EDiversity Conference 2015 'We Need a Break!'

Mr. Danie Strydom
Founder of HK Forest Kindergarten

Mr. Wong Chung Kit  
​Founder and Chairman of La Violet Education and La Violet Charity Foundation.

Danie Strydom grew up on a farm in South Africa, with plenty of space to run around, trees to climb and adventures to be had.  At school Danie was just labeled naughty and stupid, diagnosed with dyslexia, school was not a fun experience for Danie.  Danie has been involved in education for the last 25 years and have traveled and taught in more than 50 different countries of the world.   Danie came to Hong Kong 14 years ago and worked in a  number of churches, kindergartens, playgroups and learning centers in Hong Kong.
Danie started the HK Forest Kindergarten in Hong Kong in January 2015.  Since February he has taken more than 100 families to the Forest to PLAY.  At the moment we have a Tuesday and Saturday class.  The children get to play, run around, explore, climb, fall and get wet all in a day's work! The activities are child led, and because of that is different every week.  Regardless of the weather, rain or shine - the kids get to play outside.  The amazing thing is that we have no learning difficulties or behavioral problems, and no "sign" of ADHD, all we have is a lot of happy and tired kids at the end of the day!
Currently Danie is completing his MBA, and hope to open a true Forest Kindergarten in Hong Kong.

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-Lyricist, with more than 100 published cantopops, including  〈出走〉、〈錯過了〉、〈愛得起〉
- 2013 Youth Leader.
- Person in charge of「今生不做機械人夢想計劃」
- Author of 2 Chinese books:《今生不做機械人》and 《畀返個仔我》
- 10 years banking experience

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Ms. Esther Chu
 Founder, Go Kids

​Esther has worked with St. Stephen's Society for over 20 years in Hong Kong, pioneering their service with children and young people and helping drug abusers and families. She and her husband, Chan Cheuk Ho, also established a residential youth programme called "Gogetters". A family of four with two little sons, they noticed that the Hong Kong education system stunted creativity, so they joined with like-minded parents to educate their own children. She established "Go Kids", in which parents and their children explore learning together in a creative and informal environment for free.

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Ms. Pia Wong
​ Executive Director Bring Me a Book Hong Kong

Since joining Bring Me A Book Hong Kong in 2009, Pia has been driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on society and to spread the joy of reading and love of learning amongst children in Hong Kong.  She places strong emphasis on the value of collaboration amongst similar-minded NGO’s and community based agencies in Hong Kong.

In 2012, Pia received a certificate from the Harvard Business School Executive Education Program in “Strategic Perspectives in Non Profit Management”. She is a graduate of University College London and Hong Kong University with 15 years of experience in strategic planning and communications. Pia spent five years in Shanghai leading the Corporate Practice of Weber Shandwick Worldwide and retuned to Hong Kong to join Synovate as Regional Marketing Manager. Pia is an active member of the Hong Kong Philosophy Café and has two son who she loves to read to – every night!

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