CHOW Tat Wing, Cyrus (UNRCO China, 2013)

UN PDF
Dec 1, 2013
2 min read

Name: CHOW Tat Wing, Cyrus

Degree: Bachelor of Arts (English Language Studies) and Bachelor of Education (English Language Education) Dual Degree Program

University: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

UN Host Agency: UN Resident Coordinator in China

Year: 2013

Sponsorship: United Nations Peace Development Foundation

If you love facing new challenges every day and aspire to make the world a better place, the UNDP-PDF Internship Programme is a particularly good fit for you, only better. Back in 2013, like many of my classmates overwhelmed with job-hunting and graduation assignments, I was also contemplating my path forward as a final year student reading English and Education at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Being keen on understanding about various development issues in Mainland, I decided to apply for an intern position at the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO) of the UN System in China.

The Internship equipped me with the skills that are now vital in my role as an Administrative Officer at the HKSAR Government. Basically, as an RCO intern, you do literally everything to cater the working needs of the Office. Ranging from translating documents to coordinating comments across various UN and governmental agencies, my duties also include policy research, communications and outreach, and I have even tried a bit of site security for foreign delegations. The Internship provides direct exposure to professionals and meaningful projects at the UN, an unparalleled advantage to anyone serious about public good.

With the generous supports from the UNPDF, I was able to meet all those great people at the UN System in China. I was lucky to have local colleagues to brush up my Putonghua, experts and consultants from diverse backgrounds to brief me on various development issues, and experienced co-workers to show me professional workplace skills and wisdom. I have gained transferrable knowledge, hands-on workplace skills and long-lasting friendship. Even now I have not forgotten what my supervisors, colleagues and co-workers have taught me personally: respect, integrity, professionalism and creativity.

After the internship, to nurture our future generation in Hong Kong to serve the society for peace and development, my intern buddies and I have set up a non-profit-making NGO, the Future Leaders Initiative Programme (FLIP), to provide students in Hong Kong with quality training in leadership, language and professional knowledge in the aspect of public health. I am looking forward to witnessing more youngsters being competent and inspired to join the UNDP-PDF Internship Programme.