In the post-pandemic era, the world has experienced the largest food crisis in modern history, as well as the eight-year hottest extreme weather pattern in history and the largest number of displaced people. Lee Shaoling, president of World Vision Taiwan, pointed out that these issues are not far away from us, such as climate change and global inflation caused by war and conflict, which are deeply affecting the lives of every Taiwanese. Last year, the annual growth rate of Taiwan’s consumer price index hit a 14-year high. The general public can feel the pressure of rising prices. This year, the country’s monthly minimum living expenses per person increased by 7% compared with the year before. The general environment is difficult, and families at the bottom of the society are already struggling to cope with the extra living expenses. Once unexpected changes occur at home and they are unable to cope with the situation, the children may immediately fall into difficulties such as missing three meals a day and interrupting their education. "By responding to the Hunger Thirty and donating a day's meal money, the power of charity is not only to rescue hungry children, but also to slow down the impact of climate and war on the world, and take action to save our shared future."
▲Lin Baihong plays football with local children and high-fives his teammates to cheer each other up. (Provided by World Vision Taiwan)
Lin Baihong, the spokesman for the 34th Famine Thirty, also visited Somaliland in East Africa, which has been experiencing three consecutive years of drought, at the end of April. He directly saw that children are severely malnourished due to food shortages. Many families lack drinking water and even eat only one meal a day. In addition to relying on love and assistance to support them through the difficulties, they also work hard to develop different livelihood capabilities, expand food sources, and restore green spaces to respond to the challenges of climate change. "I found that as long as everyone gives a little help, we can bring about very big and long-lasting changes in the lives of children in distant places," he said.
Tens of millions of people have been rescued at home and abroad, and the Thirty Famine has held hands to support each other in times of crisis.
Zeng Xingchun, the general director of World Vision Taiwan's Eastern District Office who has been working as a social worker in Orchid Island for more than ten years, said that on outlying islands or remote villages, the main caregivers of many single-parent and multi-generational families are the sole breadwinners of the family. When they become sick or injured, the cost of traveling to urban areas for medical treatment is staggering. During the period of recuperation, the income is reduced to zero. Not only may the family be without food, but the children may even have to drop out of school to help support the family. "Children served by Outlook were forced to grow up overnight due to the death of their parents. They had to drop out of school to bear funeral expenses, rent and medical debts. Without external support during the process, it was difficult to survive on their own." At this time, Outlook provided timely emergency relief funds and special family subsidies. Social workers also continued to care, helping to connect resources to alleviate problems such as living expenses and debts, and worked together with the children to go through difficulties and pain. "Everyone may encounter difficulties suddenly. If someone comes to help you in time, even if you stumble, you won't fall completely," she said.
▲Chief Director of World Vision Taiwan’s Eastern Region Office, who has been serving the eastern region for many years, also shared the difficulties facing rural areas in Taiwan after the epidemic. He hopes that everyone will lend a helping hand to families in need and accompany children to get out of the trough of life. (Provided by World Vision Taiwan)
Last year's "Thirty Famine" campaign brought together people's love to invest in domestic and foreign aid projects, helping a total of 57 countries, including Taiwan, and nearly 15 million people to survive the crisis. This year, World Vision Taiwan and Fubon Financial Holdings jointly co-organized the "34th Humanitarian Relief Operation for the Thirty Famine", with the theme of "Reversing Hunger and Saving Now" to call on all walks of life to respond. It is expected to help more than 60,000 disadvantaged children and families in Taiwan, through family subsidies under special circumstances, emergency medical subsidies, and housing assistance. Through service work such as home repair and disaster prevention and mitigation, the company has successfully overcome the low points of life. It has also provided assistance to at least 28 countries and 42 overseas humanitarian relief projects, lending a helping hand to children and families suffering from natural disasters, food shortages, and wars, supporting the crumbling lives in crisis, and cultivating their resilience to respond to disasters in the future.
Free online lectures and half-baths will take you deep into the rescue scene
The Thirty Famine is the public welfare event with the largest number of participants and the widest impact in China. Over the years, it has become the first choice for campus life education activities and opened people's horizons of care. This year, two free online lectures will be held at 7:30 pm on June 8 and July 5. The public is invited to talk with Syrian front-line rescue workers/refugee youths and social workers who have served rural areas in Taiwan for many years, and to listen to the unknown stories hidden in the most vulnerable corners at home and abroad. Interested people are welcome to sign up on the registration website, or contact World Vision Taiwan to sign up.
▲Lin Baihong shared the blessings he gave to children through painting in the local area: "The theme of the painting is a dream home. I painted a lot of green space, a beautiful house, enough football for them to play, enough books to read, and a big shooting star. I hope all their wishes will come true." (Provided by World Vision Taiwan)
In addition to online rescue, the Outlook Association will also hold a "Half and Half Market" event from south to north in July, inviting people from the north, central and south to experience the rescue scene through the "Hunger Experience Car". At the same time, they can connect with love and buy half of the food at one price and turn the other half of the food into a donation to help hungry children in distant places get food and clothing. The "Half and Half Market" will go to the Hanshen Arena in Kaohsiung from July 1 to 2, the Far Eastern Plaza in Taichung from July 8 to 9, and the Taipei Flower Expo from July 22 to 23. People are welcome to come with their relatives and friends to enjoy half of the delicacies at the unique weekend market, fill half with love, and deliver the blessings shared by the other half to hungry children.
Overturn the crisis, save now! From donating food for a day, protecting climate refugees, caring for domestic special situations and families in need, etc., we jointly respond to the Famine Thirty and maintain hope for hungry children and families in danger. Special thanks to Fubon Financial Holdings (co-organizer), momo shopping network, Inventec Co., Ltd., Donghe Steel Enterprise Co., Ltd., 404 Technology Co., Ltd., ASUS Computer, Lianhua Electronics Co., Ltd., He Shentang Enterprise Co., Ltd., Nova Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Changxing Material Industry Co., Ltd., Jinfenghe Enterprise Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd., Fengyi Institution, Jiuhuashan Dizang Temple, Julu Industrial Co., Ltd., Hongen Group, Dalong Enterprise Co., Ltd., Jiewang Co., Ltd., Liyuan Investment Co., Ltd., and Taijun Construction Co., Ltd., gather the power of good and form a cycle, and also slow down the impact of large-scale disasters on the world and each of us.
▲Thank you to the caring enterprises for their generous efforts to respond to the Thirty Famine and to help corners in need at home and abroad. (Provided by World Vision Taiwan)
To learn more about the "30 Famine" and online donations, please go to the official website of World Vision Taiwan < href="www.worldvision.org.tw" style="">www.worldvision.org.tw