Meet aspiring guitarist and accountant Amy Lai and social-worker-to-be Eric Pang, two of the 7,000-plus youths who have expanded their social networks, broadened their horizons and learned to save and plan for the future with the aid of the Child Development Fund.
Established in 2008, the fund provides financing to non-governmental organisations to develop programmes targeted at disadvantaged youths, including new arrivals, those from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. The NGOs partner each participating youth with a trained mentor who will guide them in developing a life plan and in saving their pocket money - a key part of the programme.
Participants must save $200 a month for two years. If they succeed, the fund will match their $4,800 in savings with money from private donors, and provide a $3,000 incentive from the Government. The total - $12,600 - may not seem like a princely sum, but it is enough to help teens turn their dreams into reality.
Amy Lai, now aged 17, joined a Child Development Fund-sponsored programme in 2012 and met her mentor, Yan Luk.
Amy is the eldest child in her family, with two sisters and a brother. Her family came to Hong Kong from the Mainland in 2005. Her parents are poorly educated, so they cannot help much with their children's studies and career planning. As Amy has a strong aptitude for maths, she began to think that she might want to be an accountant. She did not know how to prepare for this, though, until she met Ms Luk.
Selfless guidance
While coaching Amy on money management and sharing life experiences, the two developed a close relationship and refer to themselves affectionately as sisters. Over time, Amy admitted that she had always wanted to learn to play guitar, but knew her family did not have the money for lessons or the instrument itself.
By the time Amy fulfilled the savings requirement, Ms Luk had helped her identify a preparatory accounting course that she could take to set her on the path to becoming a certified accountant. She also persuaded her to use some of the $12,600 to buy a guitar and sign up for lessons.
"Sister Yan answered a lot of my questions, and helped me to research accountancy courses. If I had not joined this programme, I probably would have just given up my desire to learn to play guitar and would never have gotten my Level 1 bookkeeping and accountancy certificate," Amy said.
Ms Luk, who has a day-job as an administrator, draws much satisfaction from her volunteer mentoring role.
"I began to consider Amy to be like a younger sister, and it is important for her to have an older sibling to give her advice. I like helping people and volunteer whenever I have time. Office work can be so boring. By helping others and contributing to society, I can embrace my personal values."
Just as Ms Luk squeezed time from her busy work schedule to help her, Amy says she is determined to help others in future.
New attitude
Only child Eric Pang, also aged 17, arrived in Hong Kong from the Mainland in 2003. He joined a fund-sponsored programme and was paired up with his mentor, Pan Lee.
At the time, Eric was a Hong Kong Archery Association team member, and represented Hong Kong in some tournaments in the Mainland. He once thought he would make a career as a bowman. But after months of conversations with Mr Lee, he had a change of heart.
"A career as an archer is short. They usually retire from the sport before they turn 30. I enjoy working with people and communicating with others. So, I want to be a social worker, instead."
Mr Lee encouraged Eric to use his savings and incentive money to take relevant courses, including psychology and leadership skills for games, to help equip him for the future. He also advised Eric that he would need to get a bachelor's degree.
"For Eric, English is the main hurdle. I suggested he send me regular email messages in English, and read more English newspapers. I will coach him in this way," Mr Lee said.
Through this experience, Eric has developed a new attitude and a new life goal.
"I was passive before. Now, I will actively seek and grasp opportunities. I have greatly benefitted from this programme, and I hope in turn I can become a social worker and serve youths in the future."
In his 2014 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that the Government would earmark another $300 million for the Child Development Fund. It is estimated that another 9,700 young people will benefit.
