ENG-2007 — Page 251

Social Welfare 203

Capacity Building Mileage Programme, was a major step towards helping women develop to their full potential. The programme seeks to enhance women's all-round abilities and promote life skills. It is carried out in collaboration with the Open University of Hong Kong, a radio station and nearly 80 women's groups and NGOs. By the end of 2007, more than 20 000 women had enrolled in the programme, a figure that does not include the large audience reached through radio programmes. The programme was first introduced on a trial basis for three years with funding from the Lotteries Fund. The Government has since March 2007 been providing funds for the programme to continue.

Regarding public education, continuous efforts were made to raise public awareness of women-related issues and

and to reduce gender stereotyping. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the WoC organised a series of events under the title 'Colourful Lives of Women' to give recognition to the contributions made by women from different walks of life in Hong Kong. The events included the 'Colourful Lives of Women - IWD 2007 Exhibition on Empowerment of Women', held on March 8, 2007 and a series of short TV programmes to show the work done by local women's groups and NGOs to help women build self-confidence and to be independent. The commission held an exhibition entitled 'Women of Hong Kong - A Century of Contribution and Development' from November 30 to December 3, 2007 as a finale to the series of events it organised to mark the HKSAR's 10th anniversary. The exhibition highlighted the role women played in the areas of work, family, education and society at different periods of Hong Kong's existence and the achievements they made over the years to the present time.

Websites

Labour and Welfare Bureau: www.lwb.gov.hk

Social Welfare Department: www.swd.gov.hk

Community Investment and Inclusion Fund: www.ciif.gov.hk

Elderly Commission: www.elderlycommission.gov.hk

Women's Commission: www.women.gov.hk