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People can shop for a variety of products and services offered by social enterprises (SEs) at the "Sha Tin Market Fair for Social Enterprises" to be held by the Home Affairs Department (HAD) at Sha Tin Park on Sunday (November 8).
The event aims to enhance the public's understanding of SEs and encourage the use of their products and services. To be held from 11am to 5pm, the fair will be staged at the Main Plaza (near the Sha Tin Marriage Registry) of the Sha Tin Park at No 2 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin. Admission is free.
Ten SEs sponsored under the Home Affairs Department's "Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme" (ESR Programme) will participate in the fair. They are engaged in various business areas, including the sale of health food and drinks, organic farm products, cookies and cake, gifts, knitting and fabric products, silk flowers and artificial fruit display, as well as provision of massage service. A full list of the SEs can be found at the Annex.
Demonstration of massage service and handicraft workshop will be also staged. The public can have fun making silk flowers and artificial fruit displays.
A "Sha Tin Community Arts Festival" will be held concurrently at the Amphitheatre of Sha Tin Park. Arts and cultural performances will be presented by district organisations including wind ensemble, martial arts, drumming and singing performances, as well as singing and dancing by children.
An HAD spokesman said, "The Government aims to promote the development of SEs to increase the employment opportunities for the underprivileged, encourage them to become self-reliant and build a caring culture in the community."
"The ESR Programme, implemented by the HAD, provides seed money to non-governmental organisations to support SE projects, with a view to increasing the skills and capacities of the employable and providing opportunities for the disadvantaged to upgrade themselves and be effectively integrated into the community."
Since the programme's launch in 2006, six phases of applications have been approved, granting a total of about $94 million to 94 new SE projects and creating more than 1,500 jobs for the socially disadvantaged.
To help the public have a better understanding of the products and services provided by SEs, the department has also compiled and uploaded an SE directory on the dedicated website (www.social-enterprises.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, November 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:01
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