XN000022-1978-05-11 — Page 8

7

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE-CUM-STUDY ROOM OPENS AT LAM TIN ESTATE

******

A PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE WHICH ALSO ACCOMMODATES STUDY ROOM FACILITIES WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF LAM TIN ESTATE TO ENJOY THEIR LEISURE IN A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE RUN BY THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE TWO TYPES OF SERVICES IN FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

+PLAYLEADERSHIP IS A NEW MODE OF YOUTH GUIDANCE INTRODUCED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO REACH OUT TO YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO JOIN ORGANISED OR SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE, HE SAID.

MR. LEE ADDED THAT PLAYLEADERS, USING THE REACH OUT APPROACH IN SOCIAL WORK, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ATMOSPHERE IN PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS TO HELP THESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE INTEGRATE INTO NORMAL SOCIAL GROUP ACTIVITIES.

+THROUGH THE ORGANISATION OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES FORMATION OF PLAYGROUPS, SUPERVISION, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT AND ENCOURAGING FREE PLAY IN FOOTBALL PITCHES, REST GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS, A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND FAIRER USE OF PLAYGROUND FACILITIES COULD BE BROUGHT ABOUT,+ HE NOTED.

APART FROM ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES, MR. LEE ADDED, THE SCHEME ALSO ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO BRING FORWARD THE IR PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS SO THAT OBSTACLES TO THEIR CHARACTER AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AND REMOVED.

COMMENTING ON THE STUDY ROOM FACILITIES OF THE CENTRE, MR. LEE SAID THAT THE QUIET ENVIRONMENT AND ADEQUATE TUITION SERVICE WOULD BE MEETING A GREAT DEMAND AMONG STUDENTS LIVING IN CONGESTED CONDITIONS.

+SINCE THIS CENTRE COMMENCED OPERATION TWO MONTHS AGO, THE PLAYLEADERSHIP SECTION HAS ATTRACTED 420 PEOPLE A DAY AND THE STUDY ROOM HAS A DAILY ATTENDANCE OF 110, + MR. LEE NOTED.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE EFFORTS OF THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION IN SETTING UP THE LAM TIN PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE AND STUDY ROOM, THE DIRECTOR REVEALED THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD SOON BE OPENING A SIMILAR CENTRE IN TSZ WAN SHAN.

A GRANT OF $150,000 HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO FINANCE THE RENOVATION, DECORATION AND FURNISHING OF THE TWO CENTRES, HE SAID.

/8