The second edition of the FutureGen Girls Leadership Summit organised by the JYC Girls Impact Foundation was held on November 4 at Hong Kong Palace Museum
Who? Alice Mak, secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of Hong Kong SAR, who officiated the opening ceremony, alongside Jennifer Yu Cheng, founder of JYC Girls Impact Foundation; Diana Cesar, executive director and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank, who delivered the keynote speech; and 300 girls from 40 participating schools
When? November 4
Where? Hong Kong Palace Museum
Here’s what you missed: The theme of the summit was ‘Discover your purpose, unleash your potential’ which aimed to inspire and support teen girls through leadership development and STEM learning via four key tenets: exploration; career development; holistic development; and contributions to society.
Students were encouraged to explore options through an industrialisation exhibition and interactive zone, where participants could engage in AI, robotics and 3D printing. Career development was fostered through panel discussions with industry leaders from various fields. The focus on holistic development included innovation and technology workshops, leadership skill-building sessions, and a visit to the Future Readiness Lab, which offered, among other things, workshops and fireside chats about pursuing one’s passion as a profession.
With support from the Hong Kong Science Technology Parks Corporation, the summit also emphasised the students’ contributions to society by showcasing 12 projects developed by participating schools and teenagers, who had undergone training in design thinking and innovation and technology. These projects addressed crucial areas such as health and well-being, sustainability, and challenges faced by women in society.
“We are living in the information age, a time when the world is changing at a rapid rate but [in a time where] there are also infinite new possibilities,” said Yu Cheng during her address. “The summit is just the beginning of a teen girl’s journey— to empower them to take a leap forward, to explore possibilities and unleash their boundless potential to pursue their own unique goals. It is my hope that students will leave the summit inspired, embraced and supported enough to fly wherever their purpose takes them, and [that they] will continue to make meaningful contributions to the lives of others around them.”
The summit was also an important stepping stone for teen girls who seek work opportunities across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau and Greater Bay Area.
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