The Director of Social Welfare (DSW), Ms Carol Yip, today (December 14) joined the Social Welfare Department (SWD) Choir and its family members to participate in the Carol Singing Festival 2018 held by the Child Development Matching Fund (CDMF) to raise funds for disadvantaged children.
Speaking at the event, Ms Yip said that the festival was being held for the ninth consecutive year. Over the past years, the festival has raised over $30 million for the Savings Matching Fund for teenagers participating in the Child Development Fund (CDF) programme, securing savings matching funds for over 5 000 teenagers.
She noted that the Government has all along been dedicated to alleviating inter-generational poverty, pointing out that $900 million has been injected into the fund with 193 three-year projects carried out since the establishment of the CDF in 2008. Each project comprises three key components, namely Targeted Savings, Personal Development Plans and Mentorship, benefiting over 17 000 underprivileged children and teenagers.
Ms Yip appealed to people from different sectors to show continuous concern for the children and youngsters from underprivileged families while celebrating Christmas.
The CDMF, a community-based organisation promoting child development initiatives, is one of the strategic partners of the CDF. The CDMF consolidates resources in the community and by raising savings matching funds helps CDF participants to achieve their savings targets, and hence take the first step towards leaving poverty. A volunteer will also be arranged for each participant as their mentor.
The SWD Choir, which took part in today's event, was founded in 1998 and comprises SWD staff members from different ranks and grades in various districts. The choir enjoys participating in various charity performances and volunteer work and has taken part in the festival for seven consecutive years. The choir is also committed to serving the underprivileged and promoting the greater social inclusion of persons with and without disabilities, as well as encouraging colleagues to join volunteering to help build a more harmonious and caring society.
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