Background  
The Community Business Leadership Team ( CBLT) is a unique group of business leaders in Hong Kong committed to corporate social responsibility.  Representing over 40 companies  across a range of industries, the CBLT recognises that it has access to valuable resources that can be pooled and applied to the benefit of the local community.  For a full list of CBLT member companies, please see: List of Membership 

In 2008, the CBLT has decided to focus on the needs of young people in Tin Shui Wai.  It has developed the concept of the ‘Journey of Opportunity ’ Action Day to be held for the first time on Friday 30 May.  Working collaboratively, member companies will contribute the time and skills of their employees and provide financial and in-kind donations to make a positive impact on the lives of aspiring young people from one of the poorest districts in Hong Kong .

Concept
The ‘Journey of Opportunity ’ Action Day is designed to build the aspirations of young people and show them the opportunities that are available for further education and employment.  It focuses on corporate volunteers acting as mentors for the day and accompanying the young people on a journey to first a tertiary education institute and then a corporate office.

Objectives
For many young people in Hong Kong’s poorer districts, the prospect of a tertiary education or a job in the heart of corporate Hong Kong is a far off dream.  By partnering with tertiary education institutes and tapping into the unique resources of the corporate sector we hope to bring this one step nearer.  This programme is about broadening the vision of these young people, inspiring them to think about their future job opportunities and encouraging them to continue their studies.  It is about providing them with access to people and experiences they would not otherwise have in the hope that they will be motivated to create a better future for themselves. 

Approach
Teams of corporate volunteers from a number of companies will spend the day with teams of young people from Tin Shui Wai.  They will accompany the youth from Tin Shui Wai on a journey that takes them from their home district to the heart of Hong Kong .  Working in partnership with City University and the University of Hong Kong , the young people will experience life on campus and have the opportunity to interact with university students.  From there they will go on to a corporate office where they will be given an insight into the world of work and focus on developing key workplace skills.