Chief Executive, Donald Tsang will hold a dialogue session with young people on his 2005 Policy Address at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, 3:00-4:30pm, Saturday 15 October. Call 2564 1277 for further details.

Mentorship is a valuable commitment made by people from all walks of life to our youth development programmes. The interactive process of mentoring is a strategy which embraces, empowers and protects young people and can be pivotal for their success in later life. Matching mentors to mentees is of intrinsic importance in several of our initiatives, for example Youth Business Hong Kong. We owe all of those who have volunteered a big thank you for their encouragement and help.
 

The role of mentors is complex. They listen, coach and set a positive example in one-to-one partnerships which thrive on good communication. Their skill, wisdom, experience and professional background can all be involved. They also offer a supportive link to the networks that bolster our community. A good mentor protects, counsels and confirms, but he or she must also share and challenge as a friend, while providing a set of guiding principles for finding the best way through the complexities and challenges which face youth.

*The word 'mentor' was originally used in Greek mythology. More than a teacher, Mentor was a wise and trusted counsellor, both believable and unreachable, half man, half god and both male and female.