Zippy's Friends, first developed in Denmark and Lithuania, has proved to be a success as an early childhood education programme in nine countries including England, Canada, Brazil and India. With the generous support of the Hongkong Bank Foundation, the Institute is privileged to be invited by Partnership for Children, an English-based charitable organisation responsible for developing Zippy's Friends, to introduce the programme to Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been identified as the first

Zippy, the stick insect, is a fictional comic character. Together with his friends — boys and girls, he faces difficulties in life — making and keeping friends, communicating with others, coping with changes, loss, death, loneliness, bullying, conflicts and adapting to new situations. With the introduction of Zippy, it is believed that early education will help young children better develop the capacities to deal with problems and crises when they enter into adolescence and adulthood.

Chinese-speaking community to launch the project. Through the project, the Institute hopes to help more than 10,000 young children in 660 kindergartens and primary schools to enhance their abilities to cope with emotional difficulties.