Guiding Star Scholarship Award is sponsored by Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation. The scholarship aims to encourage social work students of being perseverance in adversities with aspiration of serving the community and commitment to social work profession, to grant the scholarship for alleviating the financial burden of the students and to support the students in pursuing continuing education and future development.

Drs Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation has appointed Hong Kong Social Workers Association (HKSWA) to organize the scholarship and co-organize with The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), including the review of applications, selection of awardees and disbursement of scholarship funds.

Number of Awardees and Amount of Award:

There will be 20 scholarships in 2023/24. Each awarded student will receive a grant of HK$30,000. The awardee will be awarded to participate in Capacity Building Programme.

# Note: The grant will be disbursed in two installments. The 2nd installment will be disbursed to the awardees with at least 80% attendance rate of the Capacity Building Programme. Awardees failing to comply with the programme requirements may lead to a deferral of disbursement of the 2nd installment of the scholarship.

Eligibility:

• The applicants should be Hong Kong residents
• Full time Year 1 or Year 2 students in academic year 2023/24 at sub-degree (Higher Diploma / Associate Degree Social Work Programme recognized by the Social Workers Registration Board
• Priority will be given to applicants from families with low income or recipients of CSSA, or with special needs e.g. family members suffering from chronic diseases
• Awardees will be required to pledge that they shall complete the full-time sub-degree (Higher Diploma /Associate Degree) Social Work Programme
• In order to benefit more needy and eligible students, former awardees of the Guiding Star Scholarship Award WILL NOT be considered

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated a need for financial assistance
• High standard of academic performance and willing to pursue continuing development
• Being perseverance in adversities
• Strong commitment to Social Work Profession and Social Services
• With aspiration in serving the community and passion in serving the disadvantaged

Application Procedures:

• Eligible students should submit applications via the online system: https://gs.hkcsswg.org.hk
• All application would be screened to shortlist applicants according to the selection criteria for attending selection interview.

Enquiries:

For enquiries, please contact Ms Mandy Chan of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service or Ms Tang of The Hong Kong Social Workers Association.

Tel:       (852) 2876 2401 / 9291 4502

Email:   [email protected] / [email protected]