Lingnan University Launches Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme

  • Event Highlights

Issue No. 71 Sep 2017

Lingnan University Launches Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme

The Launching Ceremony of the Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme, organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies of Lingnan University and supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was held on 29 September at the campus of Lingnan University.

 

The Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme is a 3-year (2017 to 2019) community service programme.  It aims to advocate healthy ageing and nurture intergenerational solidarity in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long districts through collaboration between different stakeholders, including hospitals, elderly centres, Elder Academy, tertiary education institutes and secondary schools.

 

In his welcoming remarks, Mr Simon Ip Shing-hing, Deputy Chairman, Council of Lingnan University said that Lingnan University is honoured to have The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s support for this three-year programme.  “Apart from promoting whole-person education, as a liberal arts institution Lingnan University actively encourages students to feedback to the society with their knowledge.  We hope that with the assistance and support by different parties, Lingnan University can go even further in contributing to community affairs,” said Mr Ip.

 

“The Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme can help promote not only intergenerational communications, but also the message of active ageing and healthy living,” said Mr Horace Lit, Senior Charities Manager, The Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The Club believes that prevention is important in elderly services, and that is why our strategic focus in this area is to encourage the elderly to be the participants instead of the audience, so that they can continue to interact with the community and enjoy active and healthy ageing. At the same time, the Club is strongly supporting the use of innovative services and technology to meet the needs of today's elderly.”

 

On behalf of the University, Prof Leonard K Cheng, President, Lingnan University expressed sincere thanks to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their generous donation, as well as other co-organisers’ staunch support which made the launch of the Programme possible.  “Community service is an important part of Lingnan’s liberal arts education.  We emphasis diversified modes of teaching and learning, and with our motto “Education for Service” we actively encourage students to serve the community with their know-how, and deepen their knowledge base through practices so that their critical thinking ability, social responsibility and a care attitude to the community can be nurtured.  The Jockey Club Intergenerational Communication and Health Promotion Programme integrates the spirit of Lingnanians in serving the community, and will bring positive impact to the University and the community,” said President Cheng.

 

Key objectives of the Programme are to nurture intergenerational solidarity in Hong Kong through young and senior partnership, and improve knowledge and skills on active ageing and healthy living; train young and senior volunteers together and promote intergenerational communication and collaboration in communities; conduct health assessments for the elderly in communities, advocate early disease prevention and timely referral services; and strengthen the role of community stakeholders in active and healthy collaboration projects.

 

It is expected that the 3-year Programme will achieve the following outcomes:

  • facilitating knowledge and skills transfer between young and old through the engagement of ambassador training and community service;
  • building up trust between young and old and, ultimately, promoting reciprocal social support;
  • achieving greater empowerment of health through acquiring knowledge of health and advocating healthy lifestyles in the community; and
  • strengthening cross-sector partnership to promote active and healthy ageing.

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