URA partners with young people to serve residents in old districts

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) joined hands with eight tertiary institutions and social service organisations to bring love and care to residents in old districts through a series of programmes under the 2017/18 Community Service Partnership Scheme (CSPS).  Over 80 participating volunteers and beneficiaries of the programmes came together for a funfair today (Saturday) at the URA’s H6 CONET where Chinese handcraft workshops were held as they embraced the approach of the Year of the Dog.

CSPS is a collaboration of tertiary institutions and social service organisations that aims to service the older community in Hong Kong.  Through the assistance of social service organisations, volunteers comprising URA colleagues and tertiary students organise different caring programmes for the residents in the old districts.  Since the launch of CSPS in the 2012/13 academic year, the URA has worked side by side with 30 tertiary institutions and social service organisations, arranging a total of 31 service programmes.  Over 7,600 service hours have been achieved by over 1,000 volunteers, benefitting some 1,850 residents in the old districts.

Among the various community service activities this year, an upcycling project was organised with partnership with the Architectural Society of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (HKYWCA), which transformed used wine crates into home furniture for low income families in the Central and Western District.  The URA also partnered with HKYWCA for an eight-month programme, arranging different interactive activities, such as ukulele, martial arts dance and football classes, for underprivileged children and their families in the Central and Western District.  Other activities were also organised during the year to serve enthnic minority children in Yau Tsim Mong District, underprivileged children in Sham Shui Po and elderly in Kowloon City.

Joining the funfair today, Non-Executive Director of the URA Board, Mr Timothy Ma, and Managing Director of the URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing, commended the selfless contribution of all participating volunteers for their community services and expressed gratitude for the support of partnering organisations. 

“CSPS will continue to create win-win situations for all by serving as a collaboration platform to organise different community activities and connect URA staff, tertiary student volunteers and social service organisations to attain the common goal of serving residents in old districts and encouraging young people to understand the community that they are living in,” said Mr Ma.

The Unit in-charge (Service) of Western District Integrated Social Service Centre of HKYWCA, Ms Elsa Hung, said, “The various community service activities that we organised allow us to bring love and care and offer practical help to the underprivileged families.  The activities also gave student volunteers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience.  We look forward to continuing to participate in CSPS in the coming year to provide more diversified social services to benefit more families in need.”

A student volunteer of the Architectural Society of HKU, Anthony Wong, said, “This upcycling project gave us an opportunity to help people by using the knowledge that we learn.  From planning the project, visiting residents in the old districts, to making the furniture ourselves and giving them out, we felt the appreciation and happiness of the beneficiaries.  We found the project very meaningful.”

There are six service programmes for the CSPS in the 2017/18 academic year and the partnering organisations include City University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, Chung Sing Benevolent Society, HKYWCA, Hope Worldwide and New Home Association.

(ENDS)