Co-President – Dr. Bill Tsang
Walking Together, Lighting the Path
The nights of Baghdad were often torn apart by explosions. Ahmed (alias) grew up in smoke and loss: friends disappeared, relatives fell, his home reduced to ashes, and his parents separated. Fate kept shutting doors, yet he chose to keep going—because along the way, someone would always reach out to remind him: you are not alone.
Ten years ago, when I first met him, he had entered Li Po Chun United World College on a scholarship. Two intense years of learning in a diverse environment helped him regain his footing; afterwards he went to the U.S. and graduated summa cum laude. At one point his funding faced a crisis, and it was YGN’s “Ellen Choi’s Scholarship Fund” that stepped in just in time. This wasn’t luck, but the power of being seen—someone laying a path for him amid turbulence.
At YGN, we see again and again: resilience doesn’t come from shouldering everything alone, but from sustained support by reliable adults. The following three stories mirror Ahmed’s journey.
At Kam Tin Sports Ground, O Sir led young coaches to participate in a charity run. He was recovering from a serious ACL injury, yet still completed 10 km and encouraged a group of young basketball coaches to step out of their comfort zones. The goal was to build deeper bonds beyond work and learn to support one another.
The biggest transformation emerged in Ah Muk. He struggled with traditional classroom rhythm, but shone on the court. With O Sir’s recognition and guidance, he earned multiple professional qualifications, including FIBA Level 1 Coach Training. Later he became a secondary school basketball coach, learning communication and empathy; his temper softened, and he spoke more than before. Because someone consistently stood beside him to remind him: your talent is not an exception, but your starting point.
At fifteen, Tony travelled abroad for school and rediscovered his rhythm through the aroma of coffee. When he returned to Hong Kong during summer, he met mentor Steven at Alternative Café—quiet, focused, someone who perfected the simple. Tony was deeply inspired. Back in Australia, he trained hard on his own while working part-time, eventually winning second place in a competition. Standing on the final stage, his mind was not on winning or losing, but on the silhouette of his teacher—whose humility and focus became Tony’s inner compass. Skills come from practice, but steadiness and clarity come from a mentor’s spark.
Ah Shek once lost confidence after repeatedly seeing large red crosses on his homework and eventually dropped out of school. His mother worried most about his emotional state. She brought him to YGN’s “Everyone is a Champion” programme—where no one forces anything, where the student’s pace is respected, and where choice and affirmation are given.
Our co-workers Norman and Ivan helped him set small goals, break down big challenges, and record small victories. Six months later, he completed his first project, attended every class on time, and participated actively. During a school visit with Ivan, he saw classmates struggling with wiring and coding; he stepped forward to demonstrate and became a small STEM teaching assistant. For the first time, he realised: he could be a source of strength for others.
Moving from invisible to contributive—this comes only through consistent companionship.
Conclusion: One Rope, One Village
These four lives point to the same truth: true resilience is a rope woven from trust, encouragement, expectations, and honest feedback.
The power of a mentor lies not in occasional advice but in long-term presence and continuous recognition. O Sir leads from the front, teaching young people to run side by side; Steven sparks focus, helping discipline become inner order; Norman and Ivan keep watch, enabling quiet children to breathe again; and for Ahmed, from the scholarship at Li Po Chun to the support of the Ellen Choi’s Scholarship Fund, and the mentors walking alongside him—the net repeatedly caught him whenever he was about to fall, and taught him to catch others in turn.
After many years of walking together, we are not saviours but witnesses. Young people are shaped by human connection, not slogans. When mentoring becomes a commitment, a community becomes a village; roles complement one another, allowing youth to accelerate on their own paths, rather than stumble on someone else’s.
Every champion needs a village—and that village can begin with you and me.