Frequently Asked Questions

Healthy Kids Social Incubator is our overarching umbrella initiative that operates on a unique charity enterprise model—combining sustainable business practices with social impact. Deignan Academy is our premier, HKD $1M-funded educational programme under this umbrella, dedicated to equipping the next generation of youth with future-proof academic and entrepreneurial skills.

The programme is primarily designed for Hong Kong secondary school students, especially senior secondary and HKDSE students, who want to build their university portfolios, develop future-ready skills, and gain real-world business experience. But all secondary school students with any background are welcome.

Participants undergo a 3-hour workshop, from learning how a social enterprise business structure operates to understanding the structure of Healthy Kids’ Social Incubator. This would equip students with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. To apply everything that was learnt, students would then receive a challenge to propose a Product Pitch in groups.

To make business concepts tangible, students won't just sit through lectures. Guided by industry experts, student teams will act as startup founders to design and suggest a physical product for an e-commerce store. Through our organisation's exclusive manufacturing and factory connections, students will learn exactly how a product goes from an abstract sketch to a real-world production line.

To honour our commitment to social innovation, we primarily utilise a B2B school-subsidised model. We partner directly with secondary schools, utilising our charity funding and outreach, along with our industry-expert collaborations, making the programme completely free of charge for every student. For independent applicants, we run a ‘1-for-1’ charitable model where paid enrolments directly sponsor seats for underprivileged youth across Hong Kong.

Every student who completes Phase 1 of the programme is guaranteed to receive an official Certificate of Completion from Deignan Academy. Furthermore, the top-performing innovators who committed to both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the programme will win our ultimate grand prize: the Malaysia Cultural Trip, sponsored by Healthy Kids for the student and their family.

Yes. Our curriculum is structured progressively to maximise your personal and professional growth. Phase 1 serves as your foundational workshop and entrepreneur experience, where you master our core pillars and complete the e-commerce product design challenge. Successful completion of Phase 1 unlocks the opportunity to advance to job shadowing and internship roles in Phase 2.

Phase 2 transitions you from a student observer into an active, core creator. You will be placed into a specialised department that aligns directly with your unique strengths and interests. Instead of mock simulations, your team will take on real-world responsibilities in which your collective efforts directly build, run, and scale Deignan Academy’s $1M HKD-funded social enterprise.

Depending on your strengths, you will join one of the following departments:

• Creative Marketing & Media: You will take charge of our public branding, launch real social media campaigns, and design easily distributable digital leaflets to pitch our programmes directly to schools across Hong Kong.
• Tech & AI Integration: You will work on building and optimising single-page application landing pages, structuring digital e-commerce shopfronts, and deploying AI tools to automate internal workflows.
• Operations & Project Management: You will help manage our secondary school mentorship pipelines, coordinate remote task delegation, and lay the operational groundwork for our upcoming cross-border initiatives, including the flagship Malaysia trip.
• Business Development & Supply Chain: You will coordinate directly with our executive factory connections to manage product timelines, calculate profit margins, and map out the logistics of our charity enterprise retail model.

At the end of Phase 2, all departments integrate their work. Your final deliverables will not just be graded—they will become the actual, live infrastructure driving our social enterprise forward!

You will be guided by an elite team of university undergraduate mentors from top institutions like the University of Hong Kong, specialising in social sciences, innovation, and technology diffusion. Additionally, you will receive direct feedback, strategic insights, and career advice from our executive directors and industry professionals during your time of participation.

Beyond the valuable experience, participants gain several massive advantages:

• An official Deignan Academy Certificate of Completion to elevate your academic profile.
• Mastery of future-proof technical skills (AI-readiness) and high-value soft skills (the “Human Core”).
• The chance to see your product idea manufactured, plus eligibility to win the fully sponsored Malaysia Cultural Trip.

Yes! Outstanding graduates of the Job Shadowing cohort who demonstrate exceptional leadership, problem-solving skills, and a passion for social impact will be invited to join our advanced Ambassador Programme. Elite ambassadors are frequently fast-tracked into paid student assistant roles, content creation, and future peer mentorship roles within Deignan Academy.

Thanks to our $1M HKD social innovation funding from Healthy Kids, the programme is entirely free and fully subsidised for student cohorts registering directly through our partner secondary schools. For independent applicants, we provide both merit-based and need-based full financial scholarships to ensure that background is never a barrier to entry. Some participants may receive a scholarship upon completion of our events.

Upon successfully presenting your team's e-commerce product pitch and meeting our basic attendance benchmarks in Phase 1, you will receive an exclusive application link via email. Your team mentors will also provide direct recommendation pathways for standout students looking to enter Phase 2.

We know secondary students have busy summer calendars packed with tutorials, activities, and family plans. To accommodate this, our programme features flexible, hybrid participation options and agile communication channels, so you can coordinate workloads with your team asynchronously without falling behind.

We understand that summer schedules can change due to unexpected school tutorials or family commitments. If you know you will miss a session, simply notify your team and your undergraduate mentor via your group WhatsApp channel at least 24 hours in advance. Because our programme utilises a hybrid workflow, you can easily sync up with your teammates asynchronously and check our shared resources so you don't miss a beat.

Absolutely not! Phase 1 is designed specifically as an introductory gateway. We assume you are starting from scratch. Whether you study science, arts, or commercial subjects, our mentors will teach you everything you need to know, from basic e-commerce concepts to pitching mechanics, right from the ground up. All you need to bring is your curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Yes, participants are expected to dress in business casual throughout the programme. Since you will be collaborating with university mentors, pitching to industry professionals, and stepping into the role of a social entrepreneur, dressing professionally helps set the right mindset!

Here is a simple guide to help you prepare:

• What to wear: Smart shirts, polo shirts, blouses, knitwear, chinos, slacks, or appropriate-length skirts and dresses.
• What to avoid: Casual graphic t-shirts, sweatpants, gym wear, shorts, ripped jeans, and open-toed sandals or flip-flops.

You do not need to buy an expensive full suit, just aim for a neat, clean, and presentable look that makes you feel confident and ready to do business!