2009-12-17
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation,
Cloud Gate Dance School and
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Nursery Schools
launch the movement programme,
Leap!
A lifelong gift for children
To celebrate the launch of
Leap!, its third creative arts education programme, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation presented a Launching Ceremony with its strategic partners – Cloud Gate Dance School and the Nursery Schools of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals at Youth Square on December 17, 2009. The ceremony’s highlight was a demonstration session of a
Leap! class. The event symbolized the official launch of the
Leap! programme, a curriculum designed to foster the happy and healthy growth of children.
Officiating at the Launching Ceremony were Caroline Pfohl-Ho, Chairman of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation; Lin Hwai-min, Founder of Cloud Gate Dance School in Taiwan and Chan Man Yee Wai, Viola, 3rd Vice-Chairman of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.
A collaboration among cultural, educational and philanthropic organizations
Operating on the principle that the arts are fundamental to the healthy growth of a society, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation has developed and funded various creative arts education programmes since its inauguration in 2005. These projects have taken a fresh approach to the arts and have successfully encouraged young people to observe, appreciate, think and express themselves through artistic creation.
The concept of
Leap! is based on a curriculum developed by Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance School eleven years ago. The school strongly believes that children are inborn dancers, but that limited urban space and education systems emphasizing intelligence development have created barriers to children exploring their own physical potential. “Children can be happy by moving their bodies freely,” says Mr. Lin. “The curriculum and the Teaching Artists aim to bring out the inborn creativity of children. It will be evident that each person has different creative capabilities.”
As a developer and supporter of arts education, the Foundation supports such a vision and decided to introduce this curriculum to Hong Kong as a gift to local youngsters. It spent more than two years on planning, research and development related to the programme. “We hope the children can bring the confidence they experienced in the
Leap! classes into their schools as well as society when they become adults,” says Foundation Chairman Pfohl-Ho. “The Foundation hopes that this confidence will energize young people as they grow up and throughout their lives.”
The Foundation invited the Nursery Schools of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to be the campus partner of
Leap!, recognizing the Group’s solid contribution to pre-school education in Hong Kong. Noting the period between ages 4 and 6 is the key to children’s development of integrity and character, the Foundation decided to introduce
Leap! at nursery-school level as a first step. The pilot phase of the project was successfully implemented in three nursery schools under the network of the Tung Wah Group; some 150 children enjoyed the fun-filled classes. In the 2009-10 academic year, 700 children from 15 nursery schools participate in
Leap!.
Teaching children to love learning
The programme has received positive responses from the youngsters, parents and school teachers. After each class, the children would sport big smiles. “They enjoy the classes very much,” says Ms. Chung Min Lai, Principal of TWGHs Lo Wong Pik Shan Nursery School. “They stayed focused throughout a class lasting 50 minutes.”
“I truly appreciate the thorough preparation done by the
Leap! Teaching Artists,” says Ms. Leung Fung Yu, Principal of TWGHs Chiap Hua Cheng Nursery School. “Their teaching tools help the children learn abstract ideas and bring out their creativity.”
The teachers from the nursery schools also learn gradually to become more open and give space to the children so they can create. “There is one very good element in the programme,” says Ms. Ho Lai Ying, Principal of TWGHs Fong Tam Yuen Leung Nursery School. “It allows the school teachers to take an observer’s role and see how warm and friendly interactions develop between the Teaching Artists and the children.”
Chan Man Yee Wai, Viola, 3rd Vice-Chairman of TWGHs said that the children who have joined the programme have become different. Those active children have learnt the art of “waiting” while the quiet children have learnt to open up and express their thoughts through body movement.
Let’s step out together with our children
During the Launching Ceremony, the
Leap! Teaching Artists brought the children for a day of adventure to the Kingdom of Curves, where many bananas are planted. The youngsters responded enthusiastically to the Artists’ imaginative stories. The Teaching Artists invited the kids to create their own unique curve by saying, “Can you be as curvy as the bananas?” Some children quickly lay down on the floor, in the shape of a banana. The Teaching Artists then said, “Mr. Banana also has a good friend, Mr. Curvy.” The children immediately bent their arms, legs and other parts of their bodies to create curves, presenting a colorful picture of interesting, curved forms.
The Foundation hopes to see more youngsters enjoying the fun-filled learning experience of
Leap!. Expansion of classes in the future would create openings for dance teachers and professionals in early-childhood education to become a part of
Leap!. The Foundation welcomes individuals who may be interested in joining the
Leap! Teaching Artist Team. Successful candidates will receive three months of professional training in Taiwan.
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, Cloud Gate Dance School and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals have a common hope – that more Hong Kong children will learn to share, and to be aware of themselves and the world through
Leap! As Mr. Lin says: “They may live in small apartments but their hearts can be the biggest universe.”
About The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation
With deep roots in Chinese culture, the Foundation supports the arts both locally and globally. In its home base of Hong Kong, it focuses on bringing a fresh approach to the arts to young people through different creative arts education platforms. Three programmes have been developed since the Foundation’s inauguration in 2005:
Through Our Eyes (photography),
Get It Write (writing) and
Leap! (body education). The Foundation operates on the principle that the arts are fundamental to the growth and health of a society, and that every person should have the opportunity to appreciate art and participate in the creation of art.
About the Cloud Gate Dance School
In 1998, Cloud Gate Dance School opened its first studio. There are 21 dance schools in Taiwan now. Its LifePulse curriculum grows out of the experience of living, and grounds the art of dance in the daily activities of one’s bodily rhythmic motions, with the objective of nurturing young arts enthusiasts. Mr. Lin Hwai-min, the founder of Cloud Gate Dance School, expressed that through LifePulse he hopes to help people find happiness through the joys of moving and to locate the essence of life.
About Tung Wah Group of Hosptials Nursery Schools
Established in 1870, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals is the oldest charitable organization in Hong Kong offering medical, education and community services to meet social needs. The group started to offer early childhood services in 1968 and now operates 15 nursery schools with a total of 1545 places.
Besides day care and educational programmes for children under 6 years old, the nurseries also provide integrated programme for children with special needs. The curriculum is designed to nurture children with different abilities such that they can thrive in a happy and caring learning environment.
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