(Hong Kong, 28 November 2012) The Li Ka Shing Foundation (“LKSF”) announced a donation of HKD 10 million today to establish the Mrs Li Chong Yuet Ming Student Development Fund at Ying Wa Girls’ School (“Ying Wa”). The endowment fund provides opportunities for Ying Wa students to become global citizens through international exchanges and to strengthen their commitment to the local community through involvement in social services, which is in line with the school spirit, “To serve and not to be served”.
LKSF Director Mr Richard Li attended a ceremony announcing the donation today and joined the morning assembly and chatted with the student representatives on subjects of mutual interest.
Addressing the students, Mr Li mentioned that Ying Wa was his late mother Madam Li Chong Yuet Ming’s alma mater. Mr Li said, “She was among the thousands of women whose lives have been vastly enriched by their education experience here in Ying Wa. She was an active member of her class, participating and excelling in many extra-curricular activities including debate, and volunteering as a ‘little teacher’ for underprivileged children during the summer. These and other experiences helped to shape her formative years, and instilled in her a deep sense of pride in her school and her community.
“Commitment to education runs deep in our family. We are very pleased that the Foundation has the opportunity to support a student development endowment fund at my mother’s alma mater in her honour.”
Ying Wa’s principal Mrs Ruth Lee expressed her appreciation of LKSF’s continuous contribution to quality education and the culture of giving over the years, and of its support to the school. Mrs Lee said that the school has been growing and transforming over the past century, yet the core values passed on for generations – educating students through whole-person development, and equipping them to make contributions to the society – remain constant. These rely on the unfailing support and encouragement from loyal alumni.
“Mrs Li travelled to study in Japan as early as the 1950s, not long after the war. Such experience had truly reflected her embracing world perspective and appreciation of people of different cultures. This very quality will no doubt be passed on to many more young girls who come to study in her alma mater,” said Mrs Lee.
With a rich heritage of 112 years, Ying Wa boasts a diversified curriculum and an all-around development in education. With a new campus due for completion in 2016, the school is well-poised to reach new heights.
About Ying Wa Girls’ School
Ying Wa Girls’ School was founded in 1900 by Miss Helen Davies of the former London Missionary Society. It began as a boarding school for girls and expanded to establish a kindergarten in 1911 and include a secondary section in 1915. Since 1966, Ying Wa Girls’ School has become one of the related schools of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China. In 1967, it became an entire secondary school. It is one of the 22 Grant Schools in Hong Kong.
Ever since its establishment, the school aims at providing whole-person and quality education of a Christian character to students from all walks. The school is now engaged in a School Redevelopment Project and has temporarily moved out to a decanting site in Sham Shiu Po (former site of Tack Ching Girls’ Secondary School). It will return to the Robinson Road site in 2016 upon the completion of the new school campus which is much bigger with modern design and updated facilities. For more details of the school, please visit the school’s website at www.ywgs.edu.hk.
