Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
About 500 girls in secondary school attended the yearly Inspiring Girls Hong Kong Career Fair in June. The event helped them explore different jobs. The goal was to close the difference between men and women in jobs like science, technology, engineering and maths.
“We believe every girl should have the confidence, knowledge and inspiration to pursue their dream career,” Ines Gafsi said. She is the founder of the charity, Inspiring Girls Hong Kong.
The one-day fair helped people learn about themselves and think about their future. There were career booths and workshops about resilience:. There was also a Human Library, where girls could listen to role models from different backgrounds.
One highlight of the day was a career-themed scavenger hunt. In this game, students looked for their strengths and learned about different workplaces.
From confusion to confidence
For 17-year-old Mary Tsang Hoi-kiu, the event changed how she thinks. Before the fair, she hadn’t chalked out her goals.
“I just [knew] ... that I prefer literary and artistic work, so I [was] full of doubts and anxiety,” Mary said.
Talking with workers from UBS Art at the fair helped Mary see that she was interested in
art curation. “This made me realise that’s what I want to do,” she said.
It also led her to other questions about this career.
“I am curious about how curators connect the exhibition organisers and exhibitors and how to coordinate the development of the entire event.”
Listening to role models made Mary feel sure about what she wants to do.
“I no longer feel confused about the future. But I believe that with my passion and hard work, I will be able to move towards the direction I want,” she said.
Mary offered advice to others girls feeling lost about the future.
“Engage in more conversations, not just with peers, but also with those who are older and more experienced,” the teen said.
Role models
Inspiring Girls Hong Kong helps young women be leaders in fields where men are usually in charge.
Kashish Sakhrani shared her knowledge at the event. She is a media and communications manager at Deloitte. She stressed the importance of addressing gender bias early.
She highlighted how important it is to deal with gender bias from the start.
“We actively engage students in conversations about how unconscious bias can influence aspirations. Our goal is to empower them to break down those barriers,” Sakhrani said.
