Fall Issue, 2014

The first thing he learned on the sports ground was to accept one constraint - his height. “I was one of the shortest players on the basketball team. I hated myself when I was young.” Disadvantaged by his physical built, Wong trained himself extra hard. “I kept asking myself if I want to do well in basketball and if I want to compete, what should be my advantage? I realised my advantage could be my pace, my speed, maybe my shooting skills, maybe my sense of providing assistance to others. So I became the point guard.” Wong worked his way into established local basketball teams in boyhood. This fighting spirit also got him admitted to world-class institutions like HKU and Oxford University in adulthood. But his fight doesn’t just end there. Conceptualised just two years ago, “InspiringHK Sports Foundation” is now serving 120 students aged between 9 to 14. Participating teenagers must be beneficiaries in the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme or are referred by a registered social worker or NGO.“The students’ parents may be housewives or cleaners. They may not have certain exposure and networks,” said Wong. “Some don’t even have an idea of what a holistic education is.” “We are here to tackle that, to share our professional connections and to level the playing field.” Fighting shoulder to shoulder with Wong on the battlefield are 12 other professionals. Working full time in various industries, they take up different roles in the Foundation including fundraising, online marketing strategies, media and event management. “We are a young and small charity without any full-time staff. Financial sustainability and capacity building are always at the top of our agenda. Besides financial support, commitment of our team and volunteers, our skills and network, and new ideas are equally important to our continuous growth and expansion.” Gary and his team. “I believe in the power of collaboration. On our team, there are civil servants, high school teachers, businessmen, lawyers, bankers and many others.” Front row: Ruby Chan 陳穎芝 (BEcon&Fin 2006; MIPA 2011) (1 st right); Lisa So 蘇詩韻 (LLB 1998; PCLL 2000) (2 nd right); Gary Wong 黃梓謙 (BA 2006) (3 rd right); Judy Kong 江嘉惠 (MSW 2011) (2 nd left) Back row: Jack Chen 陳嵩泳 (BEng 2009; MSc(CompSc) 2013) (1 st right); Desmond Cheung 張志銓 (BSocSc(Govt&Laws) 2008; LLB 2011; PCLL 2012) (2 nd right) And those who are not in the picture: Eddie Chow 周倬行 (BEng 2007), Harvey Lo 羅子峯 (MEd 2014), Vivian Chik 戚瑜慧 (PCLL 2014), EricaWang 王海茵 (BA Year 3) and Alex Luk 陸嘉健 (BSc(ActuarSc) Year 3) 15 Cover Story