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The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) is committed to the building of social capital which includes the enhancement of personal capability, improvement of interpersonal relationship and promotion of cross-sectoral integration - a concept that rightly embodies the spirit of the Government's welfare policy of "helping those in need to move from welfare to self-reliance".
Speaking at the Fifth CIIF Annual Forum and Project Expo today (November 15), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that social capital was a new thinking in welfare policy. An in-depth study of CIIF's experience in promoting the components of social capital would shed light on the way forward for the welfare policy of Hong Kong.
On the enhancement of personal capability, CIIF projects help participants develop their potential and interests through training and guidance and turn crises into opportunities. The "Sunny Community Programme" in Tung Chung and the "Red Apprenticeship" project are two successful examples of helping families of different backgrounds and guiding youths at risk back on the right track.
A harmonious interpersonal relationship is conducive to social integration. "Family is the backbone of interpersonal relationship. Going a step further is the neighbourhood and the community. Community support for families is therefore a key approach of CIIF projects in establishing mutual support networks among families," Mr Cheung said.
The "Caring Estates" project in the Southern District, which invites residents to act as floor representatives to voluntarily visit families in the estate in order to break the ice among people and to build neighbourhood networks, is outstanding proof that good neighbours can help families overcome hardship.
At present there are 11 projects under CIIF in Tin Shui Wai, all of which aim to build mutual support networks in the district. For example, the "Project to Promote Family Cohesion and a More Colourful Family Life" recruits new arrivals and local residents as volunteers and tutors to teach their neighbours Putonghua and craftsmanship.
On cross-sectoral collaboration, Mr Cheung cited the example of a group of artisans and master workers who got together under CIIF to provide one-stop renovation service for the community and thus had turned a new page in their career path.
"The cost-effectiveness of social capital far exceeds that of direct financial aid. The problem of poverty gap and cross-generation poverty cannot be solved by money alone, not to mention that care and concern are invaluable. As public resources are limited, we have to help people to help themselves and foster mutual aid and co-operation to achieve an all-win situation," Mr Cheung said.
With the theme "Social Capital-The Difference We Create", this year's CIIF event covered four workshops, a forum and an expo. More than 60 project teams from different sectors took part in the event to share their experience in their projects and explore the way forward.
Ends/Thursday, November 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:28
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