The HKSAR Government has recently launched its Strive and Rise Programme to foster the development of secondary one to three students from underprivileged families, particularly those living in sub-divided units. In support, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is pleased to announce today (5 October) an approved donation of HK$10 million through its Charities Trust to the Strive and Rise Programme.
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said, "Young people are our future. Their development should not be constrained by family circumstances. What they need most of all are opportunities to learn and to develop. This is why the Club is so pleased to support this programme, just as it has supported and initiated many other youth projects over the years. Through our support we seek to provide equal educational opportunities for all and to help young people pursue multiple career development pathways to success. All of this reflects the Club's strong commitment to the betterment of our society."
The Strive and Rise Programme comprises three elements, namely mentorship, personal development plans and financial support. As one of the programme's supporting organisations, the Club will invite participating students to visit its facilities, such as Tai Kwun: Centre for Heritage and Art, The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course and the Public Riding Schools. The Club's management team will also hold sharing sessions for students to learn more about the development of the Club. Additionally, the Club has nominated some of its employees and Jockey Club Scholars to serve as mentors and to share their experiences with students. In these ways the Club aims to help students broaden their horizons and to explore different fields.
The Strive and Rise Programme is led by the Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki. Welcoming the Club's support, Mr Chan said it manifests the tripartite collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community in support of junior secondary school students from underprivileged families – helping them broaden their horizons, reinforce their self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life, set goals for their future and strive for upward social mobility. He added that he looks forward to joining hands with all sectors of society to take forward the programme and in so doing to foster underprivileged students' personal development in multiple ways.
Children and youth development is one of the strategic focus areas of the Club's Charities Trust. Over the years, the Club has supported and initiated a diverse range of projects, many of them large-scale, to support the next generation. These include: CLAP@JC, which helps young people explore multiple career pathways; JC PROcruit C, a talent matching and development initiative for fresh DSE and tertiary graduates starting their careers in emerging industries; and CoolThink@JC, which equips upper primary students with computational thinking skills.
The Club's support for these programmes, like all of its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model, through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community.
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Over the years, the Club has supported and initiated a diverse range of youth projects, such as CLAP@JC which helps young people explore multiple career pathways.
Participating students of the Strive and Rise Programme can visit Club facilities, such as Tai Kwun: Centre for Heritage and Art, The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course and the Public Riding Schools, helping to broaden their horizons and to explore different fields.
