The Youth Development Blueprint was promulgated in 2022, with a vision to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and for Hong Kong, equipped with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and who will make contributions to the development of the country and the city.

The Government launched the United Nations (UN) Volunteers - Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme to provide an opportunity for them to contribute to the international community in the capacity as Chinese youth volunteers.

Karen Law, who recently graduated from the Cultural & Religious Studies programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, took part last year in the internship programme organised by the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau.

Miss Law undertook a six-month internship at the communications department of United Nations Volunteers Nepal in Kathmandu.

Skilled in photography and writing, she oversaw the organisation's social media platforms, promoted UN volunteer positions all over the world and organised training workshops for volunteers.

Broadening horizons

Recalling her most memorable experiences, Miss Law said she was honoured to be part of United Nations Day celebrations attended by the UN Secretary-General during his visit to Nepal in October last year.

She also participated in outreach services in a border city in Nepal, where she interacted with local university students.

Miss Law managed to strike a good work-life balance in Nepal by joining a choir that performed at a charity event as well as embarking on a 13-day hike along the Annapurna Circuit Trek in the Himalayas.

Interning abroad was not without its challenges and it took Miss Law about a month to overcome her culture shock, however, she credits her experience in Nepal with helping to develop her adaptability and flexibility in a professional setting.

“This internship experience has provided me with an opportunity to work and live alone in a foreign country, so that I would be able to navigate a new workplace, a new city alone, equipping me to be more responsible, more resilient and more humble.”

Career development

The internship programme has sponsored around 130 local university students to take up volunteer placements in different UN agencies.

In partnership with the United Nations Volunteers and local volunteer organisations such as the Agency for Volunteer Service, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau launched the programme in 2015 to enable the undergraduates to develop their personal capacities and global vision.

Successful candidates receive funding for round-trip tickets and living allowances.

United Nations Volunteers - Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme Steering Committee Chairman Alan Lai noted that the UN agencies offering internship positions vary each year.

He cited examples such as the World Health Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization, among others, representing a diverse range of fields.

Mr Lai remarked that UN internship experiences are of great benefit to career development, with a few undergraduates even being invited to stay on after completing their contracts - which is rare.

“The period of the internship is very good for the students to think about their future. And then the opportunity provided by the United Nations also means that they can consider whether they will be fit for career development in some other places, for example, also in international organisations.”

Expanding placements

This year, the programme is offering internship placements in different UN agencies located in eight countries, including Laos, Vietnam, and Tajikistan, and has been expanded to cover more countries along the Belt & Road regions.

Under Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Clarence Leung hoped there would be more opportunities to allow young people to understand the development and trends of the Belt & Road countries.

He also noted that the internship programme aligns with the bureau's Youth Development Blueprint.

“We basically want to nurture our young people to love our country, love our society, but also have a global perspective. Thanks to the great support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are able to have our young people go and volunteer in different UN organisations across various countries. This would be an extremely valuable experience.”

Mr Leung added that the number of programme applicants has doubled compared to last year, and the bureau will strive to expand placements for the future to benefit more young individuals.