The Hong Kong Jockey Club has officially launched a “Joy of e-Reading Scheme” to promote reading and help students better engage in learning through electronic resources. The 18-month project aims to support local primary and secondary schools in purchasing e-readers and e-books, subscribing to online reading platforms, and holding various activities to promote reading habits and e-reading.
An official launch ceremony and ‘Reading Day’ was held on 7 January 2023, with many teachers, parents, and students in attendance. The event was hosted by celebrity mum, Sarah Song, who spoke to attendees about her daily reading tips and thoughts on how e-reading can help cultivate children’s reading habits. “The Jockey Club e-reading programme not only provides more reading choices for children, but also creates more opportunities for parents to read together with their children,” she said.
“E-books diversify reading and make children curious to discover different types of books. When reading together, my son and I are no longer limited by time and place. The light and thin e-book is like a walking library, which can be read anytime and anywhere. I am very much looking forward to the Jockey Club’s “Joy of e-Reading Scheme”, which will popularise e-books in primary and secondary schools so that children can better develop their reading habits.”
To encourage teachers, parents, and students to get involved with the programme and explore the e-reading world, a number of Reading Day activities were held during the launch event, including…
- Professional workshops for teachers to share strategies and experiences in promoting e-reading,
- An e-reading corner and storytelling time slots
- Story-related handicrafts and printing workshops, and
- Game booths!
Each of these activities allowed event attendees to experience the joy of reading in a whole new way.
“The benefits of reading are unquestionable,” said Bryan Wong, Head of Charities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The Jockey Club’s e-reading programme can help schools integrate e-reading into students’ lives. In addition to adding to the fun of reading for students, it can also popularise e-learning resources, narrow the digital divide, and allow students of different backgrounds to access and benefit from the convenience of digital technology. “
The “Joy of e-Reading Scheme” is funded and implemented by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Fund. They hope that the promotion of e-reading on school campuses will result in regular reading habits among the study body. So far, more than 600 primary and secondary schools have participated in the programme. To find out more about the project, head over to jcereading.com.
