XN000022-1979-07-05 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JULY 5,1979

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR SWD'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME

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GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO HAVE INITIATED THEIR OWN COMMUNITY PROJECTS BUT WHO NEED MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THEM, WILL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO UNDER A SUBSIDY SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME WHICH AIMS AT ENCOURAGING YOUTH GROUPS, THROUGH SUBSIDY GRANTS, TO COME UP WITH AND TO CARRY OUT INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROJECTS.

SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED IN 1974, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALLOCATED OVER $489,000 AS SUBSIDIES FOR 423 PROJECTS, CARRIED OUT BY MORE THAN 16,100 YOUNG PEOPLE AND BENEFITTING AN ESTIMATED 675,600 PEOPLE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) ANY YOUTH GROUP WITH AT LEAST SEVEN MEMBERS AGED 15 TO 25 YEARS, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY A SCHOOL OR A YOUTH AGENCY, MAY APPLY.

HE SAID ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SCHEME AND APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS, AND THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JULY 31, 1979.

A SERVICE PROJECT MUST BE GEARED TOWARDS A SPECIFIC NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PROJECT SPAN SHOULD NOT EXTEND BEYOND A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, HE SAID.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE SCHEME INCLUDED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND YOUTH, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WORKS PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, HE ADDED.

THE MAXIMUM GRANT FOR EACH APPROVED PROJECT IS $2,500, HE SAID, AND THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFF ICERS WILL MAINTAIN A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH PARTICIPATING GROUPS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCHEME PROVIDES USEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR IDEALS INTO PRACTICE AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY.

+THE PROCESS IS BOTH CREATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL. IT TAPS IMAGINATION, DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP POTENTIALS AND STRENGTHENS ORGANISING ABILITIES.

+THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR OWN PROJECTS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP A CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT AND A SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AS WELL AS TO BROADEN UP SOCIAL AWARENESS, + HE SAID.

HE SAID EACH PROJECT SUBMISSION WOULD BE ASSESSED FOR ITS YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, INNOVATION, FEASIBILITY AND OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES.

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