Welcome to the Children and Youth Research Centre!
Established in January 2024, the Children and Youth Research Centre (CYRC) is funded by the Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-Financing Degree Sector of Research Grants Council in Hong Kong.
The CYRC aims to improve the wellbeing of children and youth in Hong Kong by addressing the complex needs and challenges they face in a rapidly evolving economic, cultural, and social environment through conducting scientific research, facilitating cost-effective service programmes, and informing policy decisions.
Children and youth are a sizable group in Hong Kong. They are going through a crucial phase of positive personal development: from nurturing the self, harmonizing the family, cultivating constructive human relationships, developing a commitment to professionalism, and caring for society, to exploring the world (see model below). Recognizing the different influences such as physical, biological, psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and societal factors that shape human behavior, we adopt a systems perspective and integral approach to children and youth development. We are committed to contributing to a profound understanding of the psychological, mental, moral, social, cultural, and technological issues related to children and youth.
The model for positive development of children and youth that is consistent with traditional Chinese virtues such as benevolence (ren), affection (ai), righteousness (yi), and harmony (he). Model extracted from: Chan, G., Lee, G., Kong, CYW, and Lo, T.W. (2022).