Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony

 Li Cheng Philanthropy was honored to attend the Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong, celebrating global leaders who are reshaping education systems with vision, rigor, and long-term impact.

This year’s laureates exemplify how education innovation can drive equity and resilience at scale. Professor Uri Wilensky, awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Research, pioneered agent-based modeling through the open-source NetLogo platform, equipping learners worldwide with the tools to understand complex systems and interconnected global challenges. Mamadou Amadou Ly, recipient of the Yidan Prize for Education Development, has transformed literacy outcomes across West Africa by advancing scalable, multilingual education models rooted in local languages and community partnership.

It was also a delight to reconnect with former awardee Vicky Colbert, whom our principal, Mark Cheng, nominated for the inaugural Yidan Prize during his time at Ashoka. Vicky’s pioneering work in rural education in Colombia continues to make a lasting impact, with her model now reaching communities in Vietnam, Zambia, El Salvador, and beyond.

The ceremony reaffirmed a shared belief that lasting progress in education requires patient capital, inclusive design, and collaboration across sectors. At Li Cheng Philanthropy, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen education systems and expand opportunity for learners worldwide.

 We were honored to attend the Grand Finale of the Green Future Innovation Challenge (GFIC) 2025, organized by Vertex Ventures China and Temasek Foundation, with support from partners including CASVI and the Energy Foundation China. The event showcased innovative, commercially viable solutions across Industrial Decarbonization, Energy Transition, Sustainable Agriculture, and Pollution Reduction.

Keynote speakers highlighted that advancing climate technology is a “mandatory choice” for the future, and that philanthropic capital, as both “patient” and “catalytic” capital, can help bridge critical financing gaps to scale impactful solutions globally.

We left inspired by conversations on building systemic change versus providing quick fixes, and this spark led to our first-ever “Brunch for Good”, where like-minded change-makers gathered for meaningful discussions on impact, climate, and sustainability—hopefully the first of many.

Li Cheng Philanthropy was honoured to support Regal Education’s “Future CEO Camp”, a transformative youth leadership program that nurtures the next generation of changemakers through experiential learning and mentorship.

Our Principals, Mrs. Angela Wong Cheng and Mr. Mark Cheng, were invited to join the judging panel for the final pitching competition, where 30 outstanding students showcased their creativity, collaboration, and vision for a better future.

The camp, held on 25–26 October 2025, brought together inspiring educators, industry leaders, and young talents to explore the “5Cs” — Curiosity, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Concentration — essential human skills for tomorrow’s leaders.

On February 27, 2025, the evening before Room to Read's Gala Dinner, Li Cheng Philanthropy (LCP) welcomed Dr. Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read, and a select group of friends passionate about social impact for an intimate dinner gathering. The evening featured rich discussions on literacy initiatives, gender equality in education, and the far-reaching impact of Room to Read's global programs.

Guests engaged in thoughtful dialogue throughout the night, gaining valuable perspective on Room to Read's transformative work and discovering natural alignments with LCP's core mission of youth empowerment and sustainable social impact. As LCP's inaugural collaborative event, this dinner established a strong foundation for future partnerships dedicated to driving meaningful change.

LCP continues to seek impactful initiatives that align with its key mandates: youth empowerment, elderly care, poverty alleviation, and climate action.