Applications are open until 19 November for a year-long mentorship programme serving disadvantaged Secondary One to Four pupils. A second HK$5,000 award depends on successful completion.
At a glance
- Recruitment opened on 30 October 2026 for 4,000 fifth-cohort mentees; applications close on 19 November 2026.
- The target group is disadvantaged Secondary One to Four students, particularly pupils living in subdivided units.
- The programme combines mentorship, personal development planning and financial support over one year.
- HK$5,000 in start-up support is separate from a further HK$5,000 scholarship awarded after successful completion.
An open call for secondary pupils
Hong Kong's Strive and Rise Programme began accepting applications for its fifth cohort on 30 October, according to the government's announcement that day. The recruitment target is 4,000 mentees, with applications closing on 19 November. This is an active recruitment exercise, rather than an announcement that students have already been selected. The programme is aimed at Secondary One to Secondary Four pupils from underprivileged families, with particular attention to those living in subdivided units. That emphasis should not be read as saying only subdivided-unit residents can apply.
A year of participation, not just a grant
The government describes a one-year foundation programme involving mentors, personal development plans and financial support. Its activities include orientation, basic training, interaction between mentors and mentees, group activities, and Mainland study and exchange tours. For families considering Strive and Rise 2026 applications, the important practical point is the commitment to an organised programme. Before applying, students can ask their school or an assisting organisation how participation would fit around lessons and family responsibilities. These are planning questions for applicants, not additional eligibility rules announced by the government.
Two payments with different conditions
The financial support has two distinct stages. Each mentee receives HK$5,000 in start-up support, while mentors help with financial planning and carrying out a personal development plan. A further HK$5,000 scholarship is tied to successful completion of the programme. Families should therefore avoid treating the announcement as an unconditional HK$10,000 payment on application or selection. The release does not give a payment timetable, and this report does not infer one. Questions about when support is provided and what completion requires should be put to the programme's implementing organisations.
Where students can start
Eligible students can make enquiries through their school or the non-governmental organisations assisting with implementation. The announcement also identifies the programme's mobile application as a submission route and directs readers to the designated programme website for details. It does not specify a closing hour on 19 November. Applicants should check the current instructions and allow time for questions rather than assume a particular end-of-day cutoff. This report verifies the recruitment announcement; it does not independently certify an application form, household-income threshold or supporting-document checklist.
What continues after the foundation year
Students who successfully finish the foundation year automatically enter the programme's Alumni Club, according to the release. Continued opportunities include activities, job tasting and internship programmes. These should be understood as avenues for further development, not guaranteed employment. For young people considering future connections across the Greater Bay Area, the Mainland exchange element may provide useful exposure, but the announcement does not identify a destination city or an individual travel entitlement. The immediate decision remains a local one: whether the programme matches the student's needs and whether they can take part in its year-long activities.
Sources and image disclosure
Strive and Rise Programme starts recruiting fifth cohort (Hong Kong Government, 30 October 2026).
Application information: Strive and Rise programme website.
Source reviewed on 31 October 2026. Practical interpretation is editorial analysis, not an additional official promise. The cover and contextual image are AI-generated editorial illustrations, not documentary photographs.