Sun Hung Kai Properties : SHKP Reading Club sows seeds of reading on campus for the fourth year Over a hundred Read & Share activities held for 40,000 students and teachers

SHKP Reading Club sows seeds of reading on campus for the fourth year
Over a hundred Read & Share activities held for 40,000 students and teachers

To sow the seeds of reading in primary and secondary schools, Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited's SHKP Reading Club, which endeavors to promote the joy of reading across the community through different initiatives, has partnered with the Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association (HKAPSHA) to present the Read & Share programme. During the academic year 2017/18, the programme has organized 125 activities and visits, offering an enjoyable reading experience to over 40,000 primary and secondary students and teachers. The Club held an award presentation ceremony today (23 August) to recognize the efforts of those who took part in the programme as well as to announce activities for the new school year.

Supporting school-based reading programmes

Currently, 124 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong have already joined the Read & Share programme through which they can select and make use of the support and activities offered by the SHKP Reading Club to meet the different needs of teachers when promoting reading at school. During the previous academic year, the Club invited 24 celebrities and authors, including HKAPSHA Honorary Chairman Leung Siu-tong, Fresh Fish Traders' School former principal Leung Kee-cheong, World Green Organisation CEO Dr William Yu, Green Power Senior Conservation Manager Lui Tak-hang, playwright Ko Tin-lung, prolific writer Zita Law, author and advertising professional Anthony Wong, online writer Blue GodZi, author of motivational books Kenneth Wong, veteran journalist and writer Yip Fai, multimedia artist Keith Ho and interpersonal relationship expert Wong Kam-shing. Others included renowned comic artists Malone Yuen, Chao Yat and Fatmoonba as well as young writers Christopher Tong, Amy Chan, Suki Yu, Fontane Yiu, Brown White, Lam Siu-long, Kelvin Wong, RedTeeth and Kristy. Through fascinating and inspiring sharing sessions and workshop activities, the Club has introduced the joy of reading to many campuses. Some overseas exchange students from AFS Intercultural Exchanges also shared their global outlook and the fun of English reading with local students.

Moreover, 'A Letter to My Family' writing competition, part of the Read & Share programme, offered a chance for students to share their thoughts and feeling from books with their families in the forms of letters or postcards. Featuring junior primary and senior primary categories, the entries shed light on heart-warming messages that students longed to share with their family members. For example, the Gold Award winner of the junior primary category Cheung Shun-yee shared about the joy in realizing how much her mother loves her after reading Guess How Much I Loved You, while the Gold Award winner of the senior primary category Yim Hau-yee revealed her hopes that her father will take up cycling as a way to stay fit and enjoy sports with her after reading My First Cycling Book. The competition attracted more than 2,000 entries.

Commending happy-reading school communities

In addition, Outstanding Performance Awards were presented to the students and teachers nominated by participating schools for their fine example in sharing and promoting the fun of reading. This year, the Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Ming Tao Primary School received the Most Active Participation Award.

In the coming academic year, the theme for Read & Share programme will be 'Happy Reading STEM up!'. Innovative activities will include celebrity sharing sessions, 'Our STEM Living' exchange activities as well as fun and inspiring STEM courses at Noah's Ark. Schools interested in joining are welcome to contact the SHKP Reading Club, or visit the Club's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shkpreadingclub) and website (www.shkpreadingclub.com) to obtain more details. Enrolment is free of charge.

About the SHKP Reading Club

SHKP believes in Building Homes with Heart and promotes reading and holistic development. It set up the SHKP Reading Club in 2013 to consolidate its reading-related initiatives such as seminars with leading speakers and guided cultural tours to inspire more people to enjoy reading and make it a habit. Anyone interested can join for free at www.shkpreadingclub.com.