XN000022-1978-03-01 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1978

COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED FOR FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

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MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE URGED TODAY TO PLEDGE FULL SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME BY PARTICIPATING IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF ISLAND EAST, MRS. HENRIETTA CHEN, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (COMMUNITY WORK) SPOKE OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THIS LONG-TERM COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAMME.

+ IN ADDITION TO PUBLICITY MATERIALS DESIGNED TO AROUSE PUBLIC INTEREST, MASS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TALKS, SEMINARS, EXHIBITIONS, OUTDOOR ITEMS, FAMILY CAMPS AND COMPETITIONS WILL BE ORGANISED,+ SHE SAID.

MRS. CHEN POINTED OUT THAT THESE ACTIVITIES WERE ALSO MEANS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ABSORB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN CONNECTION WITH HUMAN GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIOUR IN RELATION TO HIS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS HIS FAMILY.

SHE NOTED THAT THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF EDUCATION WAS OBVIOUS AS EVERYONE NEEDS SOME TYPE OF ORIENTATION OR PREPARATION IN ORDER TO FULFIL HIS DUTIES WITHIN THE FAMILY, AND THE RAPIDITY OF SOCIAL CHANGES UNDERLINED THIS NEED.

+WITH RAPID SOCIAL CHANGES, INTER-GENERATION COMMUNICATION BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT THAN EVER, RESULTING IN CONFUSION, IGNORANCE AND MISINTERPRETATION OF LOVE, MARRIAGE, PARENTHOOD AND ADOLESCENT DISCIPLINE,+ SHE ADDED.

MRS. CHEN SAID THAT SOCIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS ILLEGITIMACY DIVORCE, DESERTION OF FAMILIES, NEGLIGENCE AND ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILDREN ARE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF UNPLANNED AND UNPREPARED MARRIAGES.

+TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF FAMILY PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD DIRECTLY AFFECT SOCIAL ORDER, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION IS NEEDED TO EQUIP ONESELF WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE.+

SHE STRESSED THAT THE ENTIRE POPULATION MIGHT BE BENEFITED FROM THIS PROGRAMME WHICH EMBRACED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD CARE SEX EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD= HUMAN ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS NUTRITION HEALTH EDUCATION AND HOME MANAGEMENT.

TURNING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME, MRS. CHEN SAID THAT FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS A TEAM OF 10 EXPERIENCED SOCIAL WORKERS, HEADED BY HERSELF. HAD BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF 11 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ON THE OVERALL PLANNING, COORDINATION AND CONSCIOUS PROMOTION OF THE SERVICE.

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/+WHILE