Feature Articles

FPA Jockey Club Youth Zone – A New Approach to Youth Sexuality Education and Services

Ref Number: ESEAOR201204

  • Date1 Apr 2012
  • Category FPA Message
  • Targets Public
  • AuthorFPAHK
  • Topic Others

With a generous donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPAHK) has revamped its youth services by renovating a designated area in its Wanchai headquarters solely for youths. The new “FPA Jockey Club Youth Zone”, officially opened on 13 March 2012, provides young people with one-stop access to education, information as well as clinical and counselling services in sexual and reproductive health.

In her welcoming remarks, Ms Lina Yan, FPAHK’s Chairperson, said the FPA Jockey Club Youth Zone represented a new approach to youth sexual health services. The old service-centered model has been replaced by an interactive approach where young people are given the freedom to explore and acquire sexual knowledge, health information and comprehensive health care services through. “Youth Zone” pronounced in Putonghua also means “relaxed”, as it was hoped that youths can learn and foster healthy sexual attitude and values in a relaxed manner here.

Officiating the opening ceremony, Dr Donald Li, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, noted that the Jockey Club and FPAHK had been partners in serving the community for more than 60 years. “I am delighted to see the establishment of the Youth Zone which marks a milestone for FPAHK in providing more comprehensive youth services. We hope more young people, parents, professionals from education and social services sectors will fully utilise the facilities and services provided by the Youth Zone,” he added. Other officiating guests of honour included Dr Shirley Leung Sze-lee, Assistant Director of Health (Family & Elderly Health Services), and Professor Cheng Yin-cheong, Acting President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

The FPA Jockey Club Youth Zone comprises an Activity & Resource Centre (ARC) and a Youth Health Care Centre (YHCC). The ARC is designed to encompass the six key concepts of comprehensive sex education. It is equipped with novel interactive multi-media facilities, fun and modern artistic installations, special exhibitions, art decorations and a Kid’s Corner. It provides young people with interesting learning experiences, intrigues them to pursue sexual knowledge according to their own needs, and stimulates them to reflect on their own values and attitudes. There is an eye-catching giant condom model which is a somatosensory game for players to explore their own feelings about various sexual behaviours. Other multi-media facilities, “Sperm Killing”, “Knowing Each Other” and “Bubble Wall” attract youngsters to learn about contraception, prevention of sexually transmissible diseases, interpersonal relationships, sexual attitudes and growth.

The ARC has a collection of more than 10,000 items for reference, loan or purchase, including books, learning and teaching visual-audio resources, FPAHK publications and teaching materials, in sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health, family life education and population development. Free Wi-Fi internet access, computers and a beverage vending machine make it a relaxing and comfortable environment for users. Various activities will be launched, including guided tours for Liberal Studies in secondary and primary schools; sex education talks for parents, teachers, social workers, children and youth workers and members of the public, and DIY workshops, etc.

In the YHCCs, a dedicated medical and counselling team provides sexual health care and counselling services to youths. Over the past decades, users of preventive health care services of the FPAHK’s Youth Health Care Service have been increasing steadily. The number of youths who received health check-up or vaccination almost doubled from 4,598 in 2001 to 8,422 in 2011, and those who received contraceptive counseling service rose from 2,704 in 2001 to 8,328 in 2011.

The FPA Jockey Club Youth Zone responds to the needs of young people, schools, parents and the community for support in the delivery of sexuality education and health services.