Support! International Foundation

Support! International Foundation
Founded 2014
Founder Joseph Wan
Type Education
Focus Education
Location
Area served
Hong Kong, Singapore, Taichung, Washington, D.C., Seoul
Key people
 Joseph Wan (Founder & President)
Kerry Hsu (Senior Vice President, Operations)
Ian Chu (Senior Vice President, Policy & Youth)
Jacqueline Lam (Acting Board Chairman)
Dr. Lau Ming-wai BBS JP (Board Member)
Dr. Theodore S. Faunce (Board Member)
Conccetina Kenny (Board Member)
Dr. Allan Zeman GBM GBS JP (Advisor)
Rachel Chan (Advisor)
Erica Ma (Advisor)
Volunteers
600+
Website

Official website

Facebook

Support! International Foundation! (also known as Support! Hong Kong) is a global youth-led education non-government organisation in Hong Kong dedicated to bringing educational programmes to different communities in need. It has grown to 6 sites operating 9 programmes, each initiated, led and maintained by young leaders. Their mission is to create opportunities and foster connections for individuals from all backgrounds within communities, under the guiding principle and firm belief that young people are tomorrow's leaders.[1]

History

Support! International Foundation was founded in 2014 by Joseph Wan. Joseph was inspired to start his own non-government organisation after learning about his father's successful rise from humble beginnings to company chief. He told South China Morning Post, "My dad grew up very poor in Hong Kong's notorious public housing, with nine siblings squished in. His parents could only afford education until secondary school. But my dad really loved learning, and didn’t want to give up so soon. So, he worked hard in factories and construction sites until the age of 23, when he could finally afford just one year at university in the UK. He ventured off to the UK and worked a night job just to get by. Now, he is director of a multinational engineering consultancy. This showed me that education really made a difference, which is why the organisation is so education focused."[2]

Though based in Hong Kong, Support! International Foundation has expanded its operations to Seoul, Washington, D.C., Singapore and Taiwan. The organisation's overseas projects are being facilitated by Joseph's former school friends as well as HK-based secondary school students, who have returned to their home countries after studying in Hong Kong.[3]

It was founded under three pillars:

Mutual learning

Support! International Foundation aims to create a mutual learning environment and help each other become better through their programs. It is a pure student teaching students environment.

Youth leadership

Support! International Foundation has a number of young volunteers, from instructor to leadership roles. They believe that it is their responsibility to give back to the community, and that it is important for young people to use opportunities to grow as individuals, as well as members of society.[4]

Communities

Support! International Foundation aims to help out the people of Hong Kong in need, such as children who are disregarded and not given as many opportunities to flourish.[5]

Programmes

The organisation runs classes for both children and adults in sport, debate, oral and written English, interviewing, counselling etc.[6]

Debate & Grow!

The Debate & Grow! program is Support! Hong Kong's inaugural programme. It started operating a debate program at Tak Oi Secondary School in 2014. The style of debate taught at this site is consistent with the World Schools Style debating format. Students participate in internal debates, discussions and lectures that aim to strengthen their English skills. There are 40 students participating in this program, with 6 instructors teaching on site.[7]

Management team excluding regional leaders (Daniel Hsing, VP Technology; Ian Chu, SVP Youth Development; Kerry Hsu, SVP Operations; Alex Yu, VP Programmes; Harriet Kwok, VP Collaboration; Katherine Yang, VP Marketing; Joseph Wan, Founder & President)

English Fun! Program

The English Fun! Program is hosted at Aberdeen Technical School, Support! International Foundation's second site in Hong Kong. The students partake in discussions about different social, environmental and youth issues in Hong Kong. Keeping with the goal of helping students improve both spoken and written English skills, the entire program is taught in English. There are 36 students participating in this program with 4 instructors teaching on site.[8]

English Programme at Aberdeen Technical School

Learn to Learn! program

The Learn to Learn! program is operated in partnership with The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong. It is hosted at the Australian International School and hosts 3 English-related programs for its beneficiaries, who range from upper primary, up to high school students. All three programs centralise on the idea of improving the students’ English, both oral and written, through innovative methods of teaching. Digital learning, drama, and arts & crafts are used to make learning more interesting for the children.[9]

Speak! programme

The Speak! programme is hosted at Man Kiu College and is a program focusing on current-events, international relations as well as domestic affairs. Students participate in and contribute to multiple round table discussions. By having talking about and carefully evaluating social issues and current affairs, students will improve their speaking skills and catalyse their English abilities.[10]

English-in-Action programme

The English-in-Action Programme is hosted at the Singapore International School. The programs are run for DHL maintenance and front-line operations staff and their children. There are three programs run there, one for the adults, and two for the children. The adult students participate in a course where they strengthen their oral English skills by using them in real-life situations. The two programs for the kids focus on building their English skills, as well as sports education. The children participate in hands-on and fun activities, to make their learning enjoyable.[11]

Chun Wo English Development! Program

The Chun Wo English Development! Program is hosted at the Chinese International School. It hosts two programs that entail sports and English. The students, who are cleaners, are put through an intensive course where they immerse themselves in a pure, English-speaking environment. The goal, in the end, is to equip these cleaners with the abilities and skills they need to work in the ever-changing, ever-growing world.[12]

Point Me! Program

The Point Me! Program is hosted at the Islamic Kasim Tuet Memorial College. It hosts a mentorship programme for the secondary school’s students. The programme also hosts a Debate & Public Speaking programme for the students, to increase their analytical skills and confidence with public speaking through the dynamic hands-on process of debating. [13]

Annual Youth Leadership Conference

The Annual Youth Leadership Conference is one of Support! International Foundation's core events which challenge students from all background to engage in issues under the strands of social mobility, education and environmental sustainability. In 2016, the theme of the conference was 'Redefining Hong Kong for a Socially Sustainable Future'. In 2017, the theme will be 'Hong Kong Post-2016: Challenging the Present'. The conference brings together over 80 select students who partake in workshops run by the likes of Dr. Lianne Lam (CEO, HK Sustainable Society). The students are expected to create their own community service initiative, and pitch them to a panel of judges.

References

  1. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "About - Support! Intl Foundation". Supportlearning.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  2. ↑ Rachel Blundy (2016-6-17). "Meet the 16-year-old schoolboy who wants to redefine Hong Kong | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  3. ↑ Rachel Blundy (2016-6-17). "Meet the 16-year-old schoolboy who wants to redefine Hong Kong | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  4. ↑ Maria Blackburn. "Joseph Wan - Making the World a Better Place". Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  5. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "About - Support Intl Foundation". Supportlearning.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  6. ↑ Jia Wong (2015-09-28). "Youth-led education charity encourages disadvantaged groups to join their initiative". Hongkong.coconuts.co. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  7. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "Debate & Grow! program - Support Intl Foundation". supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  8. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "English Fun! Program - Support Intl Foundation". https://www.supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26. External link in |website= (help)
  9. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "Learn to Learn! program - Support Intl Foundation". supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  10. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "Social Relevance Programme - Support Intl Foundation". supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  11. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "English-in-Action Programme - Support Intl Foundation". Supportlearning.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  12. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "Chun Wo English Development! Program - Support Intl Foundation". supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  13. ↑ Daniel Hsing. "Point Me! Program - Support Intl Foundation". supportintlfoundation.org. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.