Last month, I took part in the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund conference in Hong Kong. The fund was set up by the government to promote social services and support in the community.
At the conference, various speakers shared details of how they support others. One young chef at a five-star hotel, for example, goes out of his way to help young people who have withdrawn from society and even their families by seeking to interest them in cooking and gradually gain their trust.
Another shining example came from an entrepreneur who turned his boyhood love of making robots into a successful business, designing various instruments and machinery. He began to pursue his interest in Form 1, bringing into school a robot he had made, demonstrating it in the playground to fellow students and teachers. Even though he wasn't academically gifted, he excelled in making robots and won several school competitions before winning a global contest.
We also heard from a leading company in Hong Kong that offers jobs to those recovering from mental health problems, thus giving them a chance to re-enter the workforce.
On another occasion, I heard from a teenager who has a special interest in designing leather products. He learned his art in a support programme organised by Deloitte and the Buddhist Mau Fung Memorial College in Tin Shiu Wai. He has now set up his own company in Mong Kok with a friend and designs and makes his own leather products.
What drives me to highlight all these young entrepreneurs is their hard work in pursuing their dreams and developing their talent. All these young people came from low-income families, and with support and encouragement from people at school and in the community, they have excelled.
There is a Chinese saying that "everyone has his own potential, strength and talent". So, if people can develop this potential to its fullest, through their own efforts and persistence, they will do very well.
The issue is whether a person is prepared to try hard and is eager to succeed. There is no hurdle that cannot be overcome. There is no lack of support from others if one can demonstrate one's potential.
Young people and students, even though they might come from disadvantaged backgrounds or attend neighbourhood schools, just need to realise that they have their own strengths. All they need to do is work hard to do full justice to themselves. They will have the support from teachers and fellow students, as well as the wider community.
More importantly, they can encourage others who think they will never achieve much and who believe they have little to offer, to follow in their footsteps and start afresh.
There's no doubt that the programme and sharing during this year's conference was very useful. To benefit more people, the government and other voluntary organisations and schools should consider setting up an online platform to showcase such achievements, and encourage others to support those in need.
This way, the whole of society can benefit.
David Lui is a member of the Commission on Strategic Development. He has 30 years of experience in the financial fund management sector