Dr. Khanna’s Returning Youth Initiative has put together an opportunity to bring awareness for young adults, both post incarcerated and high risk.
Young adult stories are needed to encourage others to find success from their hardships. Continue reading to see the Cash Benefit opportunity. These personal stories will provide individuals with the inspiration and motivation, proving redemption is achievable.
Why are young adults not driven toward resources that could be beneficial? As a community, we need to do better at showcasing the help that is out there. Whether living paycheck to paycheck, depressed, or struggling with addiction, young adults don’t see a purpose to work towards a better life for themselves. They let their past define them because of the stigma that society has casted over them. People need to be able to see that mistakes don’t have to hold them back unless they choose not to learn or grow from it. Life always finds a way to push you down, and oftentimes, even farther for at-risk and post incarcerated young adults. As a whole we need to embrace them for all their worth and support them to their fullest potential.
Now is the time for everyone to join efforts to show at-risk and post incarcerated young adults that their nation supports them and wants them to succeed in life. To actively unite local communities and reduce stigmatization, all individual efforts are needed. Not only will this benefit someone’s life, but it will reduce recidivism, crime, and incarceration rates. Just spreading awareness on problematic areas, will not be enough to create the change that is needed. There needs to be strategizing, solutions, and action to ultimately shift the underserved individuals in a more positive direction.
Cash Benefit Opportunity: The Returning Youth Initiative (RYI) has put together a chance for eight individuals to win $500.00 for sharing their redemption story. For more information regarding this opportunity, please visit our website. This opportunity has been sponsored by a network of connections who all wish for a better future for the underserved young adults in our nation.
About Dr. Khanna’s Returning Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity organization registered in the state of New York. The mission is to provide post-incarcerated and high-risk young adults with a supportive community to ensure a smooth integration back into society. The initiative is designed as a self-sustaining entity by having its own business, or partnering with several entities that will provide training, staffing, and entrepreneurship financing.
Returning Youth Initiative Inc Dr. Surajit Khanna 213-709-5749 returningyouth.com
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched new rounds of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases under the Youth Development Fund today (April 8). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications.
In his 2023 Policy Address, the Chief Executive emphasised that the Government will sustain its efforts in promoting youth development and will continue to implement and enhance the Youth Development Blueprint. Some of the measures covered in the Blueprint encourage and support Hong Kong youth in pursuing innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA subsidises NGOs to implement youth entrepreneurship projects. It provides young people who are interested in starting their businesses in Hong Kong and the Mainland cities of the GBA with start-up capital as well as entrepreneurial support and incubation services, so as to assist them to tackle the difficulties they encounter during the inception stage and support them through the establishment and development of their businesses. Under the last round of the scheme, the funded NGOs recruited a total of 217 youth start-up teams. All of them have started their businesses in Hong Kong, and over 70 of them have established a presence in Mainland cities of the GBA such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai.
In addition, to further encourage young people to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the vast Mainland market, the HYAB and the YDC launched the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases, the scope of which has expanded from the Mainland cities of the GBA to all provinces and municipalities on the Mainland. The scheme provides a subsidy for NGOs to organise experiential programmes at innovation and entrepreneurial bases on the Mainland, so as to enable Hong Kong young people to gain deeper understanding of the innovation and entrepreneurial bases and the relevant policies and support measures on innovation and entrepreneurship on the Mainland. This will in turn facilitate their consideration of settling in the relevant entrepreneurial bases in future.
The details of the two funding schemes have been uploaded onto the website of the YDC (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/startup/fund.html). Interested NGOs should submit their application(s) before the following deadlines:
(a) For the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA: on or before June 7
(b) For the Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases: on or before May 17
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and his wife, Mrs Janet Lee, today (March 8) officiated at a reception to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 hosted by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the Women’s Commission (WoC).
The reception was attended by members of the WoC, and representatives from women’s groups, non-governmental organisations and the local community. Thematic panels were set up at the reception to showcase the work done by the Government and the WoC on promoting women’s development.
Speaking at the reception, Mr Lee said that women in Hong Kong underpin the development of society. They facilitate economic and social development by contributing their wisdom and strength, and play an important role in promoting family virtues, Mr Lee said.
He said, “The Government will continue to unite all sectors in creating an enabling environment for women to develop their potentials and promote the all-rounded development of women, so as to drive forward the development of the country and Hong Kong.”
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, said at the reception that the Women Empowerment Fund which was launched in June last year, has approved 145 projects of diverse nature and themes so far. The HYAB will implement several new initiatives in relation to family and women’s development as announced in the 2023 Policy Address, including the setting up of a dedicated Women Affairs Team and designating the post of Commissioner for Women Affairs. The HYAB will also organise the first Family and Women Development Summit and launch a one-stop family and women information portal.
She said, “The HYAB will continue to work closely with the WoC in enabling women in Hong Kong to fully realise their due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life.”
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attaches great importance to women’s development. It will continue to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) through the provisions of the Basic Law and local laws, complemented and supplemented by the necessary administrative measures with a view to protect women’s rights and ensure the full development of women.
Also officiating at the reception were the Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Li Yongsheng; Deputy Director of the Political Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Senior Colonel Qi Xiaochun; Deputy Director-General of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Ms Li Ling; Deputy Director of the liaison office of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR Mr Xie Zhixiang; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the President of the Legislative Council, Mr Andrew Leung; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; and the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung.
The Civil Aid Service is extending learning beyond the classroom in an effort to provide a range of free activities for young people under the Youth Potential Development Scheme, which helps them to unleash their unlimited potential.
News.gov.hk followed the Civil Aid Service to watch primary students participating in the alternative learning activities and interview instructors about their efforts to equip youngsters with essential life skills and inspire them to make a positive impact on society.
The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature today (February 11) in text and video format.
Under the theme of “Diverse Perspectives for a Shared Future”, ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Exchange Dialogue came to a successful close in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province on Feb. 2.
The event, as one of the activities of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges, focused on cultural exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and ASEAN youths to attract more youth participation in jointly building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.
The event was hosted by China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) and co-organized by Fujian Youth Federation, with Global Times Online as its media partner.
Photo shows a scene from ASEAN-China Youth Cultural Exchange Dialogue
Huo Ying, CPDA Secretary General, presided over the event. CPDA Vice President Qiu Xiaoqi, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, Minister of Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture of Timor-Leste, Chang Bin, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Nor Ashikin Johari, Permanent Secretary (Community), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of Brunei Darussalam, and Youth Representative Luo Xiangjian delivered speeches at the event.
The event was also attended by Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta, Bruneian Ambassador to China Pehin Dato Rahmani and his wife, Lin Changyuan, Deputy Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Fujian Province, and Li Teng, Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.
“I believe this dialogue will facilitate beneficial exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and spark innovative thinking. I also hope that youths will seize this opportunity to continue cementing emotional bonds through mutual learning and writing new chapters of cooperation through diverse exchanges, so as to become successors and builders of ASEAN-China friendship and cooperation,” Qiu said in his speech.
Nelyo Isaac Sarmento mentioned the strategic significance of youth exchanges between China and ASEAN countries. “China, as a partner, is very strategic for us to develop our youth in bilateral relations. Youth exchanges on sports, art and culture as important agenda for us to strengthen the relation people to people between Timor-Leste and the People’s Republic of China, including with ASEAN member nations,” he said.
Nor Ashikin Johari mentioned the critical role of younger generations in promoting cultural understanding and friendship. “We look forward to new platforms to be forged between our nations for our youths to develop even stronger relationships with their fellow ASEAN-China counterparts. Let us continue our efforts for mutual understanding and cooperation, through exchange programmes that promote people-to-people interactions,” she said.
Drawing from his own experiences, Luo elaborated on the important role of sports in friendly exchanges between Chinese and ASEAN youths. He also expressed good wishes for ASEAN-China youth cultural exchanges. “The future of China and ASEAN belongs to the young people. We youths are also the most vibrant, energetic and creative group. In the future, more ASEAN friends will come to China while more Chinese friends will go to ASEAN countries for exchanges,” he said.
The young people represent the future of China-ASEAN relations and the reserve force for the everlasting friendship between China and ASEAN.
Focusing on three topics, guests from all circles in China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam shared their experiences and insights in promoting cultural exchanges between Chinese and ASEAN youths, injecting new momentum into cooperation and friendship between China and ASEAN.
Zhao Haining, Assistant of Public Affairs, Global Development Promotion Center of CIDCA, Chungheang Sok (Cambodia), Tongji University Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages, and Dang Thu Lan (Vietnam), Hoa Van SHZ Vice-President and Ph.D. Student at East China Normal University discussed the topic “To Open a New Chapter of China-ASEAN Cooperation with Youth Power.” They shared experiences in bilateral cooperation from different perspectives, and offered suggestions on improving the young people’s development capability and promoting mutual learning among civilizations and intercultural understanding.
In terms of the topic “To Innovate on Education Forms for Closer Youth Cultural Exchange,” various guests provided unique insights and valuable experiences in areas like cultural exchanges between Chinese and ASEAN youths and educational innovation from perspectives including education cooperation, cultural exchanges, and art education. The guests included Chen Jianbin, Vice President of Wuxi Institute of Technician, Jiangsu Province, Topokossy Her (Cambodia), Ph.D. Student at Beijing Language and Culture University, Jensen Moreno (Philippines), International Contemporary Artist and Art Teacher, Founder of J. Moreno Arts and Design Company and Jensen Moreno Fine Arts, Founder of FAB, Alexander William (Indonesia), New Voice Overseas Studio of Huaqiao University Out-border Student’s Head Content Creator, and Phiaxaysarakham Nusthiva (Laos), Master Student at University of International Business and Economics.
As for the topic “Gen-Zers’ Innovative Storytelling in Building Closer Online Communication and Advancing Cultural Inheritance,” Gen Zers from China and ASEAN countries shared from diverse perspectives how they promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity through online content creation in the internet age. The guests included Apinya Charunpumhiran (Thailand), Thai Online Influencer, Hou Jiaming, Young Writer and Ph.D. Student at Communication University of China, Jhon Kenneth Reynaldo (Philippines), New Voice Overseas Studio of Huaqiao University Content Creator; and Low Jia Fang (Malaysia), New Voice Overseas Studio of Huaqiao University Content Creator and Personal Media Blogger.
The dialogue deepened participating guests’ understanding of the cultures of China and ASEAN and laid a solid foundation for the future cooperation between the young people from both sides. As the friendship between China and ASEAN countries continues thriving, the young people will play a pivotal role in promoting regional peace and prosperity and making an immeasurable contribution to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
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