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The title of secretary-general inevitably gives a capable and calm image to people, but the secretary-general of the Taiwan Sailing Association, Ms.Mei, is like a model of mother – gathering love, kindness, diligence, strength all into one. When it comes to the Taiwan Sailing Association, one can feel a little resignation, difficulty, and achievement from Ms.Mei, these emotions are complicated and intensely intertwined. This is a road with no reward and end, back when Ms.Mei was still a housewife, she never thought that she will open up a path for guiding the future of children in rural areas……
Easier said than done, from little help to great love
More than a decade ago, Ms.Mei, the founder and secretary-general of Taiwan Sailing Association today, left the city and settled in Hualien with her family due to her husband’s education career plan. Ms.Mei accidentally discovered the difference between children in urban and rural area in the degree of attention being paid: a one-year-old toddler played for a long time beside an industrial road, but no family came to find him or take him home, comparing to children in urban area pampered by their parents, there is a wide disparity. Soon, in the Sunday school of church, Ms.Mei noticed that the “lack of complete care and love” in one children after another, and realized this is common in families in rural area. For example, there are always many children participating the church on weekends with their companions, and they will stay for lunch at noon together, at the beginning, she asked the children if they wanted to call home to tell their family that they would not be home for lunch, but they always said no; when finding the child was stealing, she wished to talk to the parents but could not find them, etc. Ms.Mei could tell a lot of issue from these behavior of children, after delving into it, she realized these children have no one to cook for them and waiting them to come home, they have nowhere to be, so they go wherever there is food, some of them even suffered from domestic violence. One after another, these cases let Ms.Mei realize though everyone is working hard for living, the family background cannot be changed, even so, children must establish correct values from an early age. There are many college students in the church will check in with these children on weekends, and provide them tutorials on weekdays, the number of children received counseling is also gradually increasing.
However, Ms.Mei know there is no way back once it started. Because of her selfishness, even having this seed in mind, she still hesitates whether to let it germinate… “I also want to focus on my family, and take good care of my own children.” On the one hand is her own kids, and on the other hand is so many children needing help. The tug of war came to a conclusion on a trip to India to take care of Dalit children. One day in early morning, Ms.Mei came down from the prayer tower of the orphanage in India, and sat alone on the grass. An Indian child kept collecting colorful fruits beside her, put them on the hem of her top again and again, finally he walked up to her and hugged her neck. Ms.Mei saw this Indian child with two legs full of abscesses, and was shocked “What happened to his feet? I have never seen a child with two legs full of abscesses in Taiwan.” At the moment, the voice of God sounded in her mind “Do you really only want to take care of your own children?” Ms.Mei did not respond to God at that time, because taking good care of her own children is her biggest wish all the time. The next day when Ms.Mei returned to Taiwan and prayed in the early morning, the voice of God sounded in her mind again “Do you really only want to take care of your own children?” Then, Ms.Mei thought of God’s grace to her, thought of that Indian child, she immediately responded to God in her mind “God! If you want me to do this, I will!”
Establish the foundation, help each child raise the sail of life
In 2007, the seeds of Taiwan Sailing Association germinated, the association was understanding each child bit by bit from counseling. Ms.Mei found most families were repeating the same cycle – children grow up without care and love, once someone treat them well, they would go with him. However, when they give birth to their children, they are at a young age without enough family resources and ability, so their children as the next generation will only live the life their parents lived as children, and embark on the same life as their parents. In August 2008, Taiwan Sailing Association began to compile school life character teaching materials, including various subjects like establishing sense of self-worth, correct way of thinking, how to face difficulties, growing up in adverse situation, interpersonal relationship, developing good character, exerting influence, etc. From students in first grade, to students in ninth grade, gradually cultivating them to build correct values. In 2011, Taiwan Sailing Association was established, and began to train college students to help children from disadvantaged families, founded eight “houses” in tribal communities successively to provide academic tutorials, art classes, winter and summer camps, human potential development camp, etc, provided snacks and dinner to poor students, and picked up and dropped off children who live in remote areas and have no one to pick up and drop off them. Now, the association starts teacher training. Training college students and adults to be administrators, tutors, character education and art teachers, there are more than 100 teachers in only one semester. They form eight tutoring classes, providing more than 150 junior high school and elementary students free academic counseling after school from Monday to Thursday. The association not only holds children and youth camps every winter and summer vacation, helping take care of countless children in rural areas, but also has a class of life character education for more than 4,000 students every week at more than 40 schools in rural areas.
（FILE PHOTO: Taiwan Sailing Association compile school life character teaching materials and training tutors to lead children’s character development.）
（FILE PHOTO: Children did homework accompanied by volunteers after school. ）
From children to parents, break through the cycle of life
Over the past 15 years, Taiwan Sailing Association has been devoting effort in obscurity, keeping caring, company, expressing love, in the most direct way, and loving not only the children, but also their families. However, even such gratuitous and unconditionally contribution was blocked frequently at the beginning… “Parents don’t trust us, and they are not willing to let us take care of their children. They would rather let the children grow up in an unhealthy environment.” Said Ms.Mei “Sometimes children will run away, but after a while, they will come back.” After years of continuous dedication, Ms.Mei’s effort is gradually reaping the fruits now. With the assistance of the association, the children grow up and return to the association as volunteers. From receiving counseling to becoming volunteers, the process is not only just coming of age, but the accumulation of education and cares over the years. Life is not a fairy tale, there are children who rebel, can’t stand the control and leave; there are also children who from utterly distrustful to initiatively embrace others… The same situation not only happens to children, parents are also from distrusting to approving, sometimes they will even ask teachers in the association for advice on everything in their home.
For 15 years, Taiwan Sailing Association has helped children silently in rural areas. All services are provided for free, and most of the funds come from small donations regularly and irregularly. As the time goes by, many rural areas have given the association recognition for the in-depth efforts, and there also raises more need after being aware of the assistance provided by the association. Therefore, Taiwan Sailing Association has consecutively founded Xincheng House of Grace, Chinan House of Peace, Fengli House of Abundance, Zhiben House of Glory, Xilin House of Holy, Zhixue House of Joy, Zaoqiao House of Hope, Hunei House of Canaan between 2014 and 2019. The selfless care and continuous contributions are for each child, only hoping them can raise the sail of their own life and grow up in peace and health.
InterStellar Taiwan Office has donated to Taiwan Sailing Association since its establishment, irregularly and in variable amount. Also, we participate in the association through team building activities, and encourage our colleagues to understand the donee in person. We are willing to make a breeze for each boat in Taiwan Sailing Association, also hope we can inspire others and draw more attention to the association.
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