Due to economic recession, the unemployment rate remains high. Thus, the "unemployed youth" has become a concerned focus in our society. According to frontline youth workers, unemployment and drop-outs in schools can lead to low self-esteem since these youths have no professional skills nor personal goals. Thus, it is tempting to be self-destructive and to leave their homes or even to become drug abusers. This applies especially to females. The lack of vocational training courses provided to female in the market causing them to have no competitive ability. Long period of unemployment may lead to throw themselves into immoral jobs.

Our Preventive and Rehabilitation Services for Substance Abusers has received a funding of approximately HK$2.28 million from the Beat Drug Fund to launch a pilot project called Project CITY - City Intensive Training for Youth. The aim of the Project is to enhance the personal quality and employment ability of these unemployed youths, to strengthen their negation towards bad influence. It is also aimed to increase their competition ability in the market. The Project was launched in June 1999 and will continue until May 2001. It will serve approximately 200 youth recipients.

The service targets were those who are 21 years of age or under, either unemployed or dropped out of school, or who are substance abusers (with female priority). Through a set of ICQ (I Can Qualify) courses and activities, recipients will be able to turn to a self-revolutionary stage, thus increasing their self-esteem and employment ability. It is hoped that they will be able to manage through tough periods and to prevent themselves from dropping into any harmful traps.

Candidates are selected through interviews. Selected candidates will attend an orientation in which their personalities and job interests are evaluated. They will also be given an introduction of different job nature, the present situation of the job market. After that, candidates will be able to choose courses and activities of their own interests. The Project will also implement health care consultation and counselling. They can even be provided the drug abuse treatment if needed. Furthermore, educational activities are designed and offered to the community to prevent the youth from drug abuse.

In the next phase, the participants have to summarize their learning experience and to practice their skills through volunteer service, drama creation, internships, entrepreneur workshops, community support network etc. Since Project CITY is a credit-based programme, participants must complete the required number of credits between three to six months. They will then be given a professional certificate by the Kwun Tong Vocational Training Centre.

Mr Eric So, Project Leader of CITY commented that, "The Project has begun its recruitment for the first phase of training in August. The majority of our applicants are geared towards females who are job hunting or unemployed. During their interviews, they expressed that courses in beauty care, self-image and social skills are of great interests to them. They are hoping to increase their competition and market knowledge by the end of the programme. This reflected that there is a lack of training courses designed for women. Thus, programmes like Project CITY are indeed, a big demand."