The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (August 25) presented certificates of completion of service to 10 delegates of Phase VIII of the Service Corps programme to recognise and commend their outstanding performance in voluntary work in Shaoguan and Meizhou in Guangdong Province.
At the certificate presentation ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, also praised the delegates for their enthusiasm in serving people. He said he had been pleased to see that the delegates had the courage to embrace challenges and devoted themselves to voluntary teaching duties with a positive attitude, which deserves commendation and appreciation.
Mr Lau said, "At first, these young delegates were a bit nervous to start voluntary teaching in remote areas on the Mainland. It was not easy for them to adapt to the rural life and stay there for half a year to a year for voluntary teaching. Without passion and a caring heart, it would have been impossible for them to accomplish the mission."
He said he hoped that the programme, which provides an opportunity for Hong Kong youths to train and challenge themselves and allows them to learn more about the motherland and the needs of people there, would continue. He also expressed the hope that the delegates would continue to serve individuals, the community and the country, and share their experiences on the Mainland with peers to encourage more young people to provide voluntary services on the Mainland.
Mr Lau thanked the Guangdong Youth Federation, the Municipal People's Governments of Meizhou and Shaoguan and committee members of the Communist Youth Leagues in the two cities for their full support, and expressed appreciation for the care given to the delegates by the principals and teachers of the participating schools.
The Home Affairs Bureau launched the Service Corps programme in 2011 to provide financial support for youths aged between 18 and 29 to serve in remote areas on the Mainland for one semester or for the whole school year. Aiming to develop young people's tenacity and potential, the volunteer programme encourages Hong Kong young people to serve others and contribute to their country with a view to enhancing their understanding of the motherland and promoting the spirit of volunteerism. About 140 Hong Kong youths have participated in Phases I to VIII of the programme.
The delegates of the Service Corps programme (Phase VIII) went to various primary and secondary schools in Shaoguan and Meizhou, namely Huaping Experimental School, Zhenjiang Secondary School, Xiyang Town Centre Primary School and Bingcun Town Centre Primary School, to provide teaching assistance to primary and junior secondary students in various subjects and help organise extracurricular activities from September 2017 to July 2018.
Young people who are interested in joining the programme can visit the Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/servicecorpshk) or the webpage of the Service Corps (www.ydc.gov.hk/servicecorps/en) for more details or call 3509 7104 for enquiries.
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