Antonia Heng (2016, Experimental Psychology) started Access Abroad Hong Kong (AAHK), a government-registered charity that bridges the information, aspiration, and financial gap for high-potential but under-resourced students from Hong Kong local schools. At its heart is a free one-to-one mentorship pairing secondary students with university mentors at Oxbridge – covering everything from personal statements to scholarship applications. AAHK also run outreach initiatives such as school talks and summer bootcamps, and even an essay competition where winners from underprivileged backgrounds are flown to the UK to experience firsthand what university life there truly feels like.

Closer to home, one of your fellow Christ Church alumni, Kinsey (Experimental Psychology, 2021), found his way here through AAHK. Psychology isn't taught in local Hong Kong secondary schools – it's the kind of subject where there is no syllabus to follow, thus few teachers to ask. The AAHK mentorship filled that gap. His story is one of 88 Oxbridge offers AAHK has helped secure to date, backed by 82 full scholarship awards worth over £10 million in total.

Amongst 487 students that we have empowered to pursue higher education in the UK, over 40% of our were the first in their families to attend university. Many had never imagined Oxford was a place meant for them. Now, many come back as mentors themselves – paying forward the same belief that was once given to them.

As we mark our 10th anniversary this year, we are fundraising to sustain our organisational impact and build emergency funds for our student. If this resonates with you, we would love to hear from you at partnerships@accessabroadhk.org – whether that's a donation, an introduction to someone who shares this mission, or simply a conversation to get to know us better.

Separately, we are also hosting a charity auction to fundraise – so if you may have any items or experiences you may want to donate from the UK / HK / Globally, we would love to hear from you.

For those based in Hong Kong – we will be hosting our Celebration Charity Dinner on 11 September at the Hong Kong Club. It would mean a great deal to have fellow Christ Church alumni with us that evening. Reach out via email, and we will send you the invitation!

More about us at www.accessabroadhk.org and https://linktr.ee/aahkcampaign. Connect with Antonia on Linkedin.