December 19 2022  |  Airline & Terminal News

​Cathay kicks off its participation in the Strive and Rise Program

By PAX Magazine Staff

1,600 students and mentors will visit Cathay’s facilities as part of the youth development initiative

Cathay is proudly continuing its long-standing commitment to supporting youth development in the community with its participation in this year’s Strive and Rise Program — an initiative organized by the Hong Kong SAR 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 program’s supporting organizations, Cathay has invited 1,600 participating students and mentors to experience an Aviation Exploration Day 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 Program. In total, several hundred activities are set to be organized by the program’s various supporting enterprises and organizations, according to the December 19 release.

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.

Director People Patricia Hwang welcomed the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Director of Social Welfare, Miss Charmaine Lee, as a guest of honor at the opening ceremony. Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Youth and Corrections), Mr. Alex Wong, as well as the heads of various charity organizations, were also in attendance.

Ms. Hwang said: “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 programs, notably the signature ‘I Can Fly’ scheme, that drives social mobility more broadly and have a meaningful impact on communities.

“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 Program aims to support, through the tripartite collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community and 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 program 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 program 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.

Community flight in 2023
Following a series of Aviation Exploration Day visits that will continue into March next year, a community flight will be organized as a finale towards the end of the program. The community flight will provide participants with a memorable opportunity to visit the airport and enjoy interactive mentor-mentee activities at 25,000 feet.

Cathay delivers value to the community by focusing on four specific areas: championing diversity and inclusion; promoting environmental awareness; facilitating global cultural exchange; and supporting children and youth development.

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