XN000022-1979-09-26 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1979

3

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR S.W.D.'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME

******

GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WISHING TO CARRY OUT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS INITIATED BY THEMSELVES BUT DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY WILL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO UNDER A SUBSIDY SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT IS AGAIN INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSIDY GRANTS UNDER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME WHICH ENCOURAGES YOUTH GROUPS TO INITIATE AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROJECTS.

IT HAS FINISHED PROCESSING THE FIRST ROUND OF APPLICATIONS FOR 1979-80 AND HAS ALLOCATED GRANTS TOTALLING OVER $61 000 FOR 32 APPROVED PROJECTS.

THIS BRINGS TO $550 000 THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS ALLOCATED FOR 455 PROJECTS SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED IN 1974.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS INCLUDED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND YOUTH, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WORKS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES. THEY WERE CARRIED OUT BY MORE THAN 16 000 YOUNG PEOPLE, BENEFITTING AN ESTIMATED 676 000 PEOPLE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANY GROUP OF AT LEAST SEVEN MEMBERS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 25 YEARS, SPONSORED BY A SCHOOL OR A YOUTH AGENCY, MAY NOW APPLY.

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

THE SPOKESMAN SAID A PROPOSED SERVICE PROJECT MUST BE GEARED TOWARDS A SPECIFIC NEED OF THE COMMUNITY, AND IT SHOULD NOT EXTEND BEYOND FEBRUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.

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

THE MAXIMUM GRANT FOR EACH APPROVED PROJECT IS $2 500, AND THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS WILL MAINTAIN CLOSE WORKING LIAISON WITH PARTICIPATING GROUPS, HE ADDED.

+THE SCHEME PROVIDES USEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT THE IR IDEAS INTO PRACTICE, THROUGH WHICH IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT AND THE SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS TO BROADEN SOCIAL AWARENESS.

+THE PROCESS IS BOTH CREATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL, IN THAT IT TAPS IMAGINATION, DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP POTENTIALS AND STRENGTHENS ORGANISING ABILITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

14.....