Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade Youth Command
Introduction
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance is a
charitable organization with a long history. The origin of The Order of St.
John can be traced back to 900 years ago, when the Crusades and numerous
pilgrims headed towards Jerusalem during the Middle Ages. In 1099, Christians
discovered a hospital in Jerusalem, where the injured and sick pilgrims had
been taken care of by the Hospitallers led by Blessed Gerard. As the hospital
was near the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, the Hospitallers then chose St.
John to be their patron saint. The Order of St. John was hence named. In the
12th century, The Order of St. John started to develop in the United Kingdom.
In 1877, St. John Ambulance Association was officially established, while the
Brigade in 1887 and the first cadet division in 1922.
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance was
established in the name of "Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Association" in 1884. Since 1900, under the Order of St. John Ordinance, Chapter 1047, Laws of Hong
Kong, and in accordance with the regulations given by St. John Headquarters in
London with her Majesty the Queen as the Sovereign Head of the Order, it has
been operating as a non-profit making organisation (registered under the “Hong
Kong St John Ambulance Incorporation Ordinance, Chapter 1164, Laws of Hong Kong
in 1997). Hong Kong St. John Ambulance
Brigade and Hong Kong St. John Council were later established in 1916 and 1949
respectively. Hong Kong St. John Ambulance was officially upgraded to a Priory
in 2015 and has further engaged in St. John’s activities around the world
since.
Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade Youth
Command ("Youth Command") is one of the service arms of Hong Kong St. John
Ambulance Brigade ("Brigade"). The Brigade was founded in Hong Kong in 1916. In
1948, Cadet Region (renamed as "Youth Command" in 2007) was
established to provide services for secondary school students aged between 12
and 18. Most of the cadet divisions under the Youth Command are attached to
secondary schools all over Hong Kong, while the two Commands, namely Youth /
Hong Kong Island & Kowloon Command, and Youth / New Territories Command, are
responsible for their daily operation and management. In order to allow primary
school students to benefit from the services by the Youth Command, St. John
Pandas was established in 2013, targeting students in Primary 3 to Primary 6.
Students
who wish to join the Youth Command or St. John Pandas can make inquiries and
application to their schools. For those in the schools which do not have a
division, they are welcomed to enroll in our Open Combined Cadet Division
through Youth Office or visit the links below:
1. Youth Command
History
Mission
The principle and spirit of St. John's mission in Hong Kong is encompassed in its motto: "For the Service of Mankind".
Objectives
The major aims of Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade Youth Command are to provide Cadets with training in first aid and home nursing, foster in them an interest in learning, and develop their interpersonal and practical skills. Youth Command also focuses largely on building up the personal character and the team spirit of its members, which are essential to their all-round development. Members are as well encouraged to help the others during their leisure time, to give back to society and be prepared to be the future leaders of the Brigade.
Scope of service and activities
In addition to first aid, home nursing, and foot drill training, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade Youth Command provides a wide range of proficiency courses such as leadership training, community services, annual parade, annual first aid and home nursing competitions, and local and overseas exchange programmes.