XN000022-1980-05-04 — Page 2

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 1980

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YOUNG IDEAS WANTED ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS

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GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WISHING TO HAVE MONEY TO CARRY OUT THEIR OWN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS CAN NOW DO SO UNDER A SUBSIDY SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT,

THE DEPARTMENT IS INVITING THE FIRST ROUND OF APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSIDY GRANTS IN 1980-81 UNDER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME WHICH ENCOURAGES THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO INITIATE AND IMPLEMENT

INNOVATIVE SERVICE PROJECTS.

IN 1979-80, THE DEPARTMENT ALLOCATED OVER $88 000 FOR 82 PROJECTS, BRINGING TO $639 000 THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS ALLOCATED FOR 505 PROJECTS SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED IN 1974.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS COVERED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY THE DISABLED, AND YOUNG PEOPLE, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, IMPROVEMENT WORKS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES. THEY WERE CARRIED OUT BY 17 709 YOUNG PEOPLE AND BENEFITTED AN ESTIMATED 856 000 PEOPLE.

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

GROUPS WHICH ARE NOT SO SPONSORED MAY ALSO APPLY PROVIDED THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS MAY 30, HE SAID, AND ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SCHEME CAN BE MADE AT THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES IN THE DISTRICTS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID PROPOSED PROJECTS SHOULD BE GEARED TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PROJECT DURATION SHOULD PREFERABLY BE SPREAD OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

EACH PROJECT WILL BE ASSESSED FOR ITS YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, INNOVATION, FEASIBILITY AND OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES,

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

+THE SCHEME PROVIDES USEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR IDEAS INTO PRACTICE, AND THROUGH THIS PRACTICE THEY CAN DEVELOP THEIR CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT, SOCIAL AWARENESS AND SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

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

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