WEDNESDAY, JULY 12,
JULY 12, 1978
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MASSIVE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CONDUCTED BY SWD
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A MASSIVE PROGRAMME COMPRISING NEARLY 1,000 ITEMS OF ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF 120,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SUMMER IS BEING CONDUCTED THROUGH 30 UNITS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
CO-ORDINATED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION, THE PROGRAMME IS PART OF THE HONG KONG-WIDE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR SUMMER MONTHS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.
MR. HENRY AU, HEAD OF THE GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE 1978 PROGRAMME WAS IN LINE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF LEARNING THROUGH RECREATION.
+ INTEREST GROUPS, VISITS AND EXCURSIONS, STUDY AND TRAINING COURSES ON A WIDE SPECTRUM OF TOPICS RELATED TO THE FINE ARTS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, COMMUNITY FACILITIES, MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES WILL TOP THE LIST IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME, HE SAID.
WHILE THE ENRICHMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THROUGH LEISURELY PURSUITS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE DUE EMPHASIS, MR. AU NOTED THAT ACTIVITY ORGANISERS HAVE IN RECENT YEARS PLACED MORE ATTENTION ON YOUTH PLANNING AND SERVICE.
LOOKING BACK TO THE EARLY YEARS OF THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME, MR. AU SAID THE EVOLUTION OF THIS ANNUAL PROJECT IN THE PAST HAD REFLECTED IN PART THE GROWING CONSCIOUSNESS AND RECOGNITION OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S NEED TO ASSUME A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PLANNING OF COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WORKING TOWARDS THIS GOAL HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAS ORGANISED A TOTAL OF 85 COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS INVOLVING 13,000 YOUNGSTERS IN THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME.
MR. AU SAID THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WOULD INVOLVE DIRECT SERVICE, SUCH AS VISITS TO AGED HOME, ARRANGING SHOWS AND PARTIES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, STUDENT GUIDANCE SCHEMES, WORK CAMPS OR FORESTRY CAMPS TO ASSIST THE RURAL POPULATION, AND HOME HELP SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY.
ANOTHER CATEGORY OF ACTIVITIES BEGINNING TO GAIN POPULARITY, HE ADDED, IS COMMUNITY STUDY WHICH AIMED AT ASSESSING THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC TARGET GROUPS.
+APART FROM THESE ITEMS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THE VOLUNTARY SPIRIT AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCE, VENTURES LIKE OVERNIGHT EXPEDITIONS, CAMPING, WATER SPORTS, GAMES AND MATCHES ARE ALSO FAVOURITES WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO ARE IN GREAT NEED OF HEALTHY OUTLETS, HE SAID.
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