Cathay Pacific is participating in this year’s Strive and Rise Programme, an
initiative organised by the Hong Kong government that pairs
students with volunteer mentors who help them build up their
self-confidence and guide them to develop their personal goals.
As one of the programme’s supporting organisations,
Cathay has invited 1,600 participating students and mentors to
experience Aviation Exploration Days with visits to its
facilities and those of the wider airport community over the
coming months.
The first Aviation Exploration Day took place last
weekend and was among the first batch of activities to be held
under the Strive and Rise Programme.
In total, several hundred
activities are set to be organised by the programme’s various
supporting enterprises and organisations.
The first Aviation Exploration Day kicked off with
an opening ceremony before participants visited key facilities
within the airport area, from the airline’s headquarters – Cathay
City, to Cathay Pacific Catering Services’ kitchens and the Cathay
Pacific Cargo Terminal.
“Promoting children and youth
development has long been an important part of our sustainable
development goals at Cathay. Over the years, we have initiated and
invested in programmes, notably the signature ‘I Can Fly’ scheme,
that drive social mobility more broadly and have a meaningful
impact on communities,” said Cathay’s Director People, Patricia
Hwang. “We are extremely proud to be participating in the
Strive and Rise Programme, which reaffirms our commitment to
providing members of the next generation with unique guidance,
experience and an inside view into the world of aviation.”
The Strive and Rise Programme aims to support,
through the tripartite collaboration between the government,
business sector and community, in a targeted manner, junior
secondary school students who are in need of societal support for
upward social mobility, so as to build a caring and inclusive
society and enhance the upward mobility of the youth.
The Cathay Volunteers Team donated their time and
expertise to support the programme as tour guides, introducing the
different business functions within the aviation industry and
encouraging participating students to explore their interests and
strengths during the visits.
Additionally, a number of Cathay employees across
various departments have joined the programme as mentors to
inspire the students to explore more possibilities for their
personal development.
Over the coming months, they will embark on
a series of activities together including training workshops,
diverse group activities and mentor-mentee interactive sessions.
Following a series of Aviation Exploration Day
visits that will continue into March of next year, a community flight
will be organised as a finale towards the end of the programme.
The community flight will provide participants with a memorable
opportunity to visit the airport and enjoy interactive
mentor-mentee activities at 25,000 feet.
