XN000022-1978-11-07 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1978

S.W.D.'S COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR YOUTH OUTLINED

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN YOUTH PROGRAMMES GEARED TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL, SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF LETSURE.

ADDRESSING 800 GRADUATES AT THE ANNUAL SPEECH DAY OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON CHIU CHOW SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON, MR. LEE SPOKE OF THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OFFERED BY VARIOUS SERVICE PROJECTS ADMINISTERED UNDER THE GROUP AND COMMUNITY DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

+ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FRIENDSHIP GATHERINGS, INTEREST GROUPS, MASS ACTIVITY FUNCTIONS AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECTS SERVE TO FOSTER AN INDIVIDUAL'S DEVELOPMENT THROUGH HUMAN INTERACTION, HE SAID.

OUTLINING THE GENERAL FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CENTRES, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES, MR. LEE HIGHLIGHTED TWO SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES WHICH HE CONSIDERED TO BE OF SPECIAL VALUE FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS.

+ THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME, WHICH PROVIDES CASH GRANTS AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR GROUPS TO IMPLEMENT SERVICE PROJECTS OF THEIR CHOICE, HAS GONE A LONG WAY IN STIMULATING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND AROUSING YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONSCIOUSNESS OF PROBLEMS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEME, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1974, HAD GRANTED A TOTAL OF $455,000 FOR 393 PROJECTS CARRIED OUT BY 14,600 VOLUNTEERS, WHO, THROUGH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, CAME TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE SOCIAL NEEDS.

+FURTHERMORE, THESE PROJECTS HAVE BENEFITED 610,000 FELLOW- CITIZENS, AMONG WHOM WERE THE HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY, CHILDREN, INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE WORKERS, THE MARITIME AND RURAL POPULATION,+ HE ADDED.

IN ADDITION TO THIS EXPERIENCE-ORIENTED SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SPONSORS A NUMBER OF SELF-PROGRAMMING GROUPS WHICH PLACE EQUAL EMPHASIS ON YOUTH INITIATIVE AND INVOLVEMENT.

+WITH PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE FROM DEPARTMENTAL STAFF, THESE SELF-PROGRAMMING GROUPS, FORMED BY YOUNG PEOPLE SHARING COMMON INTERESTS AND OBJECTIVES, ARE ABLE TO PROMOTE SOCIAL SERVICES,+ HE SAID.

BY ASSUMING A SELF-PROPELLING ROLE, HE NOTED, THE YOUTH GROUPS COULD ALSO DEVELOP THEIR SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE.

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