Some 1,600 students and mentors to visit Cathay’s facilities as part of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s youth development initiative.Cathay proudly continues its long-standing commitment to supporting youth development in the community with its participation in this year’s Strive and Rise Programme – an initiative organised by the Hong Kong SAR Government that pairs students with volunteer mentors who help them build up their self-confidence and guide them to develop their personal goals.

As one of the programme’s supporting organisations, Cathay has invited 1,600 participating students and mentors to experience an Aviation Exploration Day with visits to its facilities and those of the wider airport community over the coming months. The first Aviation Exploration Day took place last weekend and was among the first batch of activities to be held under the Strive and Rise Programme. In total, several hundred activities are set to be organised by the programme’s various supporting enterprises and organisations.

The first Aviation Exploration Day kicked off with an opening ceremony before participants visited key facilities within the airport area, from the airline’s headquarters, Cathay City, to Cathay Pacific Catering Services’ kitchens and the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal.

Director People Patricia Hwang welcomed the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Director of Social Welfare, Charmaine Lee, as guest of honour at the opening ceremony. Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Youth and Corrections), Alex Wong, as well as the heads of various charity organisations were also in attendance.

Hwang said: “Promoting children and youth development has long been an important part of our sustainable development goals at Cathay. Over the years, we have initiated and invested in programmes, notably the signature ‘I Can Fly’ scheme, that drive social mobility more broadly and have a meaningful impact on communities.

“We are extremely proud to be participating in the Strive and Rise Programme, which reaffirms our commitment to providing members of the next generation with unique guidance, experience and an inside view into the world of aviation.”

The Strive and Rise Programme aims to support, through the tripartite collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community and in a targeted manner, junior secondary school students who are in need of societal support for upward social mobility, so as to build a caring and inclusive society and enhance the upward mobility of the youth.

The Cathay Volunteers Team donated their time and expertise to support the programme as tour guides, introducing the different business functions within the aviation industry and encouraging participating students to explore their interests and strengths during the visits.

Additionally, a number of Cathay employees across various departments have joined the programme as mentors to inspire the students to explore more possibilities for their personal development. Over the coming months, they will embark on a series of activities together including training workshops, diverse group activities and mentor-mentee interactive sessions.

Community flight in 2023
Following a series of Aviation Exploration Day visits that will continue into March next year, a community flight will be organised as a finale towards the end of the programme. The community flight will provide participants with a memorable opportunity to visit the airport and enjoy interactive mentor-mentee activities at 25,000 feet.

Cathay delivers value to the community by focusing on four specific areas: championing diversity and inclusion; promoting environmental awareness; facilitating global cultural exchange; and supporting children and youth development.