Project update: Financial Secretary Henry Tang and Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li listen to students outlining their voluntary service projects.

Mutual respect and support is crucial to promoting a caring and inclusive community, which is essential to sustainable poverty alleviation. This was the message from Financial Secretary Henry Tang at the launch of the Mentorship Fun Project today.

The project, to network Hong Kong's universities, post-secondary institutions and secondary and primary schools, is an initiative by the Commission on Poverty, which Mr Tang chairs.

Through encouraging voluntary services within the education sector, the project enhances opportunities for students to polish their soft skills and promote interaction, understanding, acceptance and respect among students from different backgrounds.

Priceless benefits

"The project can give our young people what money cannot buy - experience and a mindset to be responsible and caring citizens. Today's young people will become masters of our community tomorrow. Their attitude determines the kind of Hong Kong we shall have in the future," Mr Tang said.

Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li, who sits on the Poverty Commission, said education is not only about knowledge acquisition, it covers value education too, including how to become responsible citizens.

"The project, by promoting mentoring and assistance to other students, especially those who are underpriviledged, will create a win-win situation for all. The Mentorship Fun Project orchestrates well the civic mindedness that our education reform is promoting," Prof Li said.

Students of University Grants Committee institutions can join the project by registering on its website. Students from institutions of the VTC, and secondary and primary schools can participate in the project through their schools.