"New World Springboard" Launches Mentorship Programme at Welcoming Party
New World Group's (the "Group"; Stock Code: 17.HK) "New World Springboard" Welcoming Party was held on 12 Jan 2013 at Hong Kong Science Park where around 500 students, parents and staff members from the Group witnessed a new page of the "New World Springboard" and the launch of its official website www.nwspringboard.com.hk.
"New World Springboard," a sustainable community programme launched in 2012, aims at encouraging under-resourced youngsters and improving social mobility in the long run. The initial phase of the programme focuses on swimming and basketball by providing more than fiveyears of professional sports training to qualified children and youth. As an extension of "New World Swimming Academy" and "New World Basketball League," "New World Springboard" Mentorship Programme was introduced to provide students with guidance on their personal development and help broaden their horizon. The programme is well supported by around 120 staff members who volunteer to become students' mentors .
"New World Springboard" signifies the Group's commitment to supporting all-rounded development of under-resourced youths, cultivating the spirit of perseverance, helping them to equip themselves to meet challenges," said Adrian Cheng, Executive Director and Joint General Manager of the Group. He also thanked different parties for their support to "New World Springboard" and hoped that, through the programme, students can advance themselves in different aspects of life including sports, academics and personal growth.
The Group also invited its co-organisers, Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association ("HKASA") and Hong Kong Basketball Association ("HKBA"), as well as other partnering non-government organisations and schools to join the event. Ronnie Wong, Honorary Secretary of HKASA, said, "We express our gratitude to New World Group for their support which has benefited a large number of students. In time we hope to see students becoming new elite swimmers who will compete for Hong Kong." Chu Chun Sang, Honorary Secretary General of HKBA, encouraged students with his own experience and said, "I had been through difficult days in my childhood and playing basketball helped me build self-confidence and motivated me to strive forward. We hope that students will benefit from the programme while enjoying the fun of basketball playing."
During the day, registered social workers conducted seminars on communication with young people for volunteering mentors, coaches under the programme and parents. Through ice-breaking games, the mentors and students got acquainted in no time. The Group also presented certificates and book coupons to students with outstanding performance as encouragement.
Since its launch in 2012, "New World Swimming Academy" has provided professional swimming training for around 200 students from Tung Chung and Sham Shui Po. Students with outstanding performance and keen attitudes were selected to attend phase-two training started in November 2012. "New World Basketball League" was kicked off in January 2013, offering professional basketball training to around 150 students from five districts, namely Tung Chung, Sham Shui Po, Tin Shui Wai, Kwai Tsing and Kwan Tong.
New World Development Company Limited
New World Development Company Limited ("The Group"; Stock Code: 17.HK) is a leading conglomerate based in Hong Kong. The Group was founded in 1970 and publicly listed in Hong Kong in 1972. It is a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index with a total asset value of HK$286.3 billion as at 30 June 2012.
For more than four decades, the Group has expanded from a single focus on the property business to four core areas: property, infrastructure, services and department store. As at 30 June 2012, the Group has an effective interest of approximately 60.7% in NWS Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 659.HK), approximately 69.9% in New World China Land Limited (Stock Code: 917.HK) and approximately 72.3% in New World Department Store China Limited (Stock Code: 825.HK).