Press Releases
SWAC discusses evaluation study on New Dawn Project
The following is issued on behalf of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee:
The Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC) met today (May 31) and discussed
the results of an evaluation study on the New Dawn (ND) Project -- an employment
assistance programme implemented by the Social Welfare Department (SWD).
The ND Project aims to assist single parents and child carers on Comprehensive
Social Security Assistance (CSSA) whose youngest child is aged 12 to 14 to
enhance their capacity for self-help, integrate into society and move towards
self-reliance through engagement in work. The SWD commissioned the University of
Hong Kong to conduct the study last August.
Speaking after the meeting, the SWAC chairman, Mr Wilfred Wong, noted that the
study found that the participants, their family members and children, employers
and operating agencies all made generally positive feedback on the project.
Most of the participants agreed that the project enhanced their initiative to
seek employment. The employment assistance programme also helped participants
overcome barriers to employment and improved their working skills. Family
members and children of the participants felt that engagement in work has no
negative impact on their family relationship and the increased income actually
improved the quality of their family lives.
"Members of the committee agreed that the project could effectively assist
single parents and child carers on CSSA to seek employment. Through its
programmes, they can rejoin the workforce to increase family income in addition
to taking care of their families. It is their first step towards self-reliance.
They can also broaden their social network and raise their self-esteem through
engagement in work," Mr Wong said.
Mr Wong said the Committee learnt that the Government was encouraged by the
favourable response and decided to continue the project so that more single
parents and child carers could receive appropriate employment assistance and
encouragement. The Committee supported the decision.
He added that the study also made a number of recommendations, including
considering gradually increasing the level of sanction against those who refused
to participate in the project; enhancing job skill training, increasing working
hours and changing the age limit of the youngest child of the participants.
"The Government informed the Committee that the New Dawn Project would continue
to operate in its existing mode and no change would be made for the time being.
The Government would study the recommendations made in the evaluation study and
review the project. The Government would consult the Committee again with a view
to providing more appropriate support services to employable single parents and
child carers.
"The Committee hoped that more information could be gathered to conduct further
analysis and studies in order to facilitate the next round of discussion," Mr
Wong said.
Ends/Thursday, May 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:02
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Attachment:
A Study to Evaluate the New Dawn Project of Single Parents/Child Carers under
CSSA Scheme