Hang Seng Bank x HKFYG’s “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme Hosts “Leaders’ Dialogue”

The “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme, fully supported by Hang Seng Bank and organised by The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) Leadership Institute, hosted three sessions of “Leaders’ Dialogue” at The Mills Fabrica on 8 March.

Nearly 300 secondary and tertiary students engaged enthusiastically with community leaders from various fields who shared their valuable experiences and insights on three key social themes: “Environment and Sustainable Development,” “Promoting Sports for All,” and “Elderly and Wellness.”

The dialogues, titled “Moving Forward: Unlocking a Sustainable Future,” “Living Vibrantly: The Power of Sports for All,” and “From Health to Happiness: Redefining Well-being for the Elderly,” featured esteemed speakers, including veteran actress Alice Fung So-po and former middle-distance runner Chan Ka-ho, alongside social entrepreneurs and industry professionals, who exchanged insights with the students.

Alice Fung So-po, veteran actress with over 70 years of experience, emphasised that elderly well-being is not only about the absence of physical ailments and reminded participants to pay more attention to the emotional care of the elderly and their interpersonal relationships. Former middle-distance runner Chan Ka-ho believed that sports go beyond physical fitness. Through promoting sports for all, he hoped to educate the next generation to persevere with their goals, challenge themselves, and not be afraid of failure.

Betty Law, Head of Corporate Communications and Community Investments of Hang Seng Bank, stated: “The programme name, ‘Seek Our Ways,’ reflects our aspiration to encourage young people to explore ways to improve society and drive social progress. The acronym ‘SOW’ symbolises our desire for participants to gain firsthand understanding of social issues and develop innovative social solutions through the programme.This, in turn, will plant the seeds of growth for both themselves and the community.”

William Chung, Deputy Executive Director of The HKFYG, remarked: “The HKFYG Leadership Institute aims to nurture young people who can think from multiple perspectives, propose constructive ideas, and drive social progress. We are grateful to Hang Seng Bank for partnering with us to promote this meaningful initiative, encouraging young people to gain insights into society and transform their insights into actions to make a positive impact. We hope that everyone can join hands with us to build a sustainable and promising future together.”

Officially launched on 18 December 2024 under the theme “Explore the Future of Our Society”, the “Seek Our Ways” Ideation Programme has united social leaders and mentors to guide over 400 students from more than 90 secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Through a variety of social innovation experiences, the initiative deepened their understanding of societal challenges, contributing positively to the community through creative solutions.

In its first phase, the programme kicked off with seven intensive two-day boot camps. Participants not only sharpened their teamwork, design thinking, and presentation skills but also conducted street interviews to identify social pain points within their communities, laying the groundwork for their social innovation projects.

The programme also held 12 “Social Visits,” where students joined local social innovation initiatives to engage with field experts and explore developments related to the three major social themes. The visits immersed students in workshops and activities, including experiencing emerging sports with children with special educational needs (SEN), participating in intergenerational dialogues with senior models while tasting salt-preserved tangerine mocktails, and touring sustainable technology projects on university campuses. Additionally, participants will receive instruction in proposal writing, presentation skills, and financial management through the “Social Innovation Skills Laboratory” .

On 6 April, participants will advance to the second phase and showcase the first drafts of their prototypes to gather feedback from their mentors, service users, and community members in the “Ideation Laboratory” .

In the final phase of the competition, teams will be paired with expert mentors to refine and launch their proposals. The Champion Team in each category will receive a prize of HK$20,000, while Audiences’ Favourite Team will receive HK$5,000. Furthermore, the Winning Team will have the opportunity to participate in a career immersion experience at Hang Seng Bank.

For more details, please visit leadershipinstitute.hk/seekourways/.

About Hang Seng Bank’s Community Investments

Hang Seng Bank is deeply rooted in Hong Kong and operates with a people-centric philosophy, dedicated to building a more prosperous and sustainable future for the city. Recognising the pivotal role of youth in sustainable development, Hang Seng Bank commits to equipping them with necessary skills. This not only maintains community vibrancy but also drives long-term positive changes across society and the environment. The focus is on motivating and nurturing Hong Kong’s youth by developing their knowledge, skills, and self-confidence. Hang Seng Bank is equally committed to serving the wider community. Community investment efforts are structured around four key pillars: enhancing youth’s future skills, promoting sustainable finance and financial education, responding to climate change, and providing care for the community.

About The HKFYG Leadership Institute

The HKFYG Leadership Institute is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of young talent. Since 2000, it has trained over 200,000 young leaders through a variety of training and exchange programmes. By empowering young people to serve as leaders of the future, the Institute trusts in them to “make wonders” locally, nationally and globally.