XN000022-1985-03-30 — Page 6

MOTE YOUTHS CENTRES BEING SET UP

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MARCH 30, 1985

NINE ADDITIONAL CHILD AND YOUTH CENTRES WILL BE SET UP DUF 1= THE YEAR IN LINE WITH THE GREAT IMPORTANCE THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES TO THESE FACILITIES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID THIS TODAY.

OFFICIALLY OPENING THE SHUN TIN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRE, MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT INTEREST CLASSES WERE PROVIDED IN THE CENTRES TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE SKILLS.

+ BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH A VARIED AND IMAGINATIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES, THESE CENTRES HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO WIDEN THE IR HORIZON AND BROADEN THEIR EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE NARROW CONFINES OF FAMILY AND SCHOOL.

+THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, YOUNG PEOPLE CAN ACQUIRE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS LEARN CARE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

THE SHUN TIN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRE, SHE SAID, HAD ADOPTED A POSITIVE AND VIGOROUS APPROACH TO ITS WORKS SINCE 17 BEGAN IN JULY LAST YEAR.

SHE SAID IT WAS THE CENTRE'S AIM TO BUILD A WHOLE MAN+, COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.

SHE SAID: +ON THE ONE HAND, THE CENTRE ORGANISES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMES SUCH AS LANGUAGE COURSES, COMPUTER COURSES AND MUSIC GROUPS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A HEALTHY OUTLET FOR THEIR ENERGIES.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, VOLUNTARY AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION, FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALISE THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS BUILDING A HEALTHY AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.+

THE WORK OF THE CENTRE ECHOED THE THEME OF THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR+PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT, PEACE+, SHE ADDED.

MRS CHAN THANKED THE SHUN TIN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S AND YOUTH CENTRE FOR THEIR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE.