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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1975
PROJECT TO HELP YOUNG SCHOOL DROP-OUTS
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A SPECIAL PROJECT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUNG SCHOOL DROP-OUTS IN THE AREA.
THE AIM IS TO LOCATE CHILDREN BETWEEN 12 AND 13 YEARS OLD WHO ARE NEITHER IN SCHOOL NOR WORKING AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR NATURAL SKILLS AND TO HELP THEM MAKE BETTER USE OF THEIR LEISURE TIME DY TAKING PART IN ORGANISED EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
SO FAR, 221 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LOCATED WITH THE HELP OF SCHOOLS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KAIFONGS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
THE PROJECT IS RUN BY A SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, AND INCLUDES THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER, THE SPORTS AND RECREATION OFFICER, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMY AND THE HOUSING AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE EXPLAINED THAT ONCE A CHILD HAD BEEN LOCATED A PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKER WOULD CONTACT THE CHILD AND HIS PARENTS TO EXPLAIN THE AIM OF THE PROJECT AND ENCOURAGE THE CHILD TO PARTICIPATE.
PROGRAMMES ORGANISED FOR THESE CHILDREN FOLLOW THE 'LEARN AS YOU PLAY' CONCEPT AND ARE GEARED TOWARDS SELF- DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PARTİCİPATION IN GROUP ACTIVITIES,
THESE INCLUDE VISITS TO FACTORIES, OUTINGS, SPORTS TRAINING COURSES, GROUP COUNSELLING, AND SPECIAL COURSES IN WOODWORK, TAILORING AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.
EFFORTS ARE ALSO MADE TO PLACE CHILDREN OF GOOD ACADEMIC STANDARD IN GOVERNMENT EVENING SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND PRE-TECHNICAL CLASSES.
A SIMILAR PROJECT WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR WITH SOME 240 CHILDREN TAKING PART.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO HELP THE COMMITTEE LOCATE MORE OF THESE CHILDREN SO THAT THEY COULD JOIN THE PROGRAMMES,
RESIDENTS MAY CONTACT THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE LOCATED AT PARIS BUILDING, KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG (TEL: 3-222261) OR THE CDO SUB-OFFICE AT BLOCK 3, TSE WAN SHAN ESTATE (TEL: 3-241872).
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