With love from Taiwan to the Philippines
TAIWAN Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) – Philippine Branch Office held its first leg of activities for the 2023 Sponsorship Series in Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City last October 6, 2023, Friday. The said organization has been working with and serving around 370 sponsored families and around 900 children up to date since it was established last 2019 where direct service various community-based programs had pilot implementation in Barangay Addition Hills eyed to be TFCF Philippines’ first model community.
Some of TFCF Philippines’ valued stakeholders were present at the event. The TFCF headquarters, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), the local government of Mandaluyong City, and Barangay Addition Hills office and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office delivered their messages on stage to represent their respective office’s collaboration and support to TFCF and its beneficiaries, their constituents, and the community in general. Nearly forty (40) Taiwanese sponsors graced the event.
Kai-Li Chang, the Branch Director of TFCF Philippines also shared her expectationsregarding the Community Resilience Plan initiatives and accomplishments of TFCF Philippines since its three core programs namely the Housing Support Program, Community Patrol Program, and Community Environment Improvement were conceptualized and implemented since 2021. These core programs aim to build and strengthen the capacity of potential community leaders, concerned citizens, and community members to prevent and reduce future socio-economic and environmental damages made by disasters, more specifically by fire incidents, which Barangay Addition Hills is highly prone to.
The Taiwanese sponsors group extended its donations of twenty Personal Protective Equipment and seven oxygen tanks to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officials of Barangay Addition Hills.
In 2021, TFCF with the support of its Taiwanese donors and the Changhua Dream Come True Charity Group, a water station project was established at Espoir School of Life (ESPOIR) in Barangay Del Carmen, Siargao Island, which benefits more than 500 villagers, including children. After years of restricted movement due to the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Changhua Dreams Come True, also one of the Taiwanese donor organizations was finally able to visit the Philippines and meet ESPOIR.
Yong Chin Hsiang represented Changhua Dreams Come True Charity Group while ESPOIR was chosen by its program manager, Richard Luceño.
Before the event closed, the Taiwanese stakeholders and sponsors were allowed to have an hour community tour for their short exposure and immersion to certain blocks of Barangay Addition Hills. Through this tour, they had personally witnessed and experienced a glimpse of the social realities — local living conditions, environment, and the people. Some sponsored families and children who were visited during the tour were able to share a background of their situations and how TFCF has made a positive impact on their lives. Selected mothers who are participants of the TFCF Livelihood and Start-Up Coaching Program were able to share a part of their testimonies in relation to their small home-based food businesses. It is worth noting that more than 35 police officers from the local government of Mandaluyong City provided security for the event, ensuring a peaceful and safe conclusion.
It may be a long way to go to achieve the utmost positive change and growth in the community, but TFCF will continue its work envisioning an empowered, resilient, and sustainable community.
