Social worker: "With the funding, our programme is much more exciting!"
Young people in action
The Hong Kong Culture Centre Piazza is usually a busy place, full of pedestrians, families out for a stroll, tourists taking pictures of the beautiful Victoria Harbour...
If you were there on the afternoon of November 21 last year, you would have witnessed a few magic shows, a percussion performance. And if you were in the mood for booth games, there were seventeen of them to choose from.
You may have also noticed that all of the performers, booth organizers were all young people. They were all taking part in programmes funded by the Citi Success Fund, organized by HOPE worldwide, funded by Citi Foundation. The afternoon of November 21 was the annual Fun Fair to kick off programmes for the new school year.
More to benefit
In its eighth year, the Citi Success Fund has supported a total of 424 creative teaching projects which have benefited over 38,000 students. For the 2009/2010 school year, more than two-thirds of the winning 73 education projects focus on youth financial education or support low-income groups, reflecting community concern that today's young people need to be equipped for financial and social responsibility.
Changing young people's lives…and futures
In the past, as the result of these creative programmes and the effort put in by the secondary school teachers and social workers, we have seen young people try their hand at being entrepreneurs, creating and selling their own products. We have heard of stories where young men who once shut themselves out because of academic failures found their self-esteem through learning magic. They now serve the community by giving magic performances in public and in elderly homes. We heard of a young woman who was once in trouble with the law found new motivation to further her studies.
We look forward to witnessing more young people's lives changed in the upcoming year.
