Despite their very young age, the children know that this lesson is not like any other. Today they will make a new friend - Zippy. Zippy can't speak, not only because he is a stick insect but also because he is a fictional character in an educational programme called 'Zippy's Friends'. In the lessons, the children will listen to stories about Zippy and his friends, confront and solve problems together, cope with the death of the fragile insect, and, at the end of the programme, look forward to new beginnings.

Young children go through many emotional ups and downs like grown-ups. They encounter communication problems with friends and feel lonely and excluded. They deal with change and loss when the family moves or when their pets or grandparents die. In Hong Kong, where parents tend to focus on academic development, these issues about children's emotional well-being are often neglected. In 24 weeks, Zippy's Friends helps children develop skills to manage their emotions and cope with difficulties. These skills will help them to grow into emotionally healthy teenagers and adults.

The Hongkong Bank Foundation and the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) are implementing Zippy's Friends to promote emotional health as an essential part of education in kindergartens and lower primary schools in Hong Kong. The programme was developed by Partnership for Children, an international charity supported by HSBC Education Trust in UK, and has reached more than 55,000 children around the world. After Hong Kong, the programme will be launched in Shanghai.

A child's impression of Zippy the stick insect