produce prototypes,
which, together with remaining teams’ concept
boards,
are now being exhibited to the public at North District Town Hall until July 18.

Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau called upon members of different sectors to model on this competition
and join hands to drive social innovation, “I look forward to seeing more
organizations and bodies engage in such cross-sector collaboration to foster
youth participation in social innovation and devise related programs and
projects that bring impact to society.” 
He also encouraged students to continue to care about society, “In this
competition you have demonstrated your creativity, affection, empathy, as well
as commitment to society. At a time when our society is facing different
challenges, I truly hope you will keep caring about the community and other
people and get yourselves well equipped to contribute to building our splendid home
with your positive energy.”

Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong, said, “Young
minds are key to shaping a brighter future for all, and Citi Foundation aspires
to equip them with the skills and networks which will contribute to their
success in our ever-changing world. This competition is an example of Citi’s
commitment to sustainability and we are pleased to see our vision to advance
youth empowerment for the holistic and inclusive growth of the community come
to fruition.”  

Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of HKCSS, said, “I am so happy to see that students are able
to walk through their journey of design thinking and produce innovative
solutions to address the community needs of North District with empathy. With
the extensive support of concerned government departments, community partners,
village groups and expert groups, the competition provided a series of
community visits, community pitching, technological and technical support to
students. It is hoped that the ‘Social Innovation * Community
4.0’ Competition is not only a student competition, but also an action-oriented
experience that delivers real community solutions and puts social innovation into practice.”

The finalists’ prototypes will undergo four rounds of testing in the
community on July 19 and 22 this
year. Teams will demonstrate on-site how their prototypes operate in practice,
while residents
in North District will be invited to provide user feedback in order to improve the feasibility and practicality
the prototypes.

The fourth “Social Innovation *
Community 4.0” Competition will be open for applications in mid-October, and
the new cohort will focus on social issues in Sham Shui Po District. It is hoped that the competition inspires the students to turn their ideas into action for the betterment of the community, advancing
social innovation in our society.

Photo
1:

Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau (first from left), joined by Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong (first from right), presents the award of the third “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition to the champion team from True Light Girls’ College for their innovation “EGames Truck”.

Photo
2:

Award prototypes were showcased at the
ceremony.

Photo
3:

15 prototypes and 45 concept boards are now being exhibited to the public at North District Town Hall until July 18.