Teens who designed English lessons for less privileged students win inaugural youth award at Spirit of Hong Kong awards

A group of teens helping less privileged students to learn English have won the first youth prize at the annual Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post to honour residents who make the city a better place to live.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was a guest of honour at the ceremony where seven groups of winners were celebrated on Thursday.

“The spirit of youth award is presented to young people who have embraced their role as socially responsible citizens, or who have shown exceptional community commitment or courage,” Lam said.

Role models such as these and the “community spirit” they personify “have never been more needed”, Lam added, acknowledging the past few months had been particularly difficult for Hongkongers young and old.

“The reasons for this are complex and deeply rooted in our political, economic and social systems,” the chief executive said, reiterating her commitment to creating platforms for dialogue, the first of which she said would take place later in September.