HONG KONG, May 6, 2013—FedEx Express (“FedEx”) and TREATS joined hands to promote social integration and an inclusive community at their annual Carnival at Sha Tin Park on May 5, 2013. This is the third consecutive year that FedEx has partnered with TREATS, a not-for-profit organization with a vision to provide every child with a chance to live and participate in an accepting and integrated society.
At the Carnival sponsored by FedEx, 12 FedEx volunteers and 30 students with differing abilities and backgrounds together performed a hip hop dragon and lion dance at the opening ceremony to reinforce social equality and diversity. In addition, with the support of 30 FedEx volunteers, 120 TREATS Integrated Youth Ambassadors – students from mainstream and special needs schools – managed over 12 booth games, themed “Appreciation, Acceptance and Equal Participation”.
“FedEx was established 40 years ago to create access to opportunities. Over the years, we have brought this concept to a social level by enabling access to various learning opportunities,” said Anthony Leung, managing director of FedEx Express, Hong Kong and Macau. “I’m encouraged to see how this TREATS program and the FedEx volunteers have positively influenced these teenagers, their friends and families, making Hong Kong a more harmonious place to live and work.”
This Carnival is part of “TREATS Journey to Integration 2013”, a program designed to foster understanding, acceptance and integration among youths in Hong Kong. 12 FedEx volunteers have been engaged in this program and contributed about 600 hours over the past 8 months. They provided mentorship and guidance, and established friendships with the 120 Integrated Youth Ambassadors through a series of learning experiences, including in-school activities, full-day community expeditions to evaluate the accessibility of public facilities for people with differing abilities, community fairs and a weekend learning camp.
“Currently, there are close to 300,000 disadvantaged youths and children in Hong Kong. We organized this program to nurture a new generation who can reduce social barriers and discrimination. We believe the teenagers in this program are taking an important step in creating a more integrated society,” said Kris Tong, TREATS director.
More images of the Carnival can be downloaded at: http://ketchum.com.hk/knprhk/FedEx/TREATS/Carnival_photos.zip
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Schools participating in “FedEx/ TREATS Journey to Integration 2013” include:
- Wah Yan College
- C.C.C. M.K. Church Kai Oi School
- NLSI Peace Evangelical Secondary School
- Hong Chi Winifred Mary Cheung Morninghope School
- Kowloon Technical School
- Savior Lutheran School
- Cognitio College (Hong Kong)
- Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island West Hong Chi Morninghope School