HONG KONG (SE): Faithful from parishes are invited to donate to the “Light Up” fund established by the diocese for young prisoners to support their vocational training, life development counselling, and other services that facilitate their reintegration back into society.
Fundraising is targeted at $5 million. In the first phase of three years, it intends to help 1,200 inmates. Father Paul Kam Po-wai, vicar general and project coordinator, reported that more than $2 million has been raised through the generosity of individual donors.
Father Kam will visit different parishes to raise funds and promote the project, starting on November 26 with the Holy Cross Parish in Shau Kei Wan. He expressed gratitude to parish priests and parishioners who have generously supported the fund.
Caritas social workers will provide support services in December to inmates who are soon to be released from the Sha Tsui Correctional Institution in order to help them prepare for reintegration into society.
Father Kam hopes that more young inmates will sign up for the fund and be willing to receive ongoing assistance after they are released, as it has been promoted by the Correctional Services Department for young prisoners.
The target group for the project are those in custody under the age of 35. The fund will be used to support them in continuing their education, including tuition and examination fees for university courses, as they make career plans to help with their rehabilitation and integration into society. It is hoped that through the project, they can be given continuous support and feel loved. In addition, the program aims to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and to encourage them to improve their relationship with their families.
Using the assistance of employers, the project will also provide job-matching services to assist participants in finding employment. The vicar general thanked employers who have shown their willingness to support the job-matching scheme.
Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, said in an online letter dated March 23 that the rehabilitation of individuals in custody and their integration back into society are essential missions of the Church. He urged people from all walks of life to work together and support the Diocese in raising the needed resources to address the needs of rehabilitated inmates [Sunday Examiner, May 7]
