The organization’s unique and creative approach may inspire many members of the Salesian Family around the world: started with a firm resolve to reach out, on a small scale, to young people in street conditions, with the help of Salesian professionals and capable social workers, it has developed so much that it has grown from the reality of a small and dark room, made available free of charge by the city authorities and expertly re-equipped by the Salesians - to the current 16-story building in the Sai Wan Ho area. More than 100 people, many volunteers, and thousands of supporters are the "secret" of this project's effectiveness.

The style adopted by the "YO" organization has consisted of sharing mission responsibility with many lay collaborators in the Salesian mission, networking with many and varied private and governmental institutions, and turning former "street youth" into Youth Outreach's operational staff (social workers, educators, managers of various programs...

To mark the important anniversary, Youth Outreach's founder, British Salesian Fr. Peter Newbery, along with Honorary President, Wan Man-yee, gave a brief but meaningful interview.

"In 1983-84 a report was published stating that some 20-30 thousand boys under the age of 16 were wandering around in Hong Kong at night. And although according to the Hong Kong Council for Social Services, youth services were all-inclusive, there was a lack of a specific organization for emergency intervention," testifies Fr. Newbery in presenting the origins of YO.

"We are here to help at-risk youth return to normal life. Today's society is very stressful, and young people face many challenges along the way. We simply remind them that they can always come to 'Youth Outreach' to have a chat with us, knowing that this is their second home, so they don't have to worry too much in the face of various challenges," adds the Honorary President, explaining the meaning of the organization's activities.

Youth Outreach's programs include overnight street outreach, short-term housing, crisis hotline, psychological counseling, opportunities to spend time with well-trained educators open 24/7, schooling, hip hop dance workshops, and much more. Also supporting the organization is the "YO Foundation," which provides the necessary funds through the cooperation of numerous benefactors.

The name "Youth Outreach" (協青社) takes on a very special meaning when read in Chinese, where it is composed of three ideograms: 協青社. The second of these ideograms means "youth," and its central position between the other two is emblematic. In fact, the first means "help," while the third means "society." This creates the evocative image of a society that helps the most disadvantaged youth, supporting and caring for them.

To learn more about the organization's youth apostolate you can visit the YouTube channel of "Youth Outreach" (YO).

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