Active, bright and popular with her classmates, Sun Hui-lan grew up in an atmosphere full of love and support. Despite the fact that Sun had one leg impaired due to a childhood bout of polio, she never considered herself disadvantaged or abnormal. However, during her third year of university, where she was a social work major, she found herself attracted to a classmate. Faced with this emotional situation, Sun's placid and stable world fell apart. Fears of rejection, coupled with guilt feelings of being a burden began to undermine her confidence. Fortunately her background in social work and counseling helped her to overcome this crisis.
Wu Po-chi was born with two impaired legs. His career options were limited to the successful use of his hands. Working diligently, he trained himself in the arts of seal carving and watch repair. Managing to eke out a meagre living, Wu began to consider looking for a new, more lucrative profession.
Sun and Wu are both physically handicapped. They also represent the dedicated spirit behind the Eden Welfare Foundation for the Handicapped. Founded in December of 1982, the Foundation in spite of its brief history has managed to exceed the expectations of everyone involved. Today the Eden Foundation stands as a landmark institution for handicapped services. Both Sun and Wu have become involved in the organization; Wu as a successful student of the Pottery Training program and Sun as a counselor.
The Foundation represents an outlet for the handicapped, a place where not only new skills can be learned, but also a center for the handicapped to open up and express themselves, to learn the most valuable lesson of all-that they can be active, contributing members of society.
Located at 19-6 Lane 60, Kuangfu North Road in Taipei, the Foundation is open to help persons with any form of physical handicap. One of the founding forces and present director of the Foundation, Liu Hsia, is an important factor in the incredible success the center has enjoyed, despite its brief history. Miss Liu, is unable to move 90% of her body. With the use of a pen and the power of her voice, Miss Liu has become an eloquent spokesperson for the handicapped on Taiwan. Her inspiring articles have been an active force in awakening the public to the plight of being a handicapped person. Along with six other motivated persons, Miss Liu began to work toward the fulfillment of a long-held dream-- the establishment of a foundation that would provide complete service for the physically handicapped. Drawing its strength from the religious faith of its founders, this organization would encompass all areas of the handicapped person's life: a place to train and teach, a place to grow spiritually and place to learn to become an active member of society.
According to Miss Liu, solid support from the six other founding members, careful planning and generous public support are the major factors for the center's immediate success.
Using short, middle and long-range planning as guides, the Foundation eventually will carry the following services: consultation and advice groups, psychological support, a transfer service (if the center is unable to help), ability tests, job training classes, job-placement programs, farm and agricultural training, programs for helping seek self-employment, a welfare workshop, and a service to help those interested in opening their own shops.
This does not include the other services offered by the Foundation, such as arts and crafts, religious instruction, excursion groups, etc. To support this wide-ranging group of services the Foundation has developed a complete management infrastructure. Divided into departments, they include the following: management (concerned with overall affairs), training (overseeing training classes), counseling section, religious, finance division, and an administration division.
The name for the Foundation is drawn from the biblical "Garden of Eden." The founders of the Foundation, all Christians, hope to create a sanctuary for the handicapped, dedicated to building the confidence to lead full lives.
Responsible for such a vast undertaking, Miss Liu has attracted a large amount of public interest. With no previous work experience or training in the management field, people often wonder how she is able to successfully manage and organize such a well-run outfit. Taking no credit for herself, the modest Miss Liu says she employs a "motherly approach," to the running and planning of the Foundation's affairs. Her idea allows the various staff workers to conduct affairs and projects as they see fit, as long as they can achieve the goals that she has laid out as targets. Miss Liu feels each one of us has innate talents; give the worker the target and let them express these talents in working towards the goal. As many members of the Foundation are young and inexperienced, mistakes are made. However, Miss Liu does not criticize. Instead she encourages employees to use these mistakes as lessons for the next time. Finally, an abiding love in God serves to anchor her determination. In times of trouble, Miss Liu will lead the staff in prayer sessions. It is this love of God that has helped to see the Foundation through, Miss Liu feels.
A typical day at the center begins at 8:00 am with a half hour prayer and activity session. The session completed, the group begins another full day of activity.
The welfare workshop, an innovation of the Foundation, combines the talents of the cream of the training classes to produce delightful works of art that are sold to preordered buyers, usually companies or stores. The workshop presently concentrates its efforts on two products: Chungkuo Chieh, decorative pieces made from knotting colorful cords, and traditional Chinese paper-cuttings. Huang Hsiao-ch'ing, workshop director, stresses that the goal of the workshop is to help the employees and not to make a profit. It teaches the employee a viable job skill and prepares them for work in society. Great emphasis is placed on group co-operation and job quality. Taking pride in their work, the employees learn the benefits of working together and develop a strong network of emotional support. Special attention is paid to the employee's emotional and physical states of well-being. Huang also helps the staff develop an idea of life in normal society by arranging outings into the city. These outings are geared to help the group overcome potential fears and apprehensions of normal social life.
The training skills classes have proved enormously successful for the Foundation. Completely equipped and staffed by a group of qualified instructors, the center presently offers instruction in computer programming and pottery. Lasting a year in duration, classes are free and a stipend of NT$1500 per month is awarded to the successful candidate.
Students in the computer class usually are university graduates with some work experience. Studying computers offers a marketable skill that definitely will be needed in the future. Programming is a very suitable job for the physically handicapped; it has a confined work area that does not require the employee to move a great deal. Instruction is provided by seven top teachers; five have MA's and two are Ph.D's. Supervising instructor, Ch'en Mingteh, also stresses the importance of exercise. Each day during the lunch period he leads his students in some fierce ping-pong matches.
The pottery class trains the students to develop their talents and to continually strive for excellence. The classroom is fully equipped and the supervising teachers are thorough in their instruction.
Besides these regular programs, the Foundation has gone to great lengths to organize a balanced schedule of special events, with the intention of expanding the participant's horizons.
Weekly outings, visiting lecturers, organized religious meetings and a biannual camping trip are just a few of the examples of the activities organized on behalf of the group.
The Eden Welfare Foundation represents a vanguard movement in promoting the welfare of the handicapped in the Republic of China. Encompassing activities and interests from all areas of life, coupled with a unwavering faith in God, the Foundation has given handicapped people a source of inspiration and new hope for the chance to lead a successful life in society.
(Gerald Hatherly)
[Picture Caption]
1. The Eden Foundation seeks to give physically handicapped people the hope and guidance to move forward to a brighter tomorrow. 2. Founder and director of the Eden Foundation, Liu Hsia is also physically handicapped. Her understanding of the needs of the handicapped has been important factor in the success of the Foundation. 3. Daily prayer sessions are an important part of the Foundation's activities. Prayer provides members with a source of courage and faith.
1. Dedicated, enthusiastic service is standard among all the Foundation's employees. 2. Students of the pottery program take part in a fine arts class.
1. The Foundation also offers a computer training program. 2. Despite being physically handicapped, Foundation members enjoy such activities as pool. 3. Handicapped employees of the Foundation's welfare workshop use deftly trained hands to knot colorful cord into decorative pieces of Chinese knotting, which are sold to preordered customers.
1.2. Despite the greater inconvenience in moving, this young woman displays a real zest for life. Riding a local city bus to an art gallery, she enjoys a recent exhibition.
2. Founder and director of the Eden Foundation, Liu Hsia is also physically handicapped. Her understanding of the needs of the handicapped has been important factor in the success of the Foundation.
3. Daily prayer sessions are an important part of the Foundation's activities. Prayer provides members with a source of courage and faith.
1. Dedicated, enthusiastic service is standard among all the Foundation's employees.
2. Students of the pottery program take part in a fine arts class.
1. The Foundation also offers a computer training program.
2. Despite being physically handicapped, Foundation members enjoy such activities as pool.
3. Handicapped employees of the Foundation's welfare workshop use deftly trained hands to knot colorful cord into decorative pieces of Chinese knotting, which are sold to preordered customers.
1.2. Despite the greater inconvenience in moving, this young woman displays a real zest for life. Riding a local city bus to an art gallery, she enjoys a recent exhibition.
1.2. Despite the greater inconvenience in moving, this young woman displays a real zest for life. Riding a local city bus to an art gallery, she enjoys a recent exhibition.
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