The Intergenerational Poverty Cycle

A university education is the only way for children to break free of the cycle of poverty which has trapped many of their families for multiple generations.

A child who has aspirations but comes from an underprivileged family deserves help - and supporters of Christian Action are helping us provide that help. 

Hong Kong students are under a lot of pressure to perform academically, so Christian Action encourages the students in our Child Development Fund programme (CDF) to also participate in non-academic activities as we know that a balanced lifestyle is essential. Churning out graduates with unbalanced lifestyles inevitably leads to health problems that could prove crippling in the not-so-long term.

The CDF was designed for underprivileged children and their families to receive mentoring and support, ultimately to break out the of the intergenerational poverty cycle.

Earlier this year 18-year-old *James, 15 year-old *Alice, and six other students participated in an eight week training programme to prepare them for Hong Kong's 10km 'Run our City' event. For students more familiar with their books than with the rigours of exercise, this was a challenge.  Once a week for eight weeks they met a coach supplied by the organizers of the event at one of Hong Kong's pristine sports stadiums. After a two hour session the students were sent home to apply what they had learnt, and to continue to improve their fitness, until the next session. It required self discipline to complete their weekly goals.

Alice is no stranger to exercise because she swims for her school, but running was a new experience for her.  At the end of it she said, "Although there were so many people in the race, I still managed to finish in just over an hour. I never thought I could do it. It was exhilarating, and my stress level is greatly reduced!" Alice wants to be a doctor, so she knows the importance of stress management. It will also be important when she faces stiff competition for the limited places at medical school.

James, who completed the race in under an hour, now needs to exercise patience, but he said confidently, "I've just completed the HK Diploma of Secondary Education and am awaiting my final results, which will determine whether or not I get accepted into the Engineering department at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology." According to the QS World University Rankings which is regarded as one of the three most influential and widely observed university measures in the world, HKUST is ranked number one in Asia.

I am immensely proud that Alice and James have taken up the challenge to break the poverty cycle in their families.  I’m confident they will be counted among Hong Kong’s future leaders. Thank you again for supporting Christian Action as we provide guidance and opportunity to students like Alice and James through the Child Development Fund programme!     

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the subjects.