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In the light of the Child Development Fund (CDF)'s encouraging early results, a third batch comprising 18 projects has been rolled out, offering more than 2 100 places to needy children. The number of places offered this time is almost the sum of the first two batches.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the CDF's third batch of projects today (November 12), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "As a strategic measure to tackle inter-generational poverty, the CDF aims at encouraging children to develop a habit of accumulating financial and non-material assets as well as learning to plan for their own future, thus helping them to get out of poverty.
"To prevent and tackle inter-generational poverty, we should not merely focus on meeting children's immediate needs. It is even more important to provide them with adequate opportunities for the development and upgrading of their abilities, so that their long-term development will not be hampered by a lack of family resources."
The first two batches, comprising a total of 22 projects, were rolled out in 2009 and 2010 and benefited more than 2 200 children. Using the experience gained in these projects, the operating organisations of the third batch of projects are encouraged not only to continue engaging children of ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, but also to step up recruitment of children living in cubicles and sub-divided apartments in private tenement buildings or those inadequately housed.
Mr Cheung noted that the CDF has witnessed encouraging results during three years of operation. Of the 750 children taking part in the seven pilot projects, over 97 per cent have completed the targeted savings and started to use the funds made up of their own savings, the matching contributions from the private sector and the financial incentives provided by the Government to implement personal development plans drawn up in the past two years.
At the ceremony, awards were presented to 42 outstanding children and 21 mentors as tokens of commendation and encouragement.
"We will review the experience gained in the first stage of the implementation of the CDF and consider the way forward next year," said Mr Cheung.
"With the concerted efforts of the Government, community, families and various sectors of the society, I am sure that we can help the grass roots to build social capital and bring hope to the future of our youngsters."
Noting that the outstanding contributions made by strategic partners and the private sector, the commitment of the operating organisations and the dedication of the mentors were of key importance to the success of the CDF, Mr Cheung thanked them for their support and participation.
Ends/Saturday, November 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:26
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