Govt Urged To Train Mentors For Poverty Scheme

The government has been urged to provide training for mentors they're recruiting under a programme aimed at tackling intergenerational poverty among underprivileged secondary school pupils.

The call came a day after Chief Secretary Eric Chan announced details of the Strive and Rise Programme, a one-year pilot scheme which aims to help 2,000 form one to form three students.

Those taking part will each be paired with a mentor from various sectors to guide them on different skills, such as life planning and financing.

On an RTHK Programme on Tuesday, Simon Wong, a member of the Commission on Poverty, said he believes the business sector will be willing to support the scheme.

He said the government should think about how to pick the most suitable students to take part.

One way, he said, could be asking them to write a short essay explaining why they wish to participate.

Wong also said officials should give general directions to mentors on how to guide students, for example, on finance management.

"They are form one to form three students, and it's probably not the time for them to learn about overly complicated financial concepts...So at this moment, should we mainly encourage them to save money, encourage them to use money correctly and not splurge?" Wong questioned.

On the same programme, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters, Esther Ho, said she believed training is necessary for mentors as well.

"We cannot assume just because a person is good-hearted, and is a professional, he or she immediately knows how to build a relationship with youngsters. Especially for young people who we want to serve, we need more understanding regarding their background, family support, their own mindset and emotions," she said.

Ho, a secondary school principal herself, also raised questions about whether resources for this particular scheme will overlap with other similar programmes, such as projects under the Child Development Fund, which also seek to help disadvantaged children with personal development and provide them with mentors.

Meanwhile, Peace Wong, a chief officer from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, noted that previous Child Development Fund schemes had lasted for three years, adding that the one-year period for the new government programme will not be long enough for students and their mentors to bond.