Although fierce competition and the desire for personal gratification are the inevitable results of the rise of an industrial society, reports still appear in the media about people going out of their way to help their fellow men. Groups such as the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club spend thousands of dollars each year on charity, but there are few cases of anonymous donations or community action reported.

An outstanding example of the spirit of helping others is provided by Chou Chen An-wen, known as Mother Chou for her services to the Fu Teh Community in Taipei. She is most concerned with helping children, whom she regards as the main hope for bringing about fundamental changes in society.

With her Christian background, Mother Chou teaches Sunday school every week to influence children to adopt better ways. Apart from teaching about the Bible and Christianity, Mother Chou helps children to solve problems which they may encounter at school or in the home. She recalls how once she overheard a child praying: "Help my grandfather, and make his sickness go away quickly." She followed the child home, to find that the grandfather was indeed ill and there was no one to care for support, the child could not concentrate on his schoolwork. The next day, Mother Chou took the old man to hospital, and soon he was well enough to resume his household duties.

Mother Chou often tells the children about the virtue of gratitude. Grateful herself for help she has received in the past, she explains to children that by helping others, they will create a better life for everyone.

There are many examples of community service in low-income housing areas provided by the Taipei City Government Social Services Department. Rents range from nothing to NT$430 (US$11) a month, enabling poor families to lead stable lives until they can make an economic recovery.

In the second low-income housing project set up by the city government, known as the An Kang Community, can be found a man who delights in helping others. Despite his 72 years, Shao Chi-chian is in excellent health, and stays that way through regular exercise. Every day at sunrise he sweeps the stairs and hallways of the building in which he lives. When his neighbors wake up to prepare for another day, Shao has already swept up the last pile of trash. Many other people in the building have picked up his tidy habits. He found this out when he overheard two children say: "You can't put your rubbish there. Uncle Shao sweeps it clean every morning."

Lin Hsiung-chi of the Fu Min Community enjoys organizing activities and recently helped set up a board of directors for the community, and was immediately appointed chairman by the other members. Lin explained: "People living in this community all need help, and whatever abilities I have should be used in this direction. I don't consider that perhaps my contribution will be to small to achieve much; I just go out and do it." During a recent sanitation contest, he and other board members went out to help with the sweeping up. Activities, ranging from outings for the elderly or handicraft lessons for women, plus refreshments and prizes, are paid for out of collections organized by the board. Through these programs, members of the community have got to know each other better, and the elderly especially spend a lot of time visiting one another.

In community service, a constant flow of ideas is important. Acting as a bridge between residents and community workers, 77-year-old Wu Yu-chiou can often be seen in the community office putting forward suggestions and ideas proposed by residents. Many improvements and additions to community life have been accomplished through his persistence, such as installation of public and private telephones, extension of the No. 58 bus route, and weekly visits by a medical checkup van.

An emergency fund set up by Huang Min-ho of the Yen Chi Community is used to provide loans to needy community members. At first few people took advantage of the service, but as the idea gained momentum, many were able to benefit.

Most residents of these low-income housing areas now own television sets, telephones, stereo equipment and other modern conveniences. Without concerted efforts in helping each other, there is little chance that such rapid improvements in living standards could ever have been achieved.

[Picture Caption]

1) Wu Yu-chiou, aged 77, is concerned about the welfare of the community, and by exchanging ideas with community workers, he has helped to bring about many improvements. 2) Chou Chen An-wei teaches Bible stories every Sunday morning at the church school. 3) After moving to the Fu Min Community, the living standards of Lin Hsiung-chi's family improved greatly. The household now boasts a refrigerator, TV, telephone, stereo, and other modern appliances.

1) Although Shao Chi-chian is in his seventies, he remains slim and trim, through regular exercise. 2) Wu Chin-ho often spends his days off cleaning water storage tanks. 3) Huang Li-hsia is the children's leader at the Yenchi Community. The library is a favorite meeting place.

Chou Chen An-wei teaches Bible stories every Sunday morning at the church school.

After moving to the Fu Min Community, the living standards of Lin Hsiung-chi's family improved greatly. The household now boasts a refrigerator, TV, telephone, stereo, and other modern appliances.

Although Shao Chi-chian is in his seventies, he remains slim and trim, through regular exercise.

Huang Li-hsia is the children's leader at the Yenchi Community. The library is a favorite meeting place.

Wu Chin-ho often spends his days off cleaning water storage tanks.