Initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project was sponsoring the Asian Family Summit 2024 (“AFS 2024”) and the Family Well-being Expo, along with other programmes of the Jockey Club Professional Development Initiatives on Family Services. Organised by the Consortium of Institutes on Family in Asian Region (CIFA) to echo the call of the United Nations to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family (IYF+30), AFS 2024 held from 27 December to 29 December 2024 at The University of Hong Kong was a significant regional event supported by key Hong Kong institutions including the Social Welfare Department, Family Council, the Connecting Hearts, the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of The University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
Themed “Towards a Better Tomorrow for Families: Partnership, Collaboration & Action for Sustainable Development,” the summit focused on four major trends impacting families: New Technologies, Urbanisation and Migration, Demographic Changes and Climate Change. These themes were explored through keynote speeches, plenary sessions, and concurrent sessions involving scholars, United Nations representatives, experts, and family service professionals from diverse sectors. The three-day summit featured the presentation of 80 papers, bringing together over 700 participants from the Asian region to review current policies and service delivery approaches based on empirical evidence.
Another highlight of the summit was the Family Well-being Expo held on 29 December2024, at The University of Hong Kong, featuring 15 social welfare and non-profit organisations. The expo offered celebrity talks, interactive booths, workshops, and stage performances designed to engage the public and deepen understanding of family well-being in the context of the four key trends.
The good practices of the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project on leveraging technologies and data to enhance delivery of innovative and effective family services in Hong Kong was shared in the plenary session in AFS 2024, as well as through the exhibition booth and workshops in the Family Well-being Expo.
Following the three-day summit and expo, post-event workshops and agency visits were arranged for the participants to gain practical insights into family work and challenges, fostering ongoing learning and collaboration to enhance family welfare in Asia.
The series of events and activities provided a valuable platform for professionals, academics, and the general public passionate about family well-being to exchange ideas, reflect on current policies, and propose innovative initiatives for future family support systems in Asia.
For details, please visit: https://afs2024.org
Family well-being key to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SCMP)
