Press Releases

17 second-batch projects successful in securing CIIF support

The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) Committee today (August 10) approved funding of over $12 million for 14 projects selected from the second batch of applications.

Three more projects from the first batch have also been awarded funding.

During its initial year of operation, the CIIF Committee allocated funding of over $23 million to a total of 29 projects.

The Chairman of the CIIF Committee, Dr Raymond Wu Wai-yung, was pleased to see that some of the positive values promoted by the CIIF were steadily taking root.

"The CIIF is about mobilising community resources and collaboration. The seed funding provides the added incentive to implement new and sustainable ideas.

"The concept that the community will benefit more from having their own social capital being developed rather than relying on external aid, from giving rather than receiving, are being reflected more in the proposals received this time," he said.

Dr Wu also emphasised that building networks and establishing partnerships, not within the same groups but between people from different strata and with different experiences to share, are key to building up communities and developing social capital.

The 29 projects selected during the first year of operation were intended to provide examples of projects that could be established. A variety of networks and partnerships have been piloted within various communities and among different groups.

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the second batch applicants ranged from established non-government organisations (NGOs), grassroots women's networks, relatively small residents groups, schools, and parent-teacher associations.

The bureau said the CIIF Committee placed much emphasis on supporting the initiatives of grassroots organisations, with strong local networks. For instance, groups selected for funding include the Youth Kwun Tong, the Tai O Residents' Rights Concerned Group, the Self-help Development Centre and the Shes - Hong Kong Women Christian Council.

These are all relatively new community groups with the potential to exercise their particular roles and mobilise resources within their respective communities.

Community integration, empowerment and capacity-building are the themes of several selected projects, such as:
* the "Community Integration project on Lamma Island";
* "Our Home in the Water Village - Tai O Community Networks";
* the "Community Network in Sha Tin";
* the Neighbourhood Cohesion and Mutual Help Network Project in Lee On Estate (Ma On Shan);
* the "Community Alliance Project in Kwun Tong"; and
* the "Empowerment Programme for Women in Tsing Yi".

As employment was a current social concern, a number of the selected projects focused on "marginalised groups" such as ethnic minorities and low-income families.

The committee supports projects that are geared towards building up the capacity of these groups for self help and mutual help, maximising and creating local opportunities, encouraging their integration with and contributions to mainstream society, and promoting greater cohesion and collaboration with local residents and businesses.

Such projects include:
* the "SASA- South Asians Support Alliance" to be piloted in Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong;
* the "Multi-ethnic Social Cohesion Project" in Yuen Long;
* the "Creating a Better Future Mutual Help Project involving Ethnic, Disadvantaged and Local Resource Groups" in Kwai Ching, Tsuen Wan;
* the "Support Programme with Employment Focus for SA Ethnic Minorities and Low-income Families" in Sham Shui Po; and
* the "Mutual Help and Social Cohesion Project involving Ex-work Injured Workers" in Kowloon East and West.

The other funded projects would experiment with ways to improve the capacity for self-help, build links between groups, foster social cohesion and cross sector collaboration.

These include:
* the "Play in the Public Park" project to link up corporate sponsorship, public resources, local NGOs and family volunteers to promote family cohesion through creative play;
* the "Project RAGE - Responsible Action, Genuine Encounter Project" to link up disengaged youth with mentors;
* the "Journey of Birth-Prenatal and Postnatal Emotion Support and Community Network Project" to experiment with corporate and NGO partnerships;
* the "Self and Mutual-help Resource Network" project to build up sustainable self-help capabilities amongst small groups; and
* the "Support for Caring Parents Project" to enhance skills, confidence and opportunities for parents in caring for their children and those of their neighbours.

The CIIF Fund will be open for a third batch of applications from September 1 to November 15. Assistance to applicants will be provided through:

* The CIIF Guides - application forms and general advice are available from the Health Welfare and Food Bureau, District Offices of the Social Welfare Department and the Home Affairs Department;

* Before preparing their proposals, applicants are advised to browse the reference materials posted on the CIIF homepage www.hwfb.gov.hk/ciif/index.htm, where here is relevant information on the selection criteria, examples of selected projects and a resource directory on social capital and related topics.

* Interested applicants will be invited to the CIIF Inaugural Sharing Forum to be held on October 9. The Secretariat will also organise further briefings for prospective applicants later in October.

* Advice on preparing proposals and/or mentoring assistance may be obtained through CIIF partners or from the Secretariat.

End/Sunday, August 10, 2003
NNNN