A better tomorrow
Earlier this month, budding Taiwanese actors Tony Yang (楊祐寧) and Janine Chang (張鈞甯) returned from Mongolia, where they experienced for themselves how the lives of their sponsored children have changed since the establishment of the Dungobi Area Development Program (蒙古中部的中戈壁計畫區).
World Vision Taiwan's community development project, located around 300 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, offers benefits such as health checks, school supplies, informal education for early school leavers, and skills training for the members of the community since 2001.
This year, the international Christian humanitarian organization approached Yang and Chang — as both were already involved in its Child Sponsorship Program (台灣世界展望會資助兒童計畫) — for a fact-finding mission in Mongolia. During the trip, they accompanied their sponsored children as they went about their daily lives, attending school, working in the fields, preparing meals and playing with their friends.
“Although I always tried to smile, I was moved to tears just 10 seconds after establishing eye-contact with her,” recalled Chang of her encounter with Anun (安儂), her first sponsored child. She also reminisced about blowing bubbles, playing Frisbee and painting with the children, as if they'd known each other for a very long time.
“We first exchanged photos; now, we finally met,” added Yang, who remarked: “The Child Sponsorship Program has not only altered the environment, but also changed the children's lives.”
Life-changing Experience
When asked about their best memories of Mongolia, they stressed that the entire trip was a life-changing experience. “It was my best birthday ever,” said Chang, who turned 30 on Sept. 4. Even though they had prepared gifts for everybody, she explained, “She received even more from the children.”
Yang, who celebrated his birthday five days earlier, said he also received many hand-made gifts while the children and their families sang “Happy Birthday” and other Mongolian blessing songs. Speaking about his sponsored child, he added: “She is just 7 years old but she is able to make such great works! Super surprise!”
Yang and Chang further remarked that the children never complained, even though their lives are hard. From a young age they give to their families, keeping together the herd or collecting water … in Taiwan, children too often demand and do not give.
Child Sponsorship Program
To make their story known to all, Yang, who sponsors two Mongolian children, shared his thoughts during the trip via his cellphone. “I hope my friends can experience the simplicity and beauty of the child's life and the joy brought by providing for children.”
Indeed, millions of children around the world need help to break the never-ending cycle of poverty. They not only suffer hunger and unsafe drinking water that make them sick, but also miss out on an education that keeps them from reaching their potential.
Chang remarked, “As a sponsor, you will help provide a child with access to life-changing basics like nutritious food, clean water, health care and education.”
Child sponsorship also helps families and communities lift themselves out of poverty by providing job training, business coaching and small loans, she continued.
If you also want to bring change to the life of one or more children, you can work with World Vision to help build healthy communities for children in places of poverty. The Christian charity partners with sponsored children's communities over the long term to address critical needs and to help communities become self-sustaining.
► For more information on World Vision Taiwan's Child Sponsorship Program, please call: (02) 2321-1818 for reservations
World Vision Taiwan's community development project, located around 300 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, offers benefits such as health checks, school supplies, informal education for early school leavers, and skills training for the members of the community since 2001.
This year, the international Christian humanitarian organization approached Yang and Chang — as both were already involved in its Child Sponsorship Program (台灣世界展望會資助兒童計畫) — for a fact-finding mission in Mongolia. During the trip, they accompanied their sponsored children as they went about their daily lives, attending school, working in the fields, preparing meals and playing with their friends.
“Although I always tried to smile, I was moved to tears just 10 seconds after establishing eye-contact with her,” recalled Chang of her encounter with Anun (安儂), her first sponsored child. She also reminisced about blowing bubbles, playing Frisbee and painting with the children, as if they'd known each other for a very long time.
“We first exchanged photos; now, we finally met,” added Yang, who remarked: “The Child Sponsorship Program has not only altered the environment, but also changed the children's lives.”
Life-changing Experience
When asked about their best memories of Mongolia, they stressed that the entire trip was a life-changing experience. “It was my best birthday ever,” said Chang, who turned 30 on Sept. 4. Even though they had prepared gifts for everybody, she explained, “She received even more from the children.”
Yang, who celebrated his birthday five days earlier, said he also received many hand-made gifts while the children and their families sang “Happy Birthday” and other Mongolian blessing songs. Speaking about his sponsored child, he added: “She is just 7 years old but she is able to make such great works! Super surprise!”
Yang and Chang further remarked that the children never complained, even though their lives are hard. From a young age they give to their families, keeping together the herd or collecting water … in Taiwan, children too often demand and do not give.
Child Sponsorship Program
To make their story known to all, Yang, who sponsors two Mongolian children, shared his thoughts during the trip via his cellphone. “I hope my friends can experience the simplicity and beauty of the child's life and the joy brought by providing for children.”
Indeed, millions of children around the world need help to break the never-ending cycle of poverty. They not only suffer hunger and unsafe drinking water that make them sick, but also miss out on an education that keeps them from reaching their potential.
Chang remarked, “As a sponsor, you will help provide a child with access to life-changing basics like nutritious food, clean water, health care and education.”
Child sponsorship also helps families and communities lift themselves out of poverty by providing job training, business coaching and small loans, she continued.
If you also want to bring change to the life of one or more children, you can work with World Vision to help build healthy communities for children in places of poverty. The Christian charity partners with sponsored children's communities over the long term to address critical needs and to help communities become self-sustaining.
► For more information on World Vision Taiwan's Child Sponsorship Program, please call: (02) 2321-1818 for reservations
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