Over 900 Attended the Forum Together We Mobilize the Community to Enhance Our Resilience   The Sixth Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Forum cum Project Expo has been a resounding success. And most of the credit must be given to the unstinting support and active participation of guest speakers for sharing sessions; corporates and agencies as well as project teams for the Expo; volunteers and Forum ambassadors; and numerous participants. Indeed, the overwhelming response of the participants has set three “exceptional records” for the Forum. Remarks:Click Thumbnail to enlarge photo 1. Record Number of Participants Kick off! Officiating guests light up iconic replicas while participants wave shiny bookmarks to open the 6th CIIF Forum   The Forum, with its theme for Social Capital: Creating Hope, Trust and Resilience, drew in over 900 people from diverse sectors and set a new record in the attendance rate. The high attendance signified the growing power of social capital and the snowballing effect it has generated.   2. Record Number of Contributing Partie The Forum put up a formidable line-up this year. All 18 CIIF Committee Members served either as master of ceremonies for the Forum, contributors for sharing sessions or judges for the Most Effective Display Selection. At the Forum, forty guest speakers have taken the podium to share their experience and five project teams, with a total of 126 members, enlivened the Forum with their exciting performances. In addition, 69 project teams took part in the Project Expo whilst the Collaborators’ Corner also drew in eight corporations and agencies.       Professor LEUNG Cho-bun and Ms CHAU Chuen-heung give the overview for the main plenary session. A witty pair of MCs, business woman Ms LAU ka-shi and Professor Albert LEE.   The personal and touching experience of the guest speakers onstage drew enthusiastic response from the audience offstage. The exuberant performances of project teams and insightful displayed at the Expo further fueled the enthusiasm of Forum participants. All in all, the event has proved to be a fruitful and rewarding experience for all. Representatives introduce the different project panels to the Forum participants.   Friends from the business and public sectors and special social associations at the “Collaborators Corner”.       Volunteers of the project expo introduce their project panels to the judges for the “Most Effective Display Award”.   Multi-ethnic and multi-sector participants with Mr Paul K W Tang , Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, and Ms Sophia KAO, Vice Chairperson of the CIIF Committee.   3. Projects of Exceptional Excellence and appointment of New S.C. Net Members The Fund granted a total of 13 awards to commend exceptional projects and people for their outstanding achievements in developing social capital; bringing new hopes to and developing networks of trust in the communities; and enhancing resilience and capability of people in coping with adversity and embracing new challenges. Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, also personally appointed 18 members dedicated to creating social capital to the SC. Net.   Smile!──Group photo of CIIF Committee members, achievement awardees and newly appointed SC.Net members. We are a big family!   Revisiting Forum Highlights The Forum opened with dramatic fanfare from Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Cho Tong Social Service Building – a rousing acrobatics performance from a troupe of performers whose ages spanned from young to old to lead in the Forum theme. As Mr Yeung Ka-sing, Chairman of the Fund Committee, noted in his welcoming speech, “the fund has developed a number of flagship projects in the past seven years - be it the revitalisation of old districts in the early days, or empowerment of new districts recently……[they] have successfully built mutual assistance and concern among neighbours and created hope, trust and resilience in the community.” The oldest (92) and youngest (5) members of the “YO Show” family (Network K.C. ? Mutual Help and Community Networking Project).     Mr YEUNG Ka-sing, Chairman of the CIIF Committee, warmly welcomes the participants. Mr Matthew CHEUNG Kin-chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, give the welcoming address.   The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, also observed in his speech that Hong Kong had faced up to tough challenges in the past year – from the global economic crisis triggered by the financial tsunami at the end of last year to the human swine flu epidemic in April this year. Thus, he called on the diverse sectors in the community to join in developing social capital to create new vitality and opportunities in the community. In line with the focus of the Fund on strengthening and promoting collaboration with businesses for this year, the main plenary set on Social Capital: A New Look at Corporate Social Responsibility as its theme. Representatives from the business sector, welfare sector, professional bodies and government departments shared their insights on keys to successful cross-sectoral collaboration. They also took the successful Tung Chung community building project as example to illustrate how social capital strategies could be implemented whilst performing corporate social responsibility and ways to cultivate and entrench district networks. They then went further to identify ways to promote multi-sectoral collaboration in order to maximise the effects social capital. The two workshops focused on exploring new strategies for youth development and new partnership models for community building. Guest speakers share their experiences and insights on “Social Capital: A New Look at Corporate Social Responsibility”.   Mr Bernard Chan talks of how the “connectivity and power” of social capital can connect people’s hearts and empower individuals. For the luncheon address, Mr. Bernard CHAN, Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service delivered a speech entitled Social Capital: The Magic of Connectivity and Power. He noted that social capital might be regarded as a glue that fostered social harmony and facilitated the development of deep, enduring and sustainable networks of mutual trust and assistance. The cumulative effects of such an adhesive could generate a formidable force, which was the subtle cumulative adhesive force of social capital.   Community Workshop Youth Workshop Guests share their successful experiences in social capital building on the community level (Tin Shui Wai) and estate level respectively. Members present souvenirs to guests of the workshop on “New Strategies and Partnership Models for Community Building”.   Project Team Performance This vibrant Hip Hop Dance performance by the mentors & mentees from Society of Boys’ Centres youth development programme. Multi-ethnic students of the Yaumati Kaifong Association School perform their Rhythmic Bamboo Dance.       Cross-generational Tai Chi of the “Ming Wah Good Neighbourhood Project” do their number. “Lok Kwan Clothing of Many Splendours Project” holds a fashion show of individually designed costumes, highlighting the values of CIIF Achievement Awards to much applause.   Last but not least, we must extend our thanks to each and every of the participants for joining us at the Forum and actively participating in the activities. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in future to create ever more social capital.   We Can We care Together We Create