With the Chinese New Year approaching, to let young offenders feel the festive atmosphere as well as the love and support from family, which serves to reinforce their determination for rehabilitation, on 24 January, the Youth Correctional Institution under the Correctional Services Bureau held the New Year’s Resolution Ceremony and Chinese New Year Party 2017 for all the young offenders.

At the beginning of each year, the Youth Correctional Institution’s team of counselors will help the young offenders set goals for the year ahead. Based on the young offenders’ individual plans, the counselors will guide the young offenders to gradually complete the plan for the whole year by beginning with short-term goals. The youngsters successfully achieving the goals will each be awarded a certificate as a keepsake, which also serves to encourage them to set directions, overcome obstacles and prepare adequately for future reintegration into the community.

Among the attendees of the event were Judge Shen Li and Judge Leong Mei Ian of the Family and Juvenile Court under the Primary Court; Deputy Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Kuok Sio Lai; Deputy Director of Social Welfare Bureau, Ao Chi Keong; Secretary General of Caritas Macau, Pun Chi Meng; Chief of Department of Social Reintegration of Social Welfare Bureau, Ip Sio Mei; Principal Ho Im Wa and Deputy Principal Ng Ka Vai of Escola Primária Oficial Luso-Chinesa “Sir Robert Ho Tung”; Deputy Principal of Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes, Ieong Weng Si; Services Officer of Lar de Acolhimento Temporário of Caritas Macau, Ho Kun Lon, as well as all the guardians of the young offenders. During the ceremony, the youngsters, in high spirits, neatly marched into the venue before solemnly and reverently taking the oath, administered by Director of Correctional Services Bureau Cheng Fong Meng and Director of Youth Correctional Institution Yu Pui Lam Ada, and putting up their personal goals as a way to boost their determination in realizing such goals, under the witness of the guests, the counselors of the Institution, as well as their guardians.

Following the ceremony, the young offenders sang a number of inspirational songs to thank their parents’ love and the support of the guests present. Moreover, with the support from Caritas Macau, the Youth Correctional Institution also made arrangements for the young offenders and their guardians to enjoy a pre-Chinese New Year reunion lunch together amid the festive atmosphere, strengthening their familial relationships. During the lunch, each of the young people told the guardians words from the bottom of their heart and presented them with handmade greetings cards containing gratitude and well-wishes for the Chinese New Year, which created a heartwarmingly moving scene.