Leadership Development Through One-to-One Tutorials

In 2014, Kwai Chung district had a poverty rate of 25.7%, the second highest among the 18 districts of Hong Kong (Hong Kong Poverty Situation 2014).

In 2015, YFP collaborated with H.K.S.K.H Lady MacLehose Centre (“LMC”) to pilot the S.M.A.R.T. Program, providing additional leadership and learning opportunities for underprivileged students. Secondary school students from Kwai Chung district with outstanding academic performance were trained to become youth tutors, delivering one-to-one tutorial services for underprivileged primary school children from the same district needing academic help, especially in English.

In this “community capital” model, the primary pupils have a role model to look up to, who shares a similar background. As a result, their learning attitudes, academic abilities and personal capacity have all been elevated. The youth tutors have been empowered to become role models and leaders within the community, while developing their soft skills for future success.

After the first pilot, S.M.A.R.T. was redesigned to better serve the beneficiary groups, and to better integrate with the local school system.

In 2019 after funding three cohorts, YFP continued on in an advisory role as LMC secured other funding for S.M.A.R.T. Program for program sustainability.

In 2021, Changing Young Lives Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation will be launching S.M.A.R.T. Program in a second district in Sham Shui Po.