Date:2021-3-27 7:01:33 Clicks:1111 【Font Size:
Big Normal Small】
The “Smoke-free Teens Programme” was organized by Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and co-organized by Education Bureau, with an aim to equip youngsters with knowledge on smoking hazards and tobacco control through various trainings and activities, as well as to nurture them to become future leaders in promoting smoke-free culture. Nearly 200 youngsters, aged 13 to 18, from 28 secondary schools and organizations enrolled for the programme in 2020-21. The trained Smoke-free Teens held about 70 innovative smoke-free programmes in their schools and the community, reaching over 17,000 students and members of public from all walks of life.
The “Smoke-free Teens Programme 2020-21” Showcase cum Sharing Session was held today (25 March 2021) to commend the outstanding Smoke-free Teens for their efforts and achievements. Officiating guests included Henry TONG, COSH Chairman, Richard TSANG, COSH Education & Publicity Committee Chairman, and Vienna LAI, COSH Executive Director. The awards went to New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School (Champion), Cotton Spinners Association Secondary School (1st runner-up) and Lok Sin Tong Leung Chik Wai Memorial School (2nd runner-up). Besides, Ho Ngai College (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen), Hong Kong Army Cadets Association and Queen's College Old Boys' Association Secondary School were awarded as “Outstanding Smoke-free Team”.
“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and suspension of face-to-face classes, COSH was delighted to witness the participants overcoming different obstacles and had successfully organized both online and offline activities to disseminate smoke-free messages among their schoolmates and the general public, which contributed to building a Smoke-free Hong Kong ” Henry TONG, COSH Chairman remarked.
With the principle of “Suspending Classes without Suspending Learning” underlined by EDB, both smoke-free workshops and training camps were conducted virtually. The participants were equipped with tobacco-free knowledge and leadership skills such as problem-solving and team work through trainings, speakers sharing, virtual group games and room escape. Smoke-free Teens demonstrated enhanced skills in organizing variety of activities including production of smoke-free short films, design competitions, booth games, promotion via physical or online morning assemblies, online smoke-free pledge, community promotions and collaboration with community center for encouraging smoking cessation during COVID-19 pandemic.
The Champion team, New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Yuen Long District Secondary School shared their fruitful experience in organizing a series of online and offline activities, such as tailor-made “Look into Smoking Hazards” educational video to be played in all classes with quizzes. They also designed a smoke-free information panel when class resumed with an online version introduced simultaneously which attracted around 300 students to pledge not to smoke. To arouse the schoolmates’ awareness, they also conducted a few bilingual presentations to promote their smoke-free activities and boost participation, which fully demonstrated their capability in project and crisis management.
On the other hand, the 1st runner-up team, Cotton Spinners Association Secondary School produced a creative short film to introduce the smoking hazards and reminded students on the hazards of alternative smoking products via a social media Page. The 2nd runner-up team, Lok Sin Tong Leung Chik Wai Memorial School also produced a short film named “Smoke-free New Life” which was inspired by a true story to alert the students the adverse consequences of smoking.
More than 2,600 Smoke-free Teens have been trained to take a pioneer role in tobacco control through the Programme held in past nine years. Participants can join the “Smoke-free Teens Alumni” to assist in organizing smoke-free events, while the winning teams can also participate in the virtual Macau study tour and summer internship. COSH will organize a revamped “Smoke-free Elite Teens Programme” in School Year 2021-22 with brand new training format and enriched programmes to foster students’ life planning, inclusive of visits, internship and mentorship programme. Local secondary schools, youth centres and uniform groups are invited to join and develop their potentials in motivating the mass public to live smoke-free. For details of the programme, please visit www.smokefree.hk/smokefreeteens.