HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 17 June 2022 - This year, 80 business students in the Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program (CIP) will have the unique opportunity to intern with local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and contribute their business knowledge and creative ideas through actual community projects to help these organizations build capacity. Since its debut in 2010, nearly 850 students have benefited from the program.

Mr. Anson Kwok, Head of Commercial Bank, Citi Hong Kong (fourth row third from left) and Mr. Chua Hoi-wai, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Council of Social Service (third row third from left) pictured with the interns, NGO and university representatives at the online Launch Ceremony for the Citi-HKCSS Community Intern Program 2022.

This is the 12^th year this first-of-its-kind cross-sector collaboration between academia, business and NGOs has been organized. 80 business school students have been selected and will be placed in 40 NGOs serving various groups including low-income, elderly, children and persons with disabilities, as well as helping in environmental conservation. Sponsored and organized by Citi, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), CIP aims to cultivate Hong Kong's future business leaders to be more caring and responsible individuals through a broadened understanding of the community's needs and challenges and the ideals of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Student interns are giving 20 hours of in-depth training to prepare them for working with the NGOs and to enrich their knowledge of pressing community issues in Hong Kong.

Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service said: "In addition to the genuine support of Citi, the engagement of various social welfare NGOs and universities is indispensable to the continuity of a cross-sector internship program that lasted for 12 years. Through the seamless cooperation of all these parties, the program could flutter and soar high, contributing to social development. Our project allows future talents to understand different aspects of the society and corporate social responsibility, and at the same time develop their potential and infuse new impetus into the social welfare sector."

The internships will take place from July to August 2022 and target undergraduates majoring in business studies at 10 Hong Kong universities. The interns will work in pairs to contribute their business knowledge and skill sets to assist their assigned NGOs in various projects including fundraising, brand-building and operations, as well as social services. Participants will also be given 20 hours of in-depth training to prepare them for working with the NGOs and to enrich their knowledge of pressing community issues such as the poverty gap, the aging population and environmental conservation. The training comprises: seminars on CSR and cross-sector partnerships; visits to non-profits and social enterprises; opportunities to interact with various underprivileged groups; and volunteering activities.

Authors: Citibank

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