An innovative volunteer work campaign has successfully mobilised more than 1,500 young participants. 'V-Teen' Cyber Hunt, organised by the Steering Committee on Volunteer Movement for young people aged six to 24, made use of information technology to galvanise youth volunteers and spread its message. The programme integrated a competitive Internet game with self-devised volunteer work projects. Putting emphasis on team work, it confronted youths with real challenges. A total of 142 teams compris ing 1,567 participants, accomplished a 20,436 hours of voluntary service between mid-December and the end of April. All V-Teen teams were given an Internet account. They had to engage in an on- line game to find a way to save vital information from destruction by a deadly virus. Each team, comprising five to 15 members, designed, organised and carried out one or more community service projects. With the supervision of an adviser, a team had to complete at least 75 hours of service. Prizes for the Best, Smartest, Most Creative, Most Fun, and Most Enthusiastic V-Teen teams were presented at Sha Tin Town Hall. Director of Social Welfare Andrew Leung Kin-pong said the cyber image of the activity conveyed the message that as little as one hour of voluntary service a week could improve the quality of one's own life. Ricky Wong Wai-kay, chairman of sponsor City Telecom, likened selling one's creative ideas to wooing girls. 'You've got to have both courage and a nimble mind. 'Be ready for nine failures out of 10 attempts, but being successful once is more than enough.' The Rover Scouts, the 22nd scout group from Yuen Long, with members aged from 18 to 25, won the Best V-Teen award. The eight-strong team devoted themselves to paying regular visits to 20 terminally ill cancer patients. University of Hong Kong (HKU) student John Chan Wai- on, 19, said they had learned to have patience and the skills to break the ice with patients who were initially unfriendly. Yvonne Poon Hoi-ling, 20, also a HKU student said: 'We are happy about being friends with these old people rather than helping them as pitiful creatures. 'In fact, we benefited a lot from their rich life experiences.'