CHILDREN AND YOUTH INITIATIVES
LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD
Laureus comprises the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus World Sports Awards and the Laureus Sport for Good foundation, which was founded in response to Nelson Mandela’s stirring speech at the organisation’s first awards ceremony, when he highlighted sport’s power to change the world. Laureus Sport for Good uses the power of sport to try to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage. Currently supporting more than 150 programmes in more than 40 countries, Laureus Sport for Good addresses social issues, including health, education, women’s rights, unemployment, discrimination and conflict, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Laureus was founded in 2000 by Richemont and Daimler, which continue to support it via their brands IWC Schaffhausen and Mercedesbenz respectively. They were joined in 2018 by the sixth-largest bank in the world, MUFG, formerly known as Mitsubishi Tokyo Bank; the other partners are Allianz and Richemont’s Montblanc. Its charitable efforts are supported by the Laureus World Sports Academy, an association of 65 sporting legends headed by former rugby star Sean Fitzpatrick. Laureus is in the process of setting up a Hong Kong office and is already working with several local charities. laureus.com
New Campaigns:
England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Nolli Waterman became Laureus’ first women’s rugby ambassador earlier this year.
How To Help?
Make a donation: 100 per cent of donations go straight to Laureus’ projects, with none of the money used for the organisation’s operating costs.
SPORTS FOR HOPE FOUNDATION
Established in 2008 by Marie-christine Lee-louey—who is also the founder of professional sports training institutions Sport Max and Hope Sport Association— the Sports for Hope Foundation aims to grant everyone the chance to develop their character through sport, particularly underprivileged children. The Sports for Hope Foundation has contributed to the Sports Legacy programme of the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, enabling two new schools to be added to the scheme, which provides sports training and facilities to secondary schools in underprivileged neighbourhoods. It has also sponsored the Hong Kong Sports Institute’s Outstanding Junior Athletes Awards, which recognise young athletes four times per year, and contributed to sports scholarships and sports team training at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. sportsforhopefoundation.org.hk
How To Help?
The foundation accepts one-off donations and runs regular fundraising events, from its Talent Search Fundraising Day to charity balls.
CHANGING YOUNG LIVES FOUNDATION
Originally established as part of the International Save The Children Alliance in the 1950s, the Changing Young Lives Foundation was incorporated as an independent registered Hong Kong charity in 1996. The organisation is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children and marginalised youth in Hong Kong and Mainland China through education and developmental programmes in the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The CYLF offers centrebased and outreach programmes in education, talent development, experiential learning and self-empowerment that are completely free of charge, allowing young people to maximise their opportunities at school and work, and inspiring them to live their lives to the fullest. The CYLF also works with remote schools in Qinghai, Guangxi and Gansu provinces, improving their infrastructure, health and hygiene and offering teacher training and student scholarships. The charity’s Madam TY Wong (Alee Vee) Centre serves underprivileged children and families in Shek Kip Mei, offering workshops to parents and educational support for children. The CYLF has a range of programme sponsors, including Swire and Citi Foundation. Olympic swimmer Yvette Kong is one of the charity’s ambassadors and Eleanor Wong acts as honorary chairman of the CYLF’S board of advisors. changingyounglives.org.hk
In The Diary:
Gala dinner, October.
How To Help?
Make one-off, monthly or yearly donations; organise a fundraiser; become a mentor; or participate in corporate social responsibility opportunities.
“I HAVE BEEN ONE OF LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD’S AMBASSADORS SINCE I FINISHED THE SEVEN SUMMITS IN 2005. I LOVE THE QUOTES BY NELSON MANDELA THAT LAUREUS STANDS FOR: ‘SPORT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD’ AND ‘SPORT CAN CREATE HOPE WHERE ONCE THERE WAS ONLY DESPAIR.’” —ANNABELLE BOND
“THE CHANGING YOUNG LIVES FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO REWRITING THE LIFE STORIES OF THOUSANDS OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND YOUTHS IN HONG KONG. OUR PROGRAMMES PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN DISCOVER AND NURTURE THEIR OWN TALENTS. TO ME, THERE IS NOTHING MORE MEANINGFUL THAN TO SEE THEM TRANSFORMING THEIR OWN LIVES BY BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THE AREAS THEY LOVE.” —ANGIE TING