************************************************************
The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, and the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations, Mr Quentin Fong, today (July 21) officiated at the launch ceremony of the newly designed Community Caring Shop logo and commended local shops and community organisation volunteer teams for their active participation in volunteer services.
Officiating at the 2012 Volunteering in Community Organisations Sharing Session and Community Caring Shops Recognition Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony, Mr Nip said, "Community organisations have all along been an important partner of the volunteer movement, and shops in the community are closely related to the daily life of local residents. Though busily engaged in business operations, many shops still actively participate in volunteer services by making good use of their social connections to offer resources, expertise and skills to help and take care of those in need."
He added, "Volunteer service does not necessarily require extra time, but is an embodiment of love and concern. Each of us or every shop can integrate the spirit of volunteerism into our daily life and work by showing concern for the needs of those around us and thus build a harmonious and caring society."
Mr Nip believed that the sharing session today would further promote the development of volunteerism in community organisations and could encourage local shops, welfare organisations and volunteer groups to provide volunteer services and strive for the betterment and well-being of the needy in the community.
Today 30 local shops were awarded the Community Caring Shop logo and 11 others the Outstanding Community Caring Shop logo as a token of recognition for their outstanding volunteer work. Awards were also presented to winners of the 2011 Leading Caring Estate Logo, the "Caring for Our Community" Innovative Caring Estate Volunteer Service Project, the 2011 Caring Estate Highest Service Hours Award, and the "Hong Kong Citizen - Hong Kong Heart" DIY Suggestion Scheme, in recognition of their innovative volunteer services.
In addition, certificates of merit were presented to 39 organisations with 10 000 or more volunteer service hours in 2011.
The Steering Committee on Promotion of Volunteer Service has adopted the theme "Volunteering - New Attitude in Life" to promote Level 3 Volunteering since 2011 to encourage various shops, organisations and volunteers to integrate the core values of volunteerism into their everyday life and contribute their expertise to serve the community.
As at the end of June 2012, more than 2 300 agencies have registered as Volunteer Movement Participating Organisations, with the total number of registered volunteers exceeding 990 000. Their total service hours to those in need in the community exceeded 22.4 million hours in 2011.
Ends/Saturday, July 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:21
NNNN
