XN000022-1980-06-07 — Page 6

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1980

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR CHILDREN'S AWARD SCHEME

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APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVITED FROM SHA TIN CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CHILDREN'S AWARD SCHEME FROM OCTOBER.

THE FIRST PHASE WAS HELD LAST YEAR AND WAS CONSIDERED A GREAT SUCCESS.

THE SCHEME OPEN TO CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN EIGHT AND 12, IS ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE.

ON JOINING THE SCHEME, CHILDREN ATTEND WEEKLY GROUP SESSIONS OVER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.

A CONTINUOUS AND PROGRESSIVE CULTURAL AND SPORTS PROGRAMME IS ARRANGED TO HELP THEM DEVELOP HEALTHY PERSONALITIES WHICH IN TURN BENEFITS SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SHA TIN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE,

MR TANG KWOK-CHO, SAID THAT THROUGH GROUP SESSIONS THE CHILDREN LEARN TO RESPECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. THEY ALSO LEARN HOW TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

EACH CHILD'S PERFORMANCE IS ASSESSED AND THOSE WHO MEET ALL THE SET REQUIREMENTS ARE PRESENTED WITH AWARDS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAMME.

A TOTAL OF 100 CHILDREN JOINED THE SCHEME LAST YEAR AND 75 WERE AWARDED BRONZE STARS.

MR TANG SAID MOST OF LAST YEAR'S AWARD WINNERS WERE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE SCHEME THIS YEAR AND IF THEY DID WELL AGAIN THEY WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH SILVER STAR AWARDS. THOSE SUCCESSFUL COULD JOIN THE THIRD PHASE NEXT YEAR AND TRY TO OBTAIN GOLD STAR AWARDS.

HE SAID THE SCHEME HAD PROVED POPULAR WITH PARENTS AND WAS BEING SUPPORTED BY SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD.

AT A RECENT MEETING, THE BOARD ALLOCATED $8 000 TO THE CENTRE TO HELP COVER RUNNING COSTS. LAST YEAR $6 000 WAS ALLOCATED.

A WORKING GROUP WHICH OPERATES THE SCHEME INCLUDES A SUPERVISOR, TWO PART-TIME WORKERS AND 30 VOLUNTEERS.

THEY GUIDE PARTICIPANTS AND LIAISE WITH PARENTS THROUGH REGULAR HOME VISITS TO STIMULATE THE INTEREST OF PARENTS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRE'S OFFICE IN LEK YUEN ESTATE.

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