The first-ever “Assist in Offender Rehabilitation with Care and Inclusiveness” event, jointly organized by the Correctional Services Bureau and the Social Welfare Bureau, was held on 25 March at the Iao Hon Market Park. With Caritas Macau as the supporting organization and eight other social service organizations as co-organizers, the event aimed to promote the message of facilitating the social reintegration of rehabilitated persons and raise public awareness and support toward social rehabilitation services. The event attracted the participation of many members of the public.

 

In an address for the event, our Director Cheng Fong Meng highlighted the Correctional Services Bureau’s active collaboration with various sectors of society to assist in the social rehabilitation of inmates and juvenile delinquents on personal, familial and social levels. In addition to the rehabilitated persons’ own efforts and the support of their family members, the successful reintegration of rehabilitated persons into society also depended on the opportunities, acceptance and help given by members of the public as these were important factors that helped drive rehabilitated persons forward on the path to a brand new life. Director Cheng also emphasized that the Correctional Service Bureau had been upholding the three new policing philosophies of “proactive policing”, “community policing” and “proximity policing” and continually organizing different community events to raise awareness of correctional services, to promote the spirit of love and inclusiveness and to gather strengths from different social sectors to support and assist in the social reintegration of inmates and juvenile delinquents and help build a harmonious and inclusive society.

 

The Acting Director of the Social Welfare Bureau Hoi Va Pou stated in her address for the occasion that the Social Welfare Bureau had been working closely with various sectors of society to provide multiple support services to rehabilitated persons and their family members, helping them rebuild a positive outlook on life. As for social reintegration services, assisting rehabilitated persons in getting jobs had been one of the main focuses of the Social Welfare Bureau’s work. Over many years, different sectors of society, especially Macao’s small and medium enterprises, had provided rehabilitated persons with a lot of job opportunities; for this, Acting Director Hoi extended her gratitude to the “loving employers” for the employment opportunities provided as these were significant support and contribution to social rehabilitation services. Acting Director Hoi added that the Social Welfare Bureau would carry on with its cooperation with various sectors to continually launch different familial, community and special services so that the support to rehabilitated persons could be strengthened.

 

Caritas Macau’s Service Director Yuen Chi Hoi also delivered an address at the event: Caritas Macau had always been caring for inmates and ex-offenders’ needs. Apart from prison visit services, Caritas Macau offered temporary housing for rehabilitated persons through its “lar de acolhimento temporário”. A “social rehabilitation support hotline” had also been in service in recent years, offering services to rehabilitated persons ranging from emotional relief to case referral. Going forward, Caritas Macau would jointly launch the “Macao Inmates Support Scheme” with the Social Welfare Bureau within the year, expanding the rehabilitation services to the Greater Bay Area. It was believed that the support and acceptance from members of the public could help pave a broader path for rehabilitated persons determined to turn their lives around.

 

With “Life Begins Again with Your Hearty Acceptance” as its slogan and held at the Iao Hon Market Park, the event featured booth games, wonderful stage performances and the presence of Shiny, the Correctional Services Bureau’s care buddy, who hyped up the atmosphere and shared the happiness with members of the public at the venue. Furthermore, at the event, certificates of commendation were presented to the “loving employers”; prizes were also given out to the winners of the previously held “To the Brand New You” Postcard Design Contest and the winning entries of the contest were put on view. A postcard-writing area was set up at the venue and a lot of members of the public handwrote messages expressing support to the social reintegration of inmates and juvenile delinquents.

 

Representatives from the co-organizers who attended the event as officiating guests included: Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Macao Federation of Neighborhood Associations, Leong Hong Sai; Vice-Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Chio Lan Ieng; Vice-President of the Women’s General Association of Macau Cheung Pui Peng; Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Aliança de Povo de Instituição de Macau, Lei Leong Wong; Secretary General of the Christian New Life Fellowship in Macau Lao Chin Soi; Secretary General of the Macau Christian Prison Ministries Wong Sio Kao; Chief Officer of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau Lin Wai Wang; and last but not least, Deputy Head of the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau Cheung Lik Hang.