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The Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, and the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations, Mr Quentin Fong, today (July 20) officiated at the 2013 Volunteering in Community Organisations Sharing Session cum Community Caring Shops Recognition Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony. They also launched the 2013-14 "Hong Kong Citizen, Hong Kong Heart" Ambassador Volunteer Programme.
The events will further spread the positive energy of volunteering in the neighbourhood through the development of volunteerism among residents and community organisations at the district level.
Officiating at today's ceremony, Ms Yip said that under the theme of "integrating and injecting positive energy into the community", the event organiser is encouraging volunteer organisations or shops to build up community networks and to care for their community through volunteer work. Local resident groups and community organisations have all along been important partners of the Volunteer Movement, and play a crucial caring role to the needy. She hoped that all volunteer groups would keep up the volunteer movement at the district level and build a harmonious and caring society.
She added, "The Social Welfare Department will continue to commend more and more shops through the 'Community Caring Shops Recognition Scheme'. These shops well deserve our recognition as many of them have made good use of their resources and expertise to help the needy, benefiting our society."
The ceremony is one of the highlight programmes of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign. By organising this event, the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations aims to further encourage more people at the district level to join volunteering and work together to spread the positive energy.
In 2012-13, a total of 57 local shops were awarded the "Community Caring Shop" logo and 12 others were awarded the "Outstanding Community Caring Shop" logo in recognition of their outstanding performance. Awards were also presented to winners of the 2012 Leading Caring Estate Logo, the 2012 Caring Estate Highest Service Hours Award, and the "Hong Kong Citizen, Hong Kong Heart" DIY Suggestion Scheme as well as the "Hong Kong Citizen, Hong Kong Heart" Ambassador Volunteer Programme for their commitment to volunteer services.
In addition, 88 organisations were presented with certificates of merit for the year of 2012 in appreciation of their giving 10 000 volunteer service hours.
The Steering Committee on Promotion of Volunteer Service will continue to adopt the theme of "Volunteering - New Attitude in Life" this year to intensify the promotion of volunteering and encourage more shops, organisations and district organisations to contribute their utmost to volunteerism and integrate volunteer work into their daily life to serve our community.
As at the end of June 2013, more than 2 440 agencies have registered as Volunteer Movement Participating Organisations and the total number of registered volunteers has exceeded 1.08 million. Their total service hours to those in need in the community have exceeded 22.66 million hours in 2012.
Ends/Saturday, July 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:21
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