Welcome.
Dear OSArs,
Exams... are finally over! For many students across Hong Kong, the start of the summer holidays marks a respite from the year's hard work, albeit an increasingly brief one, as schools flood the summer with make-up classes in a attempt to complete the HKDSE syllabi. But for OSA's EXCO, the summer marks not a break, but the beginning of an incredibly busy time, as we finalise arrangements for this year's installment of our long-standing external project, Interflow Camp, as well as the Mentorship Programme and the AGM.
In this second edition of Qingmiao, we're proud to reflect upon the success of our all-new external project, Global Confluence 2012, particularly with the culminating Booth Day at the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui. We also look forward to our next external project, Interflow Camp 2012, for which we've already started to accept participant applications.
On a further note - we'd just like to encourage you all to check the OSA Facebook page periodically, as we've made a special effort to update it more often than in previous years, as an unofficial platform to keep you updated as OSA events happen.
So as the 25th EXCO enters into its final stretch, we hope to see all of you at our events over the next few weeks. Happy reading, and best of luck for those awaiting exam results!
Keith Chan (2504)
External Secretary, 25th EXCO
Exams... are finally over! For many students across Hong Kong, the start of the summer holidays marks a respite from the year's hard work, albeit an increasingly brief one, as schools flood the summer with make-up classes in a attempt to complete the HKDSE syllabi. But for OSA's EXCO, the summer marks not a break, but the beginning of an incredibly busy time, as we finalise arrangements for this year's installment of our long-standing external project, Interflow Camp, as well as the Mentorship Programme and the AGM.
In this second edition of Qingmiao, we're proud to reflect upon the success of our all-new external project, Global Confluence 2012, particularly with the culminating Booth Day at the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui. We also look forward to our next external project, Interflow Camp 2012, for which we've already started to accept participant applications.
On a further note - we'd just like to encourage you all to check the OSA Facebook page periodically, as we've made a special effort to update it more often than in previous years, as an unofficial platform to keep you updated as OSA events happen.
So as the 25th EXCO enters into its final stretch, we hope to see all of you at our events over the next few weeks. Happy reading, and best of luck for those awaiting exam results!
Keith Chan (2504)
External Secretary, 25th EXCO
What's been keeping us busy...
Global Confluence 2012
Our first external project, Global Confluence 2012, was successfully held between February and April 2012. The six-week programme allowed 120 secondary school students from across Hong Kong to experience globalisation from a variety of perspectives, not only from the highly-successful consulate visits, but also from interesting outside speakers, such as an anthropology professor from CUHK and an expert holding a cultural globalisation Ph.D. from University College London. The theme of globalisation also tied in very well with the new NSS Liberal Studies curriculum, although the focus of Global Confluence 2012 on hands-on experiential learning, was designed to offer an alternative to the traditional classroom approach.
In particular, the Booth Day was particularly successful in providing a platform for participants to exhibit all they had learnt to the public. For the first time ever, we managed to secure the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui for the Booth Day, allowing the booths to reach a much wider audience. Not only did participants successfully employ their enthusiasm to attract locals and Mainland Chinese tourists; many foreigners also stopped by to take part in booth activities, and commented on the impressive scale and student-run nature of the event.
Check out a selection of our best shots from Global Confluence 2012 below, ranging from the city-tracing and cooking challenge on Orientation Day, to seminars, debates and finally the booth session:
In particular, the Booth Day was particularly successful in providing a platform for participants to exhibit all they had learnt to the public. For the first time ever, we managed to secure the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui for the Booth Day, allowing the booths to reach a much wider audience. Not only did participants successfully employ their enthusiasm to attract locals and Mainland Chinese tourists; many foreigners also stopped by to take part in booth activities, and commented on the impressive scale and student-run nature of the event.
Check out a selection of our best shots from Global Confluence 2012 below, ranging from the city-tracing and cooking challenge on Orientation Day, to seminars, debates and finally the booth session:
25th Anniversary Dinner
(click on image to enlarge)
On 17th May, our hugely successful 25th Anniversary Dinner was held at the Regal Hongkong Hotel, with over 100 OSArs from across the generations attending to share their memories of OSA. Attendees enjoyed Regal's lovely Western-style cuisine - including a chicken main course - as they watched video compilations of the Association's collective memories on the projector screen. We were even able to invite one of our founding members, acclaimed artiste Karen Mok
莫文蔚, to a sharing session during the evening. This was followed by numerous exciting activities, such as the lucky draw and the 27th OSArs' Performance. Special thanks goes to the Youth Arch Foundation for helping us secure the venue!
27th OSArs' Orientation Day
(click on image to enlarge)
This year's Orientation Day for the incoming OSArs was held on 6th May at the University of Hong Kong. While the morning was devoted to a series of fun warm-up games and an interesting sharing session between the 27th OSArs' and more senior members, the afternoon saw the new addition of a social service element to the Orientation Day, with a visit to a nearby service centre. This not only made the entire day more meaningful, but also effectively conveyed the spirit of empathy and generosity that very much characterises OSA. The twenty-odd participants also enjoyed a pizza lunch together with the senior OSArs and the 25th EXCO. More photos can be viewed here!
Cooperation with our Partner Organisations
FYLF
As in previous years, the 25th EXCO has continued the tradition of cooeprating with our partner organisations. On 28th June, the EXCO sent representatives to help out at the Mega-Event for the Most Improved Student Awardees, organised by the Youth Arch Foundation. This event was designed to encourage the Awardees to continue putting their utmost effort into their studies, and included meaningful skits, songs and sharing sessions from politicians, celebrities and athletes.
On 28th February, the EXCO joined hands with The Outstanding Young Persons Association (TOYPA) to organise the Future Young Leaders' Forum (FYLF), with EXCO members and friends of OSA helping out as MCs and photographers.
And just a few weeks prior to that - on 5th February - OSArs and Chi Heng Foundation co-hosted a sharing session between OSArs, MISArs (Most Improved Student Awardees) and AIDS orphans from Mainland China, who had come to Hong Kong to run in the Standard Chartered Marathon 2012. This proved to be a deeply meaningful and enlightening experience, as we were all deeply humbled by the determination and resolve shown by the orphans, and reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Hong Kong.
On 28th February, the EXCO joined hands with The Outstanding Young Persons Association (TOYPA) to organise the Future Young Leaders' Forum (FYLF), with EXCO members and friends of OSA helping out as MCs and photographers.
And just a few weeks prior to that - on 5th February - OSArs and Chi Heng Foundation co-hosted a sharing session between OSArs, MISArs (Most Improved Student Awardees) and AIDS orphans from Mainland China, who had come to Hong Kong to run in the Standard Chartered Marathon 2012. This proved to be a deeply meaningful and enlightening experience, as we were all deeply humbled by the determination and resolve shown by the orphans, and reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Hong Kong.
Coming up...
Interflow Camp 2012
(click on image to enlarge)
As we look ahead to July, we're pleased to inform you that progress for our upcoming external project, Interflow Camp 2012, is proceeding well. The theme of this year’s Interflow Camp is ENVISION, and it aims to convey the importance of life goals and dreams to participating students, thus encouraging them to pursue their dreams, for the betterment of both themselves and society as a whole.
Having recruited our Organising Committee (OC) from among OSArs and friends of OSA, and having held our first and second OC meetings on 19th May and 30th June respectively, we have also started the participant application process, and are preparing for the next OC meeting in late June. The actual camp will be held at the PLK Pak Tam Chung campsite on 18th-20th July, with the Orientation Day scheduled for 7th July.
If you have any questions about this year's Interflow Camp, feel free to drop us an email!
Having recruited our Organising Committee (OC) from among OSArs and friends of OSA, and having held our first and second OC meetings on 19th May and 30th June respectively, we have also started the participant application process, and are preparing for the next OC meeting in late June. The actual camp will be held at the PLK Pak Tam Chung campsite on 18th-20th July, with the Orientation Day scheduled for 7th July.
If you have any questions about this year's Interflow Camp, feel free to drop us an email!
Internal Events
With the summer break comes more free time for you to attend OSA's internal events! Our main internal event in the coming weeks will be the Mentorship Programme, which will be held in on 22nd July. Of course, we also hope to see you at the Annual General Meeting, which is currently planned for 4th August. These dates will, as always, be confirmed by email well in advance of the events.
Any queries regarding internal events can be directed to our Vice President, John Leung by email.
Any queries regarding internal events can be directed to our Vice President, John Leung by email.