SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1983
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+AS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS AN URGENT TASK FOR US TO HELP THEM GROW UP AS GOOD CITIZENS, SHE SAID.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE 18 OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAMS IN HONG KONG.
THEY HAVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS COME UP AGAINST MANY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MANPOWER SHORTAGES AND LACK OF OFFICE SPACE.
+HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DISCOURAGED, NOR HAS THEIR ENTHUSIASM BEEN DAMPENED. ON THE CONTRARY, THEY HAVE CARRIED ON THE GOOD WORK WITHOUT COMPLAINT, MRS GOODSTADT SAID.
ON YOUTH PROBLEMS GENERALLY, SHE SAID THAT BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE HAD NOT MATURED FULLY AND BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF WESTERN IDEAS, THEY HAD OFTEN FAILED TO COME UP TO THE MORAL AND BEHAVIOURAL STANDARDS EXPECTED OF THEM BY THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
+FORTUNATELY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO HELP THE IR YOUNGER MEMBERS DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD TO ADJUST TO THE WORLD OF THE GROWN-UPS.
+THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THROUGH THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ORGANISED IN YOUTH CENTRES, HAVE ALSO ASSISTED YOUNG PEOPLE IN GROWING UP INTO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, SHE SAID.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES.
THERE ARE PLANS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF THESE CENTRES TO 370 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
REFERRING TO PROBLEM YOUTHS, MRS GOODSTADT SAID THAT NEITHER THE FAMILY NOR THE SCHOOL HAD HAD ANY INFLUENCE ON THIS GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
+THEY ALSO DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND YOUTH CENTRES OR PARTICIPATE IN ORGANISED ACTIVITIES.
+THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE OUR SYMPATHY AND ASSISTANCE, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE INTRODUCED OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK, SHE SAID.
OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GO OUT INTO THE STREETS, TO BILLIARD ROOMS AND OTHER PLACES TO CONTACT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, SHE ADDED.
THE NEW OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAM OFFICE, LOCATED AT HUNG HOM ESTATE, TAI WAN SHAN, HAS BEEN SET UP WITH A GRANT FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.
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