Meet the Teens Who Balance University and a Charitable Startup
First-year medical students run the show at Bridge to Success Education, a social enterprise offering free tutorials to kids from low-income families.
How did you start offering free tutorials to kids?
Joshua Yim: When I was in Form 4, I joined a volunteer program where I had to tutor kids from low-income families in Sham Shui Po. I felt disrespected at first because the kids would swear and fight in class, but, over time, we bonded and I realized they needed more than just academic support. They needed someone to confide in and look up to. That was when I decided I wanted to continue reaching out to underprivileged kids. Adrian and Alan showed interest when I brought up the idea while we were studying together after a tutorial session.
Adrian Cheung: I met a child with ADHD while volunteering to help schoolchildren with their homework. At first, he wasn’t able to sit still at all, so I tried to coax him with snacks and drinks. It worked. At the end he was able to complete and turn in all of his homework, which really surprised his teacher: That made me realize the importance of helping children uncover their potential.
Alan Tsang: I have visited kids living in subdivided flats, and the bed is pretty much the only place they can eat and do their homework. I wanted to do something to get them out of their situation.
Aren’t med students busy enough already?
Adrian Cheung: We plan our time wisely. Our professor, Yuen Kwok-yung, once told us that a work-life balance is possible, as long as we use the time we would normally use for procrastination for things that actually matter.