CUHK
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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has announced a landmark partnership with the Hong Kong government’s flagship Strive and Rise Programme. Unveiled last September as a major initiative targeting intergenerational poverty, the Programme aims to support close to 3,000 junior secondary school students via mentorship, personal development planning and financial assistance.

CUHK’s collaboration will see the varsity become the first institution of higher learning in Hong Kong to partner with the government under the Programme to receive its mentees. Throughout 2023, CUHK will arrange seminars, workshops and a series of targeted interactions that will provide mentees opportunities to meet with all eight CUHK Faculties and representatives from the University’s nine Colleges.

The first event took place today (14 January 2023), and coincided with a special visit to CUHK led by Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Chan Kwok-ki where the University’s partnership was announced at a ceremony led by Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rocky S. Tuan.

Commenting on the partnership, Professor Tuan said “CUHK has a strong commitment to social responsibility which forms an integral part of the University’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Zero poverty, quality education, and reduced inequalities all feature in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Strive and Rise Programme resonates strongly with the University’s commitment to advancing progress in these important areas”.

“Hong Kong’s future depends on establishing strong pathways for young people to climb the social mobility ladder and CUHK is deeply impressed by the Strive and Rise Programme’s commitment to improving the quality of life for disadvantaged young people across society”, Professor Tuan remarked.

Speaking at the event, Mr Chan Kwok-ki said, “I am very grateful to CUHK for its full support of the Strive and Rise Programme in planning this series of visits covering eight Faculties. As the government pointed out in the first Youth Development Blueprint, which it launched last month, we need to provide young people with an enabling environment that allows them to cherish hope for the future and strive for continuous growth, so that they can unleash their full potential in society and contribute to Hong Kong, the country and the world. We believe that as long as young people are given the right soil and sufficient space for development, they can show their potential and realise their ideals.

“The Strive and Rise Programme provides fertile soil for a group of junior secondary school students. Through tripartite collaboration between the government, the business sector and the community, it has arranged a variety of group activities for the mentees to take part in, so they can explore more options for their future. The visits to CUHK are among the highlights, helping mentees to broaden their horizons, set goals for their future and strive for upward mobility. I firmly believe that by listening and talking to CUHK professors and students, mentees will be inspired to explore their own interests and discover different possibilities for their future development.”

Close to 100 people attended the first event, including the Programme’s mentees and their mentors, students, faculty members and staff from the University’s internationally leading Faculty of Education. Mentees also had an opportunity to meet members of CUHK’s men’s volleyball team, where they played a game of volleyball and interacted with the team.