ACTIVITIES

中文

ACTIVITIES

Breakthrough Basketball started in TMDIST in October 2007 originally with 18 youth referrals from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). These youth referrals had all been subject of the Hong Kong Police Superintendents’ Discretion Scheme, having been involved in crime and having been assessed by social workers as being suitable to participate in the Scheme.

Following a number of induction programmes the number of participants subsequently increased to 30, with an average of 25 attending weekly sessions. Training takes place once a week for two hours in an indoor Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) facility at Leung Tin Estate. (Saturdays between 11:00 hrs – 13:00 hrs). Regular competitions are held as well as social functions.

Training takes place weekly under the supervision of at least four coaches from a pool of 14 specially appointed Police Ambassadors, as well as two paid qualified Basketball coaches. The programme is deeply indebted to the Police Basketball Club which actively assists in coaching and arranging competitions involving the Breakthrough Basketball teams.

Likewise, Adidas (HK) Ltd have been partners in the programme since its inception and much of the success of the programme can be attributed to their support and generous donation of playing kit and equipment. The Breakthrough team competes regularly with the Adidas (HK) Ltd team.

At least four of the 15 Police Ambassadors, who are police officers mainly working in New Territories North police region who play or are interested in basketball, are present at each session on a roster basis. Social workers from HKFYG also attend.

Many of the participants have remained in the programme since its commencement and 5 of those deemed the most deserving participated in a recent one week much coveted Outward Bound Course.

The Breakthrough Boxing Club was formed in 1998. Based in Taipo Police Headquarters, the Club offers some of the best facilities for boxing in Hong Kong.

Since the Club was formed there has been a resurgence of the sport in Hong Kong and the Police Force with a number of Operation Breakthrough boys capable of boxing to a highly competitive level.

The highlight of the boxing programme to date was reached in Vancouver in August 2009 at the World Police and Fire Games. One police officer and two firemen represented Hong Kong and won a Gold and two Silver medals, an excellent achievement in itself but the truly remarkable fact was they had all started out from a young age as participants in Operation Breakthrough and still regularly coach the new lads at the club.

Dance programme was introduced to Operation Breakthrough in March 2005. At that time, only male-oriented activities such as boxing, rugby and soccer were offered by the project. Seeing a need to introduce an activity that was more suitable for girls, Operation Breakthrough collaborated with City Contemporary Dance Company Dance Centre (CCDC DC) to develop a dance programme which included weekly classes at the Dance Centre as well as performance opportunities. Social workers from various NGOs refer teenagers aged 12 – 17 to the project; CCDC DC provides the venue and professional tuition on Street Jazz while Breakthrough volunteers are involved in coordination and overall management of the programme.

Though prior experience in dance is not required, those who are interested in joining the programme must demonstrate an interest in dance and a willingness to commit themselves to regular classes. Besides taking classes at CCDC DC, performance is also an important part of the programme. It gives the participants a stronger incentive, as they can see how their dance training leads to a final performance piece. The intensive training and rehearsals prior to each performance proved to be a great opportunity for these young people to bond and work together in achieving a common goal. Breakthrough dancers have performed as guests at the annual boxing smokers of Operation Breakthrough, CCDC DC annual show and numerous community events.

This programme proved to have a positive influence on the participants. Most of the girls gained more confidence and self-esteem and developed a far more positive image of themselves in the process. Many participants commented that dancing gave them a relief from the many problems and issues they had to deal with in their daily lives, and they gained a lot of satisfaction at the end of the programme. They were able to see their dance training as a means to self discovery and they are more relaxed and in tune with who they are.

Breakthrough dancing has gone through an expansion in scale and number of participants over the years. Since July 2009, we started to run dance classes for boys. Currently, four dance classes, with one of them being a boys' class, are run regularly to provide dance training to over 50 boys and girls coming from Wong Tai Sin, Tseung Kwan O and Tin Shui Wai areas.

return to top