Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki (first row, first right) and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun (first row, second right) attend the kick-off ceremony and orientation day of the Strive & Rise Programme on Oct 29, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki officiated on Saturday at the kick-off ceremony of the Strive & Rise Programme, which aims to lift students out of intergenerational poverty, and announced the official launch of its first phase.

Chan said the program aims to support junior secondary school students who are in need of societal support for upward social mobility.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki noted that the first phase of the project, being a milestone of the tripartite collaboration between the government, the business sector and the community, has admitted all 2,800 eligible mentees, 40 percent more than the enrolment target, in a spirit of supporting as many as possible

He noted that the first phase of the project, being a milestone of the tripartite collaboration between the government, the business sector and the community, has admitted all 2,800 eligible mentees, 40 percent more than the enrolment target, in a spirit of supporting as many as possible.

Meanwhile, the program has received support from more than 120 enterprises and organizations in terms of sponsorship, nomination of mentors and planning of group activities for mentees.

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The initiative is also underpinned by a number of star tutors who will share their experiences and insights related to their respective professional fields with mentees through group activities.

Chan, accompanied by Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun, also witnessed the oath-taking by mentees, as well as their parents and mentors, to pledge their active participation in the project.

He said he hopes that all mentees will actively participate in the diversified activities under the plan of action and better equip themselves with their mentors' guidance to set and attain personal goals with a positive attitude.

The program has received sponsorship in the amount of HK$140 million ($17.84 million) thus far. Under its first phase, which lasts for one year, mentees will be paired up with mentors on a 1:1 basis and some 800 group activity sessions will be made available for the mentees' enrolment.

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