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The following is issued on behalf of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee:
The Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC) has welcomed the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB)'s proposal that the Child Development Fund (CDF) provide secondary school students from low-income families with more development opportunities and encourage them to develop asset-building habits.
The SWAC chairman, Mr Wilfred Wong, said that the committee members agreed with the idea to kick-start the CDF with pioneer projects after an in-depth discussion of the LWB's proposal at the SWAC meeting today (December 20).
The LWB would use part of the CDF for the implementation of seven pioneer projects in seven regions/districts to encourage children to cultivate positive attitudes and plan for the future as well as to better equip them for future career and personal development with a view to reducing inter-generational poverty.
"The committee considered that by targeting students aged between 12 and 16 from low-income families, the pioneer projects would help better equip these children and increase their employability.
"We concur with the LWB's proposal that the CDF should have the following three components: personal development plans, mentorship programme and targeted savings programme," Mr Wong said.
The Government has earmarked $300 million for the establishment of the CDF. The LWB suggested that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should identify a volunteer to be the mentor for each participating child. These mentors would provide guidance to the children for drawing up personal development plans with development targets related to education, vocational training and skills enhancement.
The NGOs would provide basic training for the children for a period of two years as well as offer guidance to them to make use of existing services and programmes to achieve their development targets.
On the Government's proposal for the children and their families to save $200 a month, the committee suggested that there should be more flexibility in the amount to be saved, taking into consideration the differing situations of the children. The NGOs would seek partnerships from the business sector or individual donors for at least a 1:1 matching contribution under a targeted savings programme.
The Government would provide financial incentives for children who had completed the savings programme to encourage them to develop asset-building habits and achieve their development targets.
"The committee supports that the CDF should focus on the children's long-term personal development and encourage the asset-building habit and mindset among children from poor families.
"We hope that the CDF will pool resources from families, the private sector, the community and the Government in an effective manner for the long-term development of children from a disadvantaged background.
"The LWB has taken into account views of the Commission on Poverty and other organisations in drawing up the proposal. The SWAC looks forward to the early establishment of the CDF and implementation of its pioneer projects.
"All members of the committee decided at the meeting to be mentors for the pioneer projects to get first-hand experience in the implementation and assessment of the projects," Mr Wong said.
Ends/Thursday, December 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:11
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