ENG-2005 — Page 492

426 Recreation, Sport and the Arts

There is also a wide variety of customised courses for corporations and government departments in Hong Kong and the Mainland. They are designed to enhance the team effectiveness, leadership and creative thinking of staff, and to build a positive corporate culture. Community courses for special groups such as the mentally and physically disabled, the socially deprived, youth at risk and former drug addicts, continue to help the physical, mental and social development of individuals.

Adventure-Ship

Adventure-Ship is a registered charity that maintains the 27.5-metre sailing junk, the Huan, and provides nautical training programmes for underprivileged children and children with disabilities. Adventure-Ship is a member of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and is funded mainly by the Community Chest and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Each year, more than 6 000 young people benefit from the training programmes offered. The training consists of day or overnight trips (up to three days and two nights) within Hong Kong waters. The ship can accommodate 60 youngsters on day trips and 50 on overnight voyages.

Challenge through 'disciplined entertainment' is the main theme of training. Once on board, participants are regarded as members of the ship's crew and take part in the operational routines. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, they are trained to face new challenges and participate in activities that build team spirit and self-confidence. The training programmes have been devised to cope with various weather conditions and the special requirements of children of different aptitudes and backgrounds.

Adventure-Ship is making good progress with its programme to build a replacement sailing training vessel for the Huan, which has been in service for more than 28 years. Building of the new vessel is due to be completed in Spring 2006. The vessel will be named the Jockey Club Huan, in recognition of Hong Kong Jockey Club's donation of $24 million to fund construction.

The new 34.5-metre vessel will be equipped with a full range of amenities for those participating in the training courses provided on board in addition to modern navigation aids. The hull of three-masted traditional-rig sailing junk is made of aluminium. Various purpose-built access facilities will be installed in the Jockey Club Huan to facilitate the participation of trainees with disabilities.

Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association

The Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA) is affiliated to the International Youth Hostels Federation which is the world's largest youth membership organisation encompassing more than 4 000 hostels in over 80 countries worldwide.

The association is a non-profit-making organisation. Its mission is to provide simple, safe and comfortable hostel-style accommodation, as well as a cross-cultural platform for young people to meet each other, share their travel experiences and exchange views on environmental conservation, peace and other meaningful issues.