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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is inviting interested non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to submit proposals for operating the fifth batch of Child Development Fund (CDF) projects, which are to be launched in the second quarter of 2015. The projects will provide children from a disadvantaged background with more personal development opportunities to reduce intergenerational poverty.
A spokesman for SWD said today (November 24) that to facilitate NGOs to better plan ahead in terms of its resource allocation, the Government will adopt a "one-plus-one approach" for the fifth batch of CDF projects, under which each selected NGO would be awarded two 3-year projects (i.e. the First Project followed by the Second Project) in one go but the confirmation of the Second Project is subject to the satisfactory performance of NGOs in implementing the First Project.
This "one-plus-one approach" is also expected to facilitate NGOs to "bring over" their mentors from the First Projects to the Second Projects, thus help build up a quality pool of experienced mentors, the spokesman said. So far, four batches of 61 CDF projects operated by NGOs as well as seven school-based pilots operated by schools have been rolled out, benefiting almost 7 000 children.
"20 First Projects will be launched in the second quarter of 2015, providing 2 000 to 2 300 service quotas. Similar number of service quotas will be provided in 20 Second Projects. These projects will help participating children draw up and implement personal development plans as well as develop an asset-building habit, thus preparing them for long¡ªterm development," the spokesman said.
The SWD is now inviting NGOs to submit proposals to operate the fifth batch of CDF projects. The applicant must be a charitable organisation exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112), with track record in the provision of children and youth services in Hong Kong in the past five years.
Selected NGOs are expected to start recruiting participants for the First Projects in April next year.
The CDF, launched in 2008, aims at promoting the longer-term development of children aged between 10 and 16 from a disadvantaged background through collaboration of the family, the private sector, the community and the Government, thereby reducing intergenerational poverty.
Each participating child will be assigned a volunteer personal mentor. The operators will provide training programmes, which cover topics such as self-awareness, personal development and financial management, etc. to help participating children formulate personal development plans with specific targets.
The participating children will also take part in a two-year targeted savings programme. With the support of the business sector as well as individual donors, the operators will provide matching contribution for the targeted savings accumulated by the participating children. In addition, the Government will provide a special financial incentive of $3,000 to each participating child when he/she has completed his/her two-year savings programme. In the third year of the project, the participating children will, under the guidance and supervision of the operators and mentors, use the targeted savings (including their own savings, the matching contribution and the special financial incentive) to implement their personal development plans.
Application forms and guidelines are available on the website of SWD (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew/). A briefing session for prospective applicants will be held on December 1 at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, 18 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai.
All the proposals, together with the duly completed application forms, should be submitted by hand to the Child Development Fund Office, Social Welfare Department, Room 942, 9/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen¡¯s Road East, Hong Kong on or before 5pm on January 5, 2015.
Ends/Monday, November 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 10:45
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