This July and August, a total of six inernational summer interns at Eden Social Welfare Foundation from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and France, joined an exciting series of summer programs in Taiwan with different service centers under the umbrella of Eden. Each one of them has expressed a great deal of progress and growth in his/her personal life as well as improved understanding and appreciation of lives different from which they used to know of when interviewed on his/her unique experience in Multicultural Camp for Children of Recent Immigrant Families in Taitung County (台東多元文化成長營) and Workshop on Gender and Relationships for Teenagers in Yilan County (宜蘭新移民二代青春期工作坊) both held by Eden in July 2013.
Let's hear from these talented young people of Taiwan descent, born and/or raised overseas and gifted with a big heart to serve Taiwan and the world, about their work with Eden this summer.
(Vivian Sun, 2013 Summer Intern at Eden Social Welfare Foundation, from Chino Hills, C.A., U.S.A.)
I have gained so much more than words can describe during my short week volunteering in Taitung. Interacting with the kids there opened my eyes to the calloused reality that many children live through every single day of their lives. Each individual has his or her own strengths and flaws that makes each one so unique, but also requires more attention from those who look after them. Seeing their eyes light up when they get the right answer and their eagerness to learn more was very uplifting and rewarding. Although I played the role of the teacher and the counselor watching over these children, I believe I was the one who learned more from them. (Click here for more stories of 2013 Summer Interns at Eden.)
Vivian is curerently an undergraduate student majoring in International Studies-Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego.
After experiencing my first summer camp with Eden in the rural city of Taitung, I can say that I am fortunate to have had this opportunity. During this International Volunteer Camp, I have learned to count my blessings and be thankful for anything and everything. The relationships that I built with the countless people that I met were each very special. I made everlasting friendships with the Taiwanese volunteers as we saw each other’s highs and lows throughout the 8-day trip. Meeting the kids who attended this camp and creating a unique bond with each of them was one of the greatest experiences I've had in my life. (Click here for more stories of 2013 Summer Interns at Eden.)
Tina is now an undergraduate student majoring in Marketing at the University of Houston.
Youth with Visual Impairments Meet Friends from Able Disable Centre, Nauru
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Eden's 2013 Summer Intern (center) at this year's Summer English Program
for Youth with Visual Impairments assits developmentally delayed students
from Nauru with pottery making at New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics
Museum.
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On August 2, 2013, 10 students aged between 13 to 30 with disabilities from Able Disable Centre, Republic of Nauru, along with their parents and teachers, gathered together at Ban-Cheng Taiwan Friends Church (台灣基督教貴格會板城教會) in New Taipei City for the final presentation featuring local participants from this year's Summer English and Art Program for Youth with Visual Impairments at Eden to celebrate art and friendship. Just 2 days before this joyful occasion of songs and music, the two groups have been introduced to each other on July 31 at the studio at New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum during a DIY session where members from both groups experienced how to make their own pottery for the first time.
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Dr. Zatta (left) engages volunteers at the
training in Taipei to demonstrate how to achieve effective communication
without the use of language.
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Invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) and received by Eden Social Welfare Foundation, members of the Youth Delegation from Able Disable Centre, the only school for persons with disabilities in Nauru, was on an 8-day trip to Taiwan with an aim to experience the island's facilities and services for persons with disabilities. Click here for a full coverage on the group's visit to Taiwan.
MDVI Students Benifitted from Quality Education with Perkins' Debut in Taiwan
Taiwanese students who have multiple disabilities with visual impairments (MDVI) are expected to benefit from services provided by local professionals who have their skills honed in when participating in Eden's training program provided by renowned instructors from Perkins School for the Blind, the world's leading institute for special education that gives Taiwan a debut lecture series from August 15 to 23 in Taichung and Taipei.
With more than 170 Taiwanese professionals who work with MDVI individuals and register for the event, the two distinguished instructors from Perkins, Dr. McLetchie and Dr. Zatta, invigorated participants with experiences, skills, and knowledge acquired through their lifetime career in MDVI education both at Perkinds and internationally. The event sees the successful exchange between the special education professionals in Taiwan and the world and marks another milestone in the development of Taiwan's MDVI education. Click here for full coverage on the lectures by Perkins.
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