Child Development Fund Briefing Session – Mentorship Programme for Children
In recent years, inter-generational poverty has become one of the major concerns of disadvantaged families. The Hong Kong Government has established the Child Development Fund (CDF), which aims to encourage children to actively plan for their futures, cultivate a positive outlook on life and promote the development of asset-building habits. This October, the CDF will pioneer its first batch of projects in 7 districts, including Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung. The CDF would comprise of three major components: personal development plans, mentorship programmes and targeted savings. We hope to raise understanding of these aims amongst interested businesses and NGOs, and thus, a briefing session was held on July 3 (Thursday), which was attended by almost 200 business and NGO representatives.
Mr Paul Tang, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare was present to introduce the details of the CDF – its operation, the matching donations, mentorship programmes, etc, and addressed related questions from the audience.
Prof Charles Chan, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Prof Alvin Leung, Department of Educational Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong also both gave presentations at the briefing session, iterating how mentorship and child development programmes can impact children’s futures – their careers and their personal lives. They emphasized that through these programmes and under mentors’ guidance, children and adolescents will be more able to reach short-term, and even long-term, personal development goals. Even more importantly, the friendship and trust resulting from the mentoring process and communication will be of utmost value in helping children and adolescents mature.
Three Caring Company and Caring Organisation representatives were invited to speak at in a panel discussion to share their organisation’s experiences of mentorship programmes. These guests included Ms Kathy Cheung, Citi Country Corporate Affairs Director, Ms Susanna Chiu, Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Ms Maria Cheung, Assistant General Manager, Corporate Communications of NWS Holdings Ltd. The organizations they represent have established various cross-sectoral partnerships and projects which focus on child development and mentorship, and they shared anecdotes of colleagues who have participated and been moved as they watched, and helped, children make great leaps of improvement, particularly in their studies and in interpersonal communication.
This August, the CDF will select the NGOs that will operate each of these 7 pioneer projects. If you would like to become a supporter, please look out for our most recent updates.
Mr Paul Tang, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare introduced the Child Development Fund, and addressed to questions raised by the audience.
Mr Paul Tang, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare introduced the Child Development Fund, and addressed to questions raised by the audience.
Prof Charles Chan, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Prof Alvin Leung, Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
(From left) Ms Maria Cheung of NWS Holdings Limited, Ms Susanna Chiu of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ms Kathy Cheung of Citi and Mr Cliff Choi, the moderator