Taking up responsibility

Gladys Wong has won a number of awards and wishes that young people like herself were allowed to take up the responsibilities for which they have aptitude.

Better public speaking was the goal when Gladys joined the HKFYG Summer School for Effective Leadership programme. “In fact, I learned a lot more. We talked about poverty, ageing populations and climate change and there were many inspiring ideas.” In search of more challenge, she signed up for the following year’s programme.

Gladys then found role models and remembers one person in particular: a mainland student. “I realized that we are never too young to serve the community and that acts of kindness are never too small. Every summer, that student gave back to his community by teaching foreign languages to underprivileged children.”

Next, she learned about the predicament of people in less developed countries. “I found out about the millions of Africans without shoes. Walking even one imaginary mile with them on the Bottle Shoes Movement was an eyeopener. Yet we are often blindsided, living in our world of luxury, feeling poor because we can’t afford the newest iPhone. I also realized that we don’t need expensive clothes or ‘likes’ on social media to be happy. Why can’t we think of ways to use our resources to help the less fortunate instead?”

With HKFYG, Gladys says she learned how to work with people of contrasting personalities from different backgrounds. “Coordinating them as a team and finding out about other cultures made me realize that although Hong Kong is an international city, we are still not good at catering for multicultural needs. Volunteering taught me about humility, integrity, empathy and effective communication. It made me realize that each person is unique, that it is unfair to stereotype.” After visiting street sleepers and understanding their situation at first hand, Gladys realized that reading about society’s problems can never replace experiencing them in real life. “I realized that poverty can trap even those who work tirelessly and that it is important to look after our own community before trying to solve the world’s problems.”

Seeing that cooperation is the key to change and shouldering responsibility is what’s needed, Gladys wants, “to tell other young people about my transformative experiences, about Ming-gor, a restaurant owner in Sham Shui Po who gives free meals to the less privileged, and about how the circular economy can save lives by recycling soap bars.”

Watching the world’s political leaders shuffle off the blame and avoid responsibility, Gladys observes how this hinders solutions to global problems like the covid-19 pandemic. “Leaders need to be observant and daring, to make important decisions and give clear directions. They need to have vision that unites people but be generous and refuse to let emotion override good judgement. Most importantly, they need to be team players, not be dictators.”

Asking why Hong Kong society is reluctant to let young people take up their responsibility, she points out that, “The government says it wants to understand

our needs but representation on advisory and statutory bodies will reach only 15% by 2022. I believe it should be at least 25%. Are those in power are not confident in our potential? Why, since we all have the same ultimate goal of building a better Hong Kong?”

In conclusion, Gladys imagines programmes that connect youth around the world, instilling a sense of social responsibility and collaborative global citizenship. “Perhaps we would then see a world that really lives as one and works as one. Perhaps then we could tackle critical issues in the future.”

Leaders need to be observant and daring, to make important decisions and give clear direction.

From 2015 to 2017, Gladys Wong took part in the Summer School for Effective Leadership Programme organized by the HKFYG Leadership Institute and is a member of the Federation’s Youth IDEAS think tank. She is now doing a University of Hong Kong law degree and has won a number of awards.

From prediction to reality

Vanessa Cheung took her first lessons in leadership with HKFYG. Expecting to hone her public speaking skills, like Gladys, she found much more and created her own social enterprise.

“There was a lot more than I expected in leadership training with HKFYG: group project planning, pitching and social innovation, to name but three. We had the chance to exchange ideas and experiment with cooperative projects. My project work, ‘Market for Hong Kong’ was about protecting local shops and traditional market culture in the city.”

Vanessa’s plan was to organize regular bazaars in different districts to raise awareness about traditional culture. “I believe if you care about your hometown, you need to understand its culture and history. This will build not

I believe if you care about your hometown, you need to understand its culture and history.

only your understanding but your respect for its past. The project was a prototype and led on to ‘City’s Treasure’, my social enterprise.” Vanessa also helped students in her group formalize ideas about environmental protection, positive

p Vanessa 3rd from left

thinking and various social issues. The aim was to transform these ideas into workable social innovation projects.

“Since 2018, I have been part of the HK200 Association core team, putting into practice much of what I have learned. That now includes building relationships, communicating with the public and introducing them and potential partners to the work of the HKFYG Leadership Institute (HLI).” Joining Leaders to Leaders activities organized by HLI and working as an MC also gave her training in handling unexpected situations flexibly.

“I discovered that you can’t help people if you don’t know their true needs and helping to organize largescale events like the Federation’s annual Reunion Lunch was an eye-opener.” Hundreds of people attended sites all over Hong Kong so Vanessa had to make preparations, predict scenarios and help put it all into action. “My time with HKFYG has been full of happiness. I made close bonds and firm connections. We are like a family. Even if we lose contact for years, when we meet again it’s as if we’ve never been apart. HKFYG leadership training helped me to find the treasure in my city but also to find myself.”

Now doing a BBA in corporate governance at the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Vanessa Cheung took part in the 2017 HKFYG Hong Kong 200 Leadership Project. She is a member of The Federation's the Youth Service Advisory Committee.

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