Youth unemployment has become one of the major concerns in Hong Kong. The problem intensifies among those of age 15 to 19 that are classified as "non-engaged youth" for they are neither students nor workers in the society. The unemployment rate for this age group has grown from 10% in 1997 to 23.4% in 2001. In 2002, the rate has even surpassed 30%. Comparing it with similar figures in the USA and some Asian countries, the rate in Hong Kong is at a significant high. (Commission on Youth, 2003) According to the 2001 Census and the estimation of Commission on Youth in 2003, the percentage translates to more than 100,000 young people aged 15 to 19 that are classified as "non engaged" youth.

To seriously tackle the youth unemployment issue, it requires multiple level interventions. Recently, the Government announced that there would be a near term package of employment and training relief measures to help relieve the impact of SARS on unemployment. These measures will focus on the two most vulnerable groups of unemployed: the youth and the middle aged. Nearly half of the upcoming training and employment opportunities are targeted toward the unemployed youth, including the non-engaged group. The Social Welfare Department has been entrusted to implement a relief measure aiming at providing 2000 jobs for young people for a period of six months known as the Community Care Project. In this project, young people will be hired as "Youth Ambassadors", whose job is to support the operation of Team Clean of Hong Kong. They are responsible to assist various youth and related service units, to organize promotional activities, to publicize and to promote environmental and personal hygiene among the elderly people.

HKCS determines to fully support this Community Care Project. Approximately 55 "Youth Ambassadors", who will serve in this project from September 03 to March 04, are recruited jointly by three of our teams: Integrated Children and Youth Service units, Youth Outreaching Team and Family Networks. Through this project not only can we provide job opportunities to the unemployed youth, we will provide interpersonal and vocational training programs and counseling sessions aiming to increase civic awareness among these young people and to equip them with various skills for their future.

Apart from the Community Care Project, HKCS Integrated Children and Youth Service in Shamshuipo has recently initiated a similar project in August 2003 that focuses on reaching the non-engaged youth called "Path Creation Project". This project will be completed in June 2004. Three major areas are covered in this project. Firstly, motivation of the non-engaged youth will be explored, analyzed, understood and realigned aiming to build and strengthen their self-esteem and confidence. Secondly, we emphasize early intervention. A network will be developed among schools and education organizations so that our social workers are given the opportunities to effectively identify and reach out to those youngsters who may attempt to drop out from school; hence to prevent the undesirable events from happening. Thirdly, a mentor system will be established. "Mentors", who are also social workers", will be assigned to the participants with whom their career goals will be encouraged and set. Including in this project are series of programs that include orientation, adventure based activities, life experience/exposure programs, skills development, job training, and community service programs.

Undoubtedly youth unemployment is a complex social problem that multi-dimensional (ie. individual, family, educational, economic, social and global perspectives) analysis and intervention are needed in order to tackle it effectively. Furthermore, to alleviate such challenge among the youth, it would be more than necessary to require collaborations among government departments, social service sector and private sector together with the effort of individuals in the society in order to make it a reality one day.