Near 140 Students Joined Hands to Strive for Girls Right in Youth Conference 2019

Plan International Hong Kong – City University of Hong Kong Youth Conference 2019 was successfully held on 28 September 2019 at the City University of Hong Kong. Representing 9 low-income countries, 34 secondary school and university students presented their research findings on a topical girls’ issue, with nearly 100 university students acting as discussion facilitators.

Near 140 students, from various secondary schools and the Department of Asian and International Studies of City University of Hong Kong, participate in the Plan International Hong Kong – City University of Hong Kong Youth Conference 2019.

With the theme of “Girls Get Equal”, each team, representing one low-income country, presented on different girls’ issues and made suggestions for improvement. In the secondary session, students from Queen Elizabeth School were awarded Champion of Best Presentation Team. As for tertiary session from Department of Asian and International Studies of City University, the Best Presentation Team went to students who focused on “Education for Girls with Disabilities in Indonesia”.

Mr. Ralph Szeto, Board Director of Plan International Hong Kong attends the event and gives opening remarks.

Mr. Ralph Szeto, Board Director of Plan International Hong Kong, said in the opening remarks, “I am thrilled to see so many students willing to sacrifice their holidays, to join us in our journey of striving for equality for girls.” He hopes through joining this conference, students are able to learn more about girls’ dire situations in developing countries and exchange ideas on bringing changes to girls’ lives.

Dr. Linda Tjia, Assistant Professor of the Department of Asian and International Studies at City University of Hong Kong shares her views on achieving equality for girls.

Also attending the opening ceremony was Dr. Linda Y. N. Tija, Assistant Professor from the Department of Asian and International Studies of City University of Hong Kong. She shared her views on the importance of girls’ capability to be recognised.

Dr. Raees Begum Baig, Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Work at the Chinese University of Hong Kong sheds light on the situation faced by Muslim female in Hong Kong.

Dr. Raees Begum Baig, Assistant Professor from the Department of Social Work of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who was the Keynote Speaker cum adjudicator, stressed as global citizens, we all should care about the situations in low income countries and play a part in improving the situations.

The conference covered a broad range of issues including girls trafficking in Nepal, school-related gender-based violence in Uganda, child labour in the tobacco industry in Malawi and so on. Dr. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong, attended the conference and acted as one of the adjudicators. Other guests serving on the panel of adjudicators included Ms. Jackie Lee, Senior Manager in Corporate Social Responsibility of KPMG, Dr. Raees Begum Baig, Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Work from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Dr. Linda Tjia, Assistant Professor of the Department of Asian and International Studies at City University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Kanie Siu, Chief Executive Officer of Plan International Hong Kong presents the Champion of Best Presentation Team to students from Queen Elizabeth School.

After the presentation, students answer questions from the floor.

Participants from the Department of Asian and International Studies of City University of Hong Kong share their findings on girls’ issues. Champion goes to the team that focused on “Education for Girls with Disabilities in Indonesia”.

In order to let the students fully utilize their potentials, Plan International Hong Kong has incorporated the elements of social media campaigns as part of the presentation this year. The organisers hope the students can make good use of the social media platforms to arouse public awareness towards girls’ issues and gather wisdom in bringing gender equality to the world. The winning team will be sponsored by Plan International Hong Kong to participate in the “Be a Change Maker 2020” seed project.  Winners are given the chance to join the exposure trip to Thailand and exchange ideas on girls’ issues with the local teenagers.

The Conference would not have been successful without the generous support from KPMG.