***********************************************************
The Service Corps programme (Phase V) is recruiting young people to serve in underprivileged areas of the Mainland, with applications closing on July 18. The participants can serve in Shaoguan or Meizhou in Guangdong Province to provide teaching assistance for primary and junior secondary students or to volunteer to organise health education activities in the city's health education centre.
Over 60 young people have joined the Service Corps programme since it was launched by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) in 2011. The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young, visited the delegates of the Service Corps programme (Phase IV) in Meizhou in May this year to learn about their daily life and voluntary work and offer encouragement.
Participants of the Phase V programme can choose to serve for the whole school year (from September 2014 to July 2015) or for one semester (first term from September 2014 to January 2015 or second term from February to July 2015).
Serving delegate Miss Wong Yuk-ping appealed to young people to support the programme. She said, "If you can live 70 years, you can spend just one-seventieth of your life to accomplish something so meaningful. I believe it is worth trying." Upon completion of one semester at Songkou Middle School in Meizhou, she has decided to continue her voluntary teaching duties at Huaping Experimental School in Shaoguan.
Past participants agree that the programme gave back more than what they put into it. Apart from gaining valuable experience in volunteering, they found opportunities for personal growth and development as well as forming pleasant memories. Voluntary teachers witnessed the tenacity of the Mainland students, and they were touched by the appreciation shown by their students and neighbours. They also learnt the joys of a simple life during their service.
After leaving her job as a teacher to join the Phase IV programme for voluntary teaching duties in Shaoguan, Miss Yu Pui-yan was responsible for coaching a school's basketball team. She said her students could not afford basketball shoes and had only one basketball for use in training. However, they kept on training early in the morning every day. With their hard work they easily won basketball competitions. Miss Yu said, "I have learnt from them to be tenacious and saw the most genuine smiles on their faces."
Another delegate, Miss Poon Po-wah, experienced an unforgettable Christmas and New Year in Shaoguan. She said, "We had a few happy days in Huaping, with hot pot, fireworks, hiking to the reservoir and picking oranges on the mountain. We had very special memories of our time there." She received many gifts delicately made by her students and Christmas cards, which impressed and surprised her.
The Service Corps programme, which aims to promote youth development and volunteerism, comprises three components, namely pre-departure training, field service and follow-up activities, through which participants can gain more exposure and experience. During the field service period, participants can join study trips or other voluntary activities arranged by local government authorities, including visits to city establishments, local villages, government organisations and enterprises, as well as exchanges with local youths.
To support young people in taking part in the Service Corps programme, the HAB arranges on-campus accommodation for participants and provides necessary subsidies, including a stipend of RMB3,200 per month and transport expenses for two round trips between Hong Kong and the service location, as well as reimbursement of expenses on third-party liability insurance, general personal medical insurance and travel insurance. The HAB also engages experienced counsellors to support the participants. Participants who complete the programme with satisfactory performance will be granted a certificate and a cash award.
Participants must be aged between 18 and 29, and capable of communicating in Putonghua as well as reading and writing simplified Chinese characters. Interested young people may download the application form from the Service Corps website and submit the completed form together with other supporting documents before July 18. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in late July.
For applications or further information on the programme, please call 3509 7022 or visit the Service Corps website (www.servicecorps.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 14:30
NNNN
