Correctional Services Bureau Holds Youth Exchange Activity to Raise Support for Rehabilitation of Housed Juveniles (2018-01-21)

On 21 January, the Youth Correctional Institution of the Correctional Services Bureau held a “Youth vs. Youth” activity, where the young members of Bosco Youth Service Network were invited to have a face-to-face with the juveniles at the Institution, so as to raise attention, support and encouragement to the housed juveniles.

The activity included a briefing of Correctional Services Bureau’s functions and daily operation and a tour of Youth Correctional Institution’s facilities for the visitors, which was followed by a specially arranged face-to-face between the eleven young visitors and eleven juveniles at the Institution. To facilitate interaction, the Bosco Youth Service Network brought some brain-teasing tabletop games which they played against the juveniles, hoping toenhance the juveniles’ interest in healthy leisure activities and resistance against temptations. One of the games from the Network was specially designed for youth development, enabling the juveniles to learn how to handle conflicts or confrontations and get along with people. Thanks to the lively atmosphere, the visitors and the juveniles spent some quality time together.

With this rare opportunity of interaction, the visitors and the juveniles had a pleasant talk and learned about one another’s lives. During the process, the juveniles shared how they, under peer influence, had gone astray, committed a crime, and lost their cherished freedom and quality time with family, cautioning the visitors against impulsive actions. After listening to the juveniles’ confessions, the young participants came to an awareness of the need to remain vigilant against the temptations of crime. Also, impressed by the juveniles’ diligent learning and determination of self-reform, the young visitors presented the juveniles with wish cards containing words of encouragement for their continued efforts on preparing for the future return to society.

The Correctional Services Bureau will continue to hold different types of youth exchange activities to enhance public knowledge about corrections and encourage young people to actively care about social affairs, spread the message of love and raise public support and encouragement to the housed juveniles.

Young members of the Bosco Youth Service Network visit Youth Correctional Institution

Young visitors playing tabletop games with juveniles at the Institution

Housed juveniles share personal experiences with the young visitors