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The following is issued on behalf of the Societal Engagement Task Force of the Commission on Poverty:
While Hong Kong's economy is seeing almost full employment, the unemployment rate for youths aged 15 to 24 stands at 7.2 per cent - almost 2.5 times the overall unemployment rate - according to statistics for the period from December 2013 to February 2014. This reflects the severity of the youth unemployment problem, in particular for youths from less privileged backgrounds who face greater social mobility challenges.
To address some of these problems, the Societal Engagement Task Force (SETF) of the Commission on Poverty today (March 25) gave a briefing on "Future Stars", a three-year programme to promote social mobility of youths from less privileged families. "Future Stars" is an anchor programme of the "Bless Hong Kong" Campaign to encourage community participation in poverty alleviation efforts.
Officiating guests included the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim; the Chairman of the SETF of the Commission on Poverty, Dr David Wong; and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Chua Hoi-wai. They shared their views and insights on the issues, and officiated at the "Light Up Our Future Stars" ceremony along with representatives from supporting organisations.
A tea gathering with the media was held afterwards to facilitate discussion amongst different parties taking part in the programme, including schools, social welfare organisations, business organisations and the Government. Youths also shared their positive stories on striving against all odds.
Mr Chua, who has studied Hong Kong's youth unemployment, said that the unemployment rate of youths was about two to three times the overall unemployment rate. Youths often did not have clear directions during the early phase of their careers, and those from less privileged families often lacked exposure opportunities, which impacted on their fostering of career aspirations, ability to secure a job and ability to stay in a job.
Quoting himself as an example, Mr Chua said that initially he majored in engineering in university. It was after his graduation from university that he set his goal to assist the less privileged, causing him to drop his path as an engineer to become a social worker. He therefore encouraged all youths to realise their career aspirations early.
Dr Wong, who has been closely involved in planning the "Future Stars" programme, gave a briefing on the programme details. He said, "Apart from government policies, cross-sector collaboration is equally important in helping to boost the social mobility of youths from less privileged backgrounds.
"Of particular note, the business sector can provide opportunities for youths to help them set their life goals early. One of the important goals of the SETF is to provide a platform to facilitate tripartite, cross-sector collaboration among the community, the business sector and the Government so as to better carry out poverty alleviation work.
"'Future Stars' pools resources from all walks of the community to implement different projects with an aim of assisting youths from less privileged backgrounds to plan their future and foster their career aspirations, smoothen their transition from school to work and enhance their upward mobility."
The three-year "Future Stars" programme covers the following major projects:
* Upward Mobility Booster: Participating enterprises will partner with social welfare organisations to implement in-depth and comprehensive projects to assist youths from less privileged backgrounds in their senior secondary years to learn more about themselves and plan their future. Participating enterprises from various industries will provide youths with practical and soft skills training for the workplace, workplace induction and apprenticeship experience, with an aim to broaden their horizons and increase their employability. Seven "Upward Mobility Booster" projects funded by participating enterprises for 2014 have started rolling out, benefiting youths including youths not in employment, education or training; youths who have yet to develop their career aspirations; youths with special educational needs; and ethnic minority youths.
* Upward Mobility Formula: Funds sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, business associations and charitable foundations will be used to subsidise 600 corporate visits organised by social welfare organisations, during which management and employees of participating enterprises will share their experience with visiting youths to enable them to gain an understanding of different industries and their job nature and requirements. Corporate visits in 2014 will involve over 130 businesses and social welfare organisations, spanning a variety of industries including fashion, retail, catering, property management, hotel, logistics, aircraft maintenance and finance.
* Upward Mobility Scholarship: Scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to less privileged students from secondary schools, special schools and vocational training schools who have shown prominent progress in academic performance or personal development, or have demonstrated resilience and a positive attitude in the face of adversity. Sponsorship for more than 1,000 scholarships has been pledged for 2014 with over 370 schools participating in the programme.
Dr Wong added, "More than 200 organisations will take part in this year's 'Future Stars' programme, and about 7,000 youths are expected to benefit from the programme."
Mr Ng shared the Government's policy initiatives to nurture the next generation as outlined in the 2014 Policy Address.
These policy initiatives include increasing resources to strengthen life planning education elements in public schools, implementing a pilot scheme at the Vocational Training Council in vocational education and employment support, and providing more resources to subsidise youths to receive tertiary education and benefit from overseas exchange opportunities.
Mr Ng stressed that it is imperative for the Government and society to work together to enhance the upward social mobility of youths. He was pleased to see that happening with the "Future Stars" programme, which encourages tripartite, cross-sector collaboration among the community, the business sector and the Government.
After the sharing session, Mr Ng, Dr Wong and Mr Chua officiated at the "Light Up Our Future Stars" ceremony with supporters of the "Future Stars" programme, with wishes for the programme's success through support from all walks of the community in the coming three years.
The tea gathering with the media after the press briefing allowed representatives from schools, social welfare organisations, supporting business organisations and the Government to continue their exchanges on relevant issues, and share positive stories of youths striving against all odds.
About "Bless Hong Kong"
The "Bless Hong Kong" Campaign seeks to encourage community participation in poverty alleviation efforts as well as promote tripartite collaboration among the community, the business sector and the Government in assisting the underprivileged and increasing mutual help. The Campaign includes a series of community initiatives that share the message of "helping those in need, is a blessing in deed". More than 200 organisations are taking part in "Bless Hong Kong". Over 600 activities are being rolled out from January to July this year. For more information, please visit www.blesshongkong.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:07
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