First Cohort Graduates from 'You Ni Qidao' Mentorship Program; Second Cohort Expands 50%
SingTao · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The "You Ni Qidao" (『友』妳啟導) mentorship program, jointly organized by the Civil Affairs and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Women's Commission, held its first cohort graduation ceremony alongside the launch of its second edition at the Government Headquarters on September 5, 2026 . Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki delivered remarks, highlighting the remarkable achievements of the inaugural program, which successfully matched 53 mentors with over 80 students to help them build confidence, expand networks, and prepare for the professional world . The second cohort will see a 50 percent increase in student capacity to 120 participants, with more than 70 female leaders serving as mentors and over 430 applications received, demonstrating broad social recognition .
Key Points
- The first cohort matched 53 mentors with over 80 students, helping them gain leadership experience, build confidence, and expand networks
- The second cohort expands student slots by 50 percent to 120, with over 70 female leaders as mentors and 430+ applicants
- Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki urged students to embrace "three dares": dare to think, dare to try, and dare to take responsibility
- The Women's Empowerment Fund has approved over 450 projects in over three years, supporting women across different backgrounds
- The second cohort introduces "senior" mentorship from first cohort graduates and includes students from Georgia and Kazakhstan
Why It Matters
This program represents Hong Kong's concrete commitment to women's development, with over half of government bureau directors and permanent secretaries now female, and the city's first female astronaut representing Hong Kong in space . The expanded second cohort and diverse participant composition—including Belt and Road international students—underscore Hong Kong's aspiration to cultivate the next generation of female leaders who can contribute to both local and national development .
This program represents Hong Kong's concrete commitment to women's development, with over half of government bureau directors and permanent secretaries now female, and the city's first female astronaut representing Hong Kong in space . The expanded second cohort and diverse participant composition—including Belt and Road international students—underscore Hong Kong's aspiration to cultivate the next generation of female leaders who can contribute to both local and national development .