FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1975
INDIVIDUAL'S ROLE IN SOCIAL WELFARE OUTLINED
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THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN MUST BE PREPARED TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN SOCIAL WELFARE INSTEAD OF ONLY STANDING BY AND WATCHING OTHERS DO THE WORK, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE KOWLOON LIONS CLUB AT THEIR LUNCHEON MEETING, HE SAID THE INDIVIDUAL MUST SHOW MORE POSITIVE INTEREST AND PERSONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE LESS FORTUNATE.
+HE MUST NOT BE A PASSIVE OBSERVER LEAVING IT TO THE GOVERNMENT, TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, TO OTHERS, TO DO SOMETHING. HE MUST BE PREPARED TO STEP IN AND GIVE A HAND.+
THE FIRST AND EASIEST METHOD, MR. LEE POINTED OUT, WAS THROUGH HARD CASH BY PROVIDING A SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO ENABLE THEM TO FLOURISH AND EXPAND IN THE TRULY VOLUNTARY+ SENSE.
DONATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND THE PURCHASE OF LOTTERY TICKETS WERE OTHER OPTIONS OPEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL BUT THERE ARE ALSO WAYS WHICH ARE MORE DIRECT AND JUST AS EFFECTIVE.
AS EXAMPLES, HE SAID SEVERAL LIONS CLUBS HAD RECENTLY DONATED A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS AT THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK TRAINING, ANOTHER MADE A DONATION FOR A NEW NURSERY IN TSZ WAN SHAN AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG MADE A CONTRIBUTION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WING TO THE FANLING YOUTH HOSTEL.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CAN ALSO GIVE OF HIS TIME, TALENT AND ENERGY IN A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL WAYS:
* HE CAN OFFER TO SERVE ON VOLUNTARY AGENCY COMMITTEES AND
ON VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEES. IN SO DOING HE NOT ONLY IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO BRINGS TO BEAR INVALUABLE OUTSIDE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
* HE CAN GIVE PERSONAL SUPPORT TO PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED
SOCIAL WORKERS OVER A WIDE AREA OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING YOUTH WORK AND AMONG THE HANDICAPPED.
* HE CAN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH SOCIAL WELFARE NEEDS AND BRING
THESE TO THE NOTICE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
/+IN THESE