Workplace exclusion, language barriers: how Hongkonger Yusuf Mohideen is tearing down the obstacles faced by his Indian parents
- Mohideen saw his parents suffering from racial exclusion as he grew up in Hong Kong
- He is now signed up to a Zubin Foundation project supported by Swire Pacific and aimed at opening up new opportunities for ethnic minority students and graduates
Growing up in Hong Kong, Yusuf Mohideen witnessed his parents struggle with a lack of racial inclusion in the workforce and language barriers, just some of the obstacles facing members of ethnic minorities in the city.
“A lot of us think that, because of our race, we are restricted to certain types of jobs, and I thought that as well,” said the second-year university student, whose family is from India.
“Until I met people and they gave me advice. I realised talking to people, connecting with people allows me to get new ideas and new insights.”
Mohideen is one of several young people taking part in “Employability Capacity Building for Ethnic Minorities”, a programme organised by the Zubin Foundation and supported by Swire Pacific. The foundation is a charity focusing on ethnic minority groups.
Under the scheme, Swire Pacific management trainees connect with ethnic minority students and fresh graduates in one-on-one online workshops to enhance their employability and soft skills for the workplace.
“Programmes like these make us very proud, because it provides opportunities for us to foster stronger connection, understanding and support between our youths from different backgrounds, and there is nothing more powerful than peer-to-peer empowerment,” said Tina Chan Teing-teing, group head of philanthropy at John Swire & Sons (HK) Ltd.
Jason Li Ka-chun, a Swire management trainee who participated in this programme, said: “It is definitely about empowerment, and it goes both ways.”