XN000022-1984-08-26 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 1984

VOLUNTARY WORKERS' VITAL ROLE STRESSED

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VOLUNTARY WORKERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PREVENTING SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN HONG KONG, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER OF KOWLOON CITY, MR ROGER GARCIA, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE YOUTH VOLUNTEERS TRAINING SCHEME, HE SAID +HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED FROM A SMALL FISHING VILLAGE TO A MODERN AND INTERNATIONAL CITY WITHIN JUST OVER 100 YEARS.

+BESIDES THE HARD WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE SOCIETY, THE EFFORTS OF THE VOLUNTARY WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED.

+THEY HAVE DEVOTED THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP OTHERS AND SERVE THE SOCIETY. THEIR WORK HAS HELPED TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY LIFE AND STABILISE THE SOCIETY, HE ADDED.

MR GARCIA PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO 100 VOLUNTEERS WHO COMPLETED THE SIX-WEEK TRAINING COURSE ENDING YESTERDAY (SATURDAY).

THE TRAINING SCHEME WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON DISTRICT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.

PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO LEARN MORE OF THEIR DISTRICT

THEY ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH TALKS, SEMINARS AND VISITS. TO GET INVOLVED IN ORGANISATIONAL WORK OF DISTRICT FUNCTIONS THROUGH FIELD PRACTICES.

ACTIVITY CENTRES DRAW YOUNG AND OLD ****

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS ARE MAKING GOOD USE OF THEIR FREE TIME BY ATTENDING CLASSES RUN BY THE ADULT EDUCATION AND RECREATION CENTRES (AERC'S) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THE FIRST CENTRE WAS SET UP IN 1955, IT STARTED WITH 600 MEMBERS. TODAY, THERE ARE 17 CENTRES WHERE ABOUT 24 000 MEN AND WOMEN, AGED OVER 18, ARE TAKING PART IN WIDE-RANGING ACTIVITIES.

RECORDS SHOW THAT OVER THE PAST 28 YEARS, MORE THAN 130 000 PEOPLE HAVE ENJOYED THE FREE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE AERC'S.

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