Children's Homes in Shouther Taiwan

by Elio Rash
National Chengchi University
(International Undergraduate Program, Business Department.)
Taipei, Taiwan


First of all I must thank the director of the program that organized the trip to Kaoshiung and Pingtung children homes in southern Taiwan. I heard about this program from the director of Business Department and also from advertisement so I thought it was a great opportunity for me to know more about Taiwan’s surroundings. In addition I devote my heart to children because sometimes in our lives we all go through different challenges and for a better future of today’s children we must put our efforts today for a better society in the future. Being a Freshman at National Chengchi University and new to the Taiwan society is quite challenging but my parents planted that thinking in me to be happy and to be willing to give in order to succeed. I am glad to say that in order to live a happier life is to keep an attitude that if I can have what I want , that’s good but if I can’t that’s fine too . To begin with I must say that our trip to southern Taiwan will be impossible to erase from my memory. I really appreciate the kindness of Taiwan’s people, and all the kind friends I met, visiting the night market at Kaoshiung and Hakka aboriginal culture was great but one of the greatest is one of the main purpose of our trip which was to Children’s homes.

When I was asked to write this it seemed like I could never give the real answer about how I felt, how was the trip? The real answer is in my heart. Perhaps typing it out might be easier. How was the trip to southern Taiwan? I can truly say its one of the greatest moments of all since I came to Taiwan, learnt a lot, learnt how to be a better person, how to be a calmer person, how to accept the reality and how to escape the fact and face it with courage. The kids in the children’s homes are our future so we should devote whole-hearted effort to them. We should treat each other with compassion and that our value as human beings does not depend on how long we live but on how much we contribute to society and the real value of life is in giving. I didn’t think before that this would be a turning point in my life. At first I thought I was just going for the trip and come back to Taipei. But it isn’t so, it turned out to be one of my motivators. Which is to finish this semester and be happy to know that I can accomplish a dream that I have in mind and that is to return to children’s homes and assist in whatever way I can. I thank all the great friends I met during this trip without them this moment wouldn’t exist and I thanks to all who organize these programs especially ”Weichen keep working hard.”

What are Our Beliefs to Launch "2007Gap Summer World Better" - Children’s Home International Volunteer Summer Program?

“The 2007 Gap Summer World Better- Children’s Home International Volunteer” summer program is organized by CCSA (Chinese Children’s home & Shelter Association) and the College of Foreign Languages and Literature of NCCU (National Chengchi University).

As estimated by the Children’s Bureau Minister of Interior, R.O.C, now 1,997 children and young people in Taiwan live in children’s homes. 35% of them had suffered from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse or being neglected in their biological families. Also around 35% of them are out of family care due to financial crisis. 23% of them were facing a family breakdown and 7% of them are orphans. Do these children deserve only to have shelters to live in? Are they deprived their opportunities to be persons with international perspectives due to their family backgrounds? Personally, I do not agree with it. I believe that they deserve to have the same opportunities to build up their global hearts. Not only social welfare organizations can contribute to this program but also every individual can put his own efforts in it.

Truly speaking, the institutional-setting living environment is more closed compared to the family-setting particularly, in interpersonal connection. These young people in children’s homes have less personal support network even though they have family units, uncles or aunts. In addition, it’s a popular trend to talk about “globalization”, issues either in the schools or in the families. However, children in children’s homes do not have opportunities to expose themselves in various nations to learn different cultures customs.

As a result, our association, CCSA, has been calling for international students from NCCU to join this volunteer program. International volunteers will work with children and young people in Taiwan children’s homes for five weeks in terms of culture sharing, language exchange and friendship buildup. Through international students’ eyes, children and young people in Taiwan children’s homes will learn a wide range of exotic cultures, and by means of day-to-day interaction with them, these internationals will be able to learn some Taiwanese culture as well.

Program Location:

The Mountain Children’s Home of Kaoshiung County

Taiwan Christian Faith, Hope. Love Children’s Home of Pingtung County

Program Period:

July 3rd to August 6th

Program Coordinator:

Conni Chang

Wei-Chen Lee +886-2-2528-9119 Ext.23

Journey to a Children's Home

by Daniel Park

It was 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 31st, 2007 when the bus with student volunteers from National Chengchi University arrived at Taiwan Christian Faith Hope and Love Children’s Home in Ping-tung. I was very excited to meet the children and nervous at the same time.

My name is Daniel Park. I am a third year business student majoring in accounting and marketing in Simon Fraser University in Canada, and I am an exchange student to National Chengchi University in spring 2007. I didn't actually know about ‘Warm-up for 2007 Gap Summer World better Volunteer Service’ until three days before the registration deadline. One of the other exchange students told me about this program and suggested that I should participate. Initially, I couldn't decide because I already had my own busy plans for spring break. I saw a post later that day describing this activity as below.

It’s you, who brings difference perspectives to them.
It’s you, who makes them embrace their dream.
It’s them, who touches your heart.
It’s them, who make it an awesome experience.’

I do not know why. Somehow, this paragraph and the children's photo on the post kept coming back to my mind. As a result, I submitted my application to children’s home the day before the registration deadline.

We, student volunteers, visited two very similar and yet different children’s homes. One was located in Ping-tung city. Another one was located in Kao-hsiung city.

After we arrived at children’s home in Ping-tung city, we had a dinner with the children. During the dinner, we introduced each other and asked each other’s interests. After we were done our dinner, we arranged all of desks and chairs and started a program prepared by Group A. (We divided into two groups; group A and B) Group A prepared a couple of games, including musical chairs. Both we and children jumped and slipped during the activity. I could read children’s happiness from their face. After the activity, some of us had a chance to hear songs from one of the junior-high school students in children’s home. The student actually composes the songs. It impressed me a lot. Furthermore, the student added that he has never learned from somebody else how to play a guitar and how to compose, and he acquired that knowledge by himself. Although he is good enough, I felt he could be much better if there is someone who can lead him playing a guitar and composing a song into a deeper level.

Leaving behind good memories in Ping-tung city, we headed for the other children’s home in Kao-hsiung city the next day. As soon as we arrived, we started our activities first by learning how to make bracelets with teachers and children in children’s home. After the dinner, group B leaded an activity. Group B brought a number of water balloons to play with children. As a result, some of us and children totally got wet, but still every one of us had a big smile on our face. After the activity, we continued our activity at a church in children’s home, and we worshiped and spent time together.

That was our two day’s activities in children’s home. In my opinion, the children’s home in Ping-tung city has strong educational atmosphere. By contrast, the children’s home in Kao-hsiung city has strong artistic atmosphere. However, they also had things in common. Both of them have children who need a friend who can hold their hand and share their life just as all of us need. Throughout this great opportunity, I believe I gained more than I gave. I thought I would be the one who would share my love with the children. However, the children were the ones who actually filled out my heart with love. I thought I would be the one who would touch their heart. However, they were the ones who actually touched my heart. This experience truly enriched my spring break, and I can not wait to see children again this coming summer break.