(Hong Kong, 30 October 2017) The Li Ka Shing Foundation’s “Decide Well, Spend Wisely” programme has entered its second year. This year’s programme covers 89 schools and 9,320 students sitting for the 2018 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE). The first batch of the HK$5,000 gift cheques are distributed to schools in Tuen Mun District today.
Overview of feedbacks from the first phase of the programme:
Feedback helps us become more aware of what we do and how we do it. Receiving it gives us an opportunity to tweak and modify in order to become more effective.
Phase one of the programme received overwhelming community support. Schools, parents and teachers especially appreciated the “unconditional” requirement of the programme. We also received many very compelling emails from community groups who recognised the positive impact the programme has made towards encouraging the concept of correlating financial decisions to taking responsibility for one’s choices.
LKSF commissioned an independent study in July and August this year to gauge the impact of the programme. We have received 1,881 completed questionnaires from the students of the 51 secondary schools who participated in the scheme last year, of which 1,294 were deemed to be valid.
- Over 88% of the students used the $5,000 gift cheques for household expenses and tutorial lessons. They believed that the funds were practical and useful. Over 73% of the students indicated that the programme brought them more choices and greater happiness, and helped alleviate the pressure of studying for the DSE.
- The survey also revealed that parents, elders, teachers, and schools supported the programme, and nearly 75% of students hoped that the Government would implement a similar scheme.
- Over 64% of the teachers in 46 schools indicated that the programme offered them a glimpse into the spending habits of the pupils as well as their normal daily routines.
One disappointing result surfaced through survey response rate. Though we have repeatedly made salient in the survey that the results would have a direct impact on both the future direction and sustainability of the programme, the response rate of the questionnaires was only 33%. We are concerned that the programme has not inspired a ‘pay it forward’ altruistic concept which forms the essence of community and creativity.
Next Steps:
LKSF remains committed to the constructive discovery of the best of “what is” in the programme and use that as a guideline to tweak and modify the programme to become more effective
About the Li Ka Shing Foundation
Established in 1980, the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) has invested over HK$20 billion to work on education, medical services and research initiatives in 27 countries and regions, with over 80% of our projects located within the Greater China region. In 2006, Mr Li described his philanthropic effort as akin to having another son in the family. He called for a paradigm shift in our Asian culture of giving, through apportioning more of our wealth and means towards social capital so that we could bring forth great hope and promises for the future.
