Global Youth Health Summit & Hackathon 2018

Join MDJunior on September 22-23, 2018 for our second Global Youth Health Summit & Hackathon at Hong Kong International School (HKIS), Hong Kong. MDJunior is a student run non-profit organization spanning 45 chapters across the globe, with the goal to empower youth in health through selfless service.

Who should participate?

The conference is open to all - high school and college students, faculty, parents, interested community members and working professionals.

Why should you attend?

The theme of the Summit is “Youth and Mental Health” The objective is to equip youth with an understanding of the mental health challenges facing them, and provide them a platform to civically engage and have their voices heard. MDJunior is launching #MDJrHack, the first hackathon event of its kind in Asia. It is designed to unite and inspire high school and college students with youth from different walks of life to develop innovative solutions around these issues. Who better to lead the charge for youth mental health than youth themselves with the support of the global community!

Address a Growing Need Facing Youth: Approximately 1 in every 5 youth experiences a severe mental disorder at some point (Source: WHO).  There is a dire need to tackle the stigma associated with mental illness and develop resources to help youth facing such challenges.  Who better to lead this effort than youth themselves!

Engage in Collaborative Community Learning:  Students and faculty will have a chance to engage and interact with attendees from all major international school and colleges of Hong Kong and work together to have their needs understood and their voices heard.  

Experience Innovation through #MDJrHack: The first event of its kind to be held in Asia, the hackathon will give youth and others the opportunity to leverage their computing and creative capabilities into a problem solving, team working and programming challenge. 

Access World-Class Programming:  Attendees can expect an exciting day of keynote and panels on the latest research surrounding youth and mental health development.  This year, speakers invited include esteemed healthcare professionals, educators from leading universities, NGOs and leading organizations from across the world.

Gain Invaluable Leadership Training: Students will have the opportunity to learn from local and global leaders to become the future leaders of tomorrow.  

Earn MDJunior’s Youth Fellow Certification and Service Hours:  Students who participate in both the Hackathon and Summit will earn MDJunior’s Youth Fellow certification.  Participants in the Hackathon can also earn credit for service hours.  

A Global Movement #YouthNow will be launched at this Summit to empower youth, raise awareness and tackle Youth and Mental Health via active social and news media coverage.

#GYHS #MDJrHack Will Take Place Over Two Days

The Summit will kick off on September 22. Youth attendees will attend empowering and inspiring keynotes and panel discussions with some of the leading minds in the field. The conference aims to bring together youth and leading professionals in global public health, nonprofits and organizations from all over the world, to create a forum that explores issues and solutions surrounding youth and mental health.

 The Hackathon #MDJrHack will be held overnight on September 22. Inspired from the perspective gained from the first part of the event, hack teams will be challenged to build innovative solutions that affect societal change in youth and mental health.  The idea is for youth to leverage their creative and computing skills, while demonstrating their problem solving capabilities and teamwork.

Youth Fellow Students who participate in both the Summit and Hackathon and Conference will earn the coveted  "Youth Fellow” recognition & certification. Hackathon participants will also earn service hour credits.

Note: Complimentary meals and a Tshirt will be provided to all registered attendees. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate dietary restrictions. Participants with dietary restrictions are advised to bring their own food.

Community Service Requirements

Community service hours will be awarded to registered and attending youth participants as part of the Global Movement #YouthNow to drive awareness for Youth Mental Health. Total number of hours awarded vary for Hackathon, Conference and Volunteers.  Official certificates will be issued.