Commit to Change
The world's local bank- USA – Higher education support for students
- France – HSBC Education Foundation
- Korea – Island Watch for a Future Generation
- Malaysia – Reading and Writing Programme
- UK – Thriftwood school
- New Zealand – The Gifted Kids Programme
- China – Rural teacher training course
- UK – Kielder Challenge
- Singapore – Youth Excellence Initiative
- Australia – HSBCkids
- UK and Korea – Outward Bound
- USA – Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Global – Future First: Investing in our children
- UK – On-line mathematics
- South Africa – Disadvantaged schools
- Brazil – HSBC Solidarity Institute
- USA – Jumpstart
- Thailand – HSBC children's book
- UK – Tall Ships Youth Trust
- China and Hong Kong – Mainland/Hong Kong Exchange Programme in Special Education
- Malta and the UK – Eco-Schools
- UK – HSBC scholars
- India – Madhapur Mandal school
- UK – School governors
- Hong Kong, China, and Brazil – Zippy's Friends
- USA and UK – Teach for America/Teach First
- Canada – York University scholarship fund
- UK – Sailing Academies
- China – Soaring under the sun
- China – HSBC China Charity Federation Fund
Hong Kong, China, and Brazil – Zippy's Friends
Zippy's Friends is an international programme which is designed to help children develop the necessary skills for life-long emotional well-being. It was rolled out in its present form in 2002 and was developed using research and other techniques. All teachers who deliver the programme receive special training and use approved materials.
HSBC in Brazil supports this programme, HSBC in Hong Kong supported the launch of Zippy's Friends there in 2004 with nearly US$460,000 over five years, and HSBC in China committed support for the local launch and a three year plan from 2006 with US$310,000.
Designed for six- and seven-year-olds, stories about Zippy the stick-insect and his friends form the basis for this 24-session programme. Six modules focus on different themes and each has subdivisions. For example:
- Module one covers 'Feelings' and has four subsections: feeling sad and happy; feeling angry and annoyed; feeling jealous; and feeling nervous.
The programme encourages children to discuss their feelings. Teachers do not try to solve children's problems, however, or teach them the 'right answers' but rather, they help the children to discuss their own and others' problems in a sensitive manner, and to explore effective ways of coping with them.
Zippy's Friends currently has more than 56,000 children enrolled in its programmes across 11 countries. Since its inception, 128,000 children have taken part in the programme.
For more information on the Zippy's Friends programme, click here. To find out about Zippy's Friends in Hong Kong, click here.
