THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1974.
NEW SCHEME LAUNCHED TO SUPPORT YOUTH GROUPS
IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY LAUNCHED A NEW SCHEME TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO CARRY OUT PROJECTS OR SERVICES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
KNOWN AS THE +OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME,+ IT WILL HELP THE GROUPS WITH FINANCING OF THE PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO TECHNICAL ADVICE AND GUIDANCE.
APART FROM PROVIDING SOME PROJECT OR SERVICE THAT MAY BE NEEDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE SCHEME IS ALSO INTENDED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, SAID MR. HENRY AU, SENIOR PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S GROUP AND COMMUNITY DIVISION.
HE EXPLAINED, THE SCHEME WOULD BE OPERATED AT A DISTRICT LEVEL ROUGH THE DIVISION'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS OF WHICH THERE ARE TEN IN THE URBAN AREAS AND TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT ANY GROUP OF TEN OR MORE
YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 15 AND 25 FROM A SCHOOL, YOUTH AGENCY OR INSTITUTION, WHO FEEL THEY HAVE A WORTHWHILE PROJECT THAT IS NEEDED IN THEIR DISTRICT, OR WANT TO PLAN ONE, WILL NOW BE ABLE TO OBTAIN SUPPORT TO CARRY IT THROUGH, HE SAID.
+ IT WILL BE UP TO THEM TO PLAN THE PROJECT APPLY ING WHAT KNOWLEDGE OR SKILLS THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE AND IDENTIFY SOCIAL NEEDS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HELP SATISFY THESE NEEDS.
+BY DOING THIS, THEY WILL ALSO LEARN, THROUGH DIRECT EXPERIENCE, HOW TO WORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, LOCAL RESOURCE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,+ HE SAID.
PLANS, TOGETHER WITH APPLICATION FORMS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED THROUGH THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES FOR ASSESSMENT. PROJECTS SHOULD BE OPERATED IN THE DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE APPLICATIONS ARE MADE AND SHOULD BE PLANNED FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
ASSESSMENT, MR. AU EXPLAINED, WOULD BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BENEFITS, INCLUDING PRIORITY OF NEEDS INNOVATION- FEASIBILITY AND OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES.
A FIXED AMOUNT OF MONEY, NOT EXCEEDING $2,000 PER PROJECT, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IF THE APPLICATION IS APPROVED. HALF OF THIS SUM WILL BE ADVANCED BEFORE THE START OF THE PROJECT AND THE REST AT THE HALF-WAY STAGE. GROUPS MUST SUBMIT EVALUATION REPORTS AT THE END OF A PROJECT.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES.
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