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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited Yuen Long and Tuen Mun this afternoon (August 26) and met three young people who had stepped out from their reclusive past and reintegrated into society.
During a visit to the office of Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS)'s Yuen Long District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team at Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long, Mr Cheung met with two former hidden youths and heard them talk about how they got out of their solitary behaviour after joining HKCS' Withdrawn Youth Support Network Enhancement Project. Under the encouragement of social workers, both picked up study again and one of them has successfully completed a Vocational Training Council (VTC) course.
Mr Cheung also paid a home visit to Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun to meet a former hidden youth who is about to enrol in a course in the VTC. Mr Cheung was delighted to know that the three young people had rebuilt confidence and identified their own development goals after joining the project.
The Withdrawn Youth Support Network Enhancement Project is funded by the Labour and Welfare Bureau's Community Investment and Inclusion Fund, with an aim to reach out to young people who are leading an isolated life or have newly stepped out from their reclusive past and help them reintegrate into society.
In view of the ever growing use of the Internet as well as the community concern on the issue of hidden youths, the Social Welfare Department allocated about $17 million from the Lotteries Fund in August 2011 to three non-governmental organisations to run three Pilot Cyber Youth Outreaching Projects for three years. Under the pilot projects, youths in need, especially those at risk and hidden youths, will be identified through the Internet and be provided with appropriate support services when negative Internet behaviours are found. The pilot projects have just been extended for another year.
Ends/Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:38
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