XN000022-1991-07-13 — Page 8

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 1991

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CSD GIRL GUIDES CELEBRATE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY

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GIRL GUIDE ACTIVITIES ARE WIDELY RECOGNISED AS INSTRUMENTAL DEVELOPING THE POTENTIALS OF YOUNGSTERS. BUT FOR AH MAY, AN 18-YEAR-OLD INMATE OF THE TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION (TGCI), GUIDING MEANS SOMETHING MORE.

A MEMBER OF THE 141ST ISLAND RANGER GUIDE SERVICE UNIT ESTABLISHED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD), AR MAY SAID SHE FOUND GUIDING ACTIVITIES EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL TO HER ENDEAVOUR TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

SHE SAID GUIDING NOT ONLY ENABLED HER TO ENJOY A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES BUT ALSO GAVE HER THE "RARE" OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

CURRENTLY, CSD'S GIRL GUIDES PROVIDE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE AGED AND CHILDREN ON SUNDAYS.

AH MAY NOTED THAT BEFORE BEING SENTENCED TO TOCI, SHR HAD NEVER THOUGHT OF CARING FOR ANYBODY EXCEPT HERSELF.

BUT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, ЗНЕ NOW HAS GREAT SYMPATHY FOR NEEDY PEOPLE AND IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO OFFER HELP.

"I AM PARTICULARLY SYMPATHETIC TOWARDS OLD PEOPLE, MANY OF WHOM ARE SO LONELY AND HELPLESS, SHE SAID.

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"SOMETIMES I WOULD ASK MYSELF WHY I SHOULD HAVE WASTED SO MUCH TIME FOOLING AROUND INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING MORE MEANINGFUL AND BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, ' SHE ADDED.

ANOTHER CSD GIRL GUIDE, 16-YEAR-OLD AH LING, SAID GUIDING ACTIVITIES HAD HELPED BUILD UP HER SELF-CONFIDENCE.

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SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE GUIDE'S BAND UNIT AND HAS TAKEN PART A NUMBER OF PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING THE "BEATING RETREAT" IN AUGUST LAST YEAR.

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AH LING SAID BEFORE JOINING THE GIRL GUIDE, SHE DID NOT KNOW OF HER POTENTIAL IN MUSIC AND NEITHER DID SHE BELIEVE SHE WOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO PERFORM BEFORE SUCH A LARGE AUDIENCE.

"IT'S REALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE THE SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND ACHIEVEMENT WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE CLAP THEIR HANDS ΤΟ SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION OF YOUR EFFORT.

"SUCH APPRECIATION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AS WHAT I DID IN THE PAST OFTEN MET ONLY WITH SCOLDING AND REPRIMANDS FROM PEOPLE AROUND ME, SHE SAID.

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD AH KUEN SAID GUIDING HAD MADE HER APPRECIATE THE MEANING OF DISCIPLINE AND TEAMWORK SPIRIT.

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