Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1967-1968 — Page 19

tary service have been emphasized. In most established groups, the members elect their own committees, decide upon their own programmes and organize these by themselves with help and assistance from the workers, whose functions are primarily to support and to facilitate these developments so that the members can move with added confidence and strength from being isolated individuals to community-conscious and contributing members of society. Some encouraging signs of such a movement are beginning to show: adult members continue the tradition of entertaining old people by offering their own share of contributions and by mobilizing resources in the area; of extending their own pro- gramme activities to the community by organizing concerts, displays, competitions and exhibitions of various kinds; and of responding to community wide projects and fund-raising to help people in need. Youth members showed their enthusiasm and contribution by offering their services to lead younger groups; by participating in seasonal projects as volunteers; by raising funds with their regular activities towards a charitable cause; and by organizing activities in their immediate communities and in the New Territories for children based on their experiences gained in the groups; children also participated and con- tributed in a smaller way in activities outside their own groups.

36. Community work has also been done by mobilizing community resources and involving different sectors of the community towards meeting a community need in the form of joint community projects, such as sports and arts competitions in their different forms, fund-fairs, and numerous entertainment activities for children, youth and adults. The activities organized are usually straight-forward recreational activi- ties needed in the area, but they have fulfilled several purposes: residents may widen their interests in the areas they live and have more oppor- tunities to be contributing individuals; groups, organizations and institu- tions may have a medium in which to come together; common interests and concerns may develop. Formal and informal discussions, community workers meetings, inter-agency meetings, ad hoc committees and work- ing parties are all means to develop volunteers and loadership, which are essential in fostering community development. The community centre has thus been a focus of community activities and life, and it has been a focal point for the co-ordination of community efforts.

37. The department also runs a social centre at Sheung Shui in the New Territories and another in the old area of Sai Ying Pun on the western side of Hong Kong Island. Subject to the limitations of space

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