Achievements

AEF Achievements for 2012

2012-12-30

1.Life Education Programs

(1)Gave life education speeches in schools

(2)DPAG performed in “Overcoming Hardships and Cherishing Life,” life education tour of Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation

(3)Coordinated with the Cathay Charity Foundation for “Delivering Love to Prisons” Project

(4)Cooperated with the China Youth Corps to hold the “With Love in Your Heart, You Can Walk Unhindered and Can Walk Toward a Bright Future” life education school tour

(5)Production of the radio show “Life is Good” in Leader Station operated by the Taipei Detention Center

Gave life education speeches in schools

Each year, the Ministry of Education invites guest speakers to share their inspirational and motivating life stories during the “Special Education Week” and “Life Education Week” to encourage students to overcome obstacles and value life.

Students nowadays do not like to be lectured. Successful examples are more likely to catch their attention. Ming Liu, CEO of the ADLINK Education Foundation, is one of the people that is frequently invited to speak. Liu’s eloquence came from his experience hosting radio shows, which helped as he related his real-life stories. Through these stories he served as a role model for the teens. Liu has delivered speeches on a variety of topics, including “My Life Turning Point”, “Colorful Life”, and “Opportunity Often Comes Disguised in the Form of Misfortune” and “Life is Good.”

This year, life education speeches were given in numerous schools in New Taipei City, including the Muzha Campus of National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Wanfang Elementary School, Tan-Mei Elementary School, Bali Ai-Hsin Home for Persons with Disabilities, Wenshan School of Special Education, Lishan Elementary School, Er-Quao Elementary School, Xin-Ann Elementary School et al.

DPAG performed in “Overcoming Hardships and Cherishing Life,” life education tour of Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation

From Disabled Child to Successful Father was published by Rhythms Monthly. Ming Liu, the author, has suffered from polio since he was 3, and has spent his life confined to a wheelchair. Instead of feeling defeated, he chose to move in a positive direction. His determination and optimism can serve as inspiration and provide support to readers. The stories included in the book are ones that the author has told before – all of which were well received.

This year, Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation and Rhythms Monthly took a step further and co-organized the 2012 Mobile Classroom – “Overcoming Hardships and Cherishing Life” tour. The Disabled Performing Arts Group (DPAG) was invited to tour with them in support of life education promotion.

DPAG was featured in the tour and performed island-wide on the following 7 tour dates: February 4 in Wu Feng University in Chiayi, March 3 in Pingjhen District Social Education Center in Taoyuan, March 10 in Dajia Senior High School in Taichung, March 11 in Child and Adolescent Service Center in Taichung, March 24 in Yongkang District Social Education Center and Xinying Cultural Center and March 31 in Yulin University of Science and Technology.

Coordinated with the Cathay Charity Foundation for “Delivering Love to Prisons” Project

This project aimed to inspire and motivate the inmates and disadvantaged students from remote areas to overcome adversities and value life by using the performing arts and life stories of the disabled.

A majority of the inmates made excuses and blamed others for their failings. They accused their parents of inadequate parenting, and blamed their friends for luring them into committing crimes and society for being unjust. Yet, when they saw people with disabilities demonstrating great perseverance despite their physical impairments, they saw the emptiness of their excuses.

Real-life stories from people with disabilities, therefore, can have much more of an impact than speeches or lectures given by experts and scholars. To the inmates, they served as real examples of how to overcome life’s obstacles.

This year, AEF took part in 10 school events organized by the China Youth Corps, including April 24 in Meiho Senior High School in Pingtung, April 25 in Sanmin Senior High School in Kaohsiung, April 26 in Chung Shan Industrial and Commercial School, May 5 in Yeang-Der Senior High School in Hsinchu, May 25 in Yangming Junior High School in Kaohsiung, September 20 in Hsing Hwa Junior High School, November 28 in Chia-Yi Girls' Senior High School, November 29 in Tou-Liu Senior High School, November 30 in Nan-Sing Junior High School and in Hsing Kuo Senior High School.

Production of the radio show “Life is Good” in Leader Station operated by the Taipei Detention Center

The Taipei Detention Center accommodates the highest number of inmates in Taiwan. With a vision to have a positive influence on the inmates’ improvement in moral education and rehabilitation through light-hearted and inspirational programs, Leader Station started six years ago and was the first radio station to be established by a detention center.

If it results in a significant positive effect, Leader Station will break new ground and be the model for the establishment of future stations of its kind.

AEF was honored to take part in the production and hosting of the radio show “Life is Good” in the station. Ming Liu, CEO of AEF, has produced and hosted the show once a month since six years ago. Two to three episodes were made each visit, with each episode being 30 minutes. The show was podcasted during contemplation sessions on Tuesday nights.

2.Publications

(1)A documentary of DPAG

Executive Producer: Hui-Zhen Yang, Producer from Da Ai Television

Release date: May 15, 2012

Location: School of Continuing Education in Chinese Culture University

AEF was honored to invite Hui-Zhen Yang from Da Ai Television to be the Executive Producer of DPAG’s documentary. She realistically recorded the inconvenience caused by physical impairments of each of the members and their perseverance while coping with these difficulties. Their achievements in performing arts, such as playing musical instruments, singing, dancing and miming, will be shared with more audience, and more will be inspired and moved.

(2)Mo’s Unspeakable Secrets

Release date: October 25, 2012

Location: School of Continuing Education in Chinese Culture University

Mo (Wei-Pon Mo) comes from Hong Kong. He began volunteering for DPAG after meeting the group leader Ming Liu from his job at E-GO as a rehabus driver in Taiwan. It was not until later that the members and volunteers became familiar with each other, and everyone realized that Mo had secrets hidden behind his smile and lively attitude.

Mo constantly stayed with and took care of his sick wife and stills cares for her daughter, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Through Li-Hong Liu’s realistic depiction, these stories are collected in the book Mo’s Unspeakable Secrets with a hope to spread a positive message from a loving husband and father and to influence more people.

3.International Cultural and Educational Exchanges

ADLINK Cross-Straight Summer Camp for Kids 2012

Even though this is a highly modernized generation, there still exists a huge urban-rural gap in both Taiwan and China. While children in the city are elated at the approach of summer vacation, children in remote areas might face having to work for their living, or may be forced to cope with their unemployed parents.

ADLINK Education Foundation was established by ADLINK Technology Inc. with the mission to give back to society. Jun Liu, Chairman of ADLINK Technology Inc., wished to continue the summer camp held last year to provide cross-strait students from remote areas access to technology education. Through the programs provided, participants were able to have a better understanding of cross-strait cultures and implement etiquette and morality development in their daily life – skills that would expand their horizons and build their confidence.

The eight participants from Taiwan were ed by the Chinese Social Welfare Association from the two schools in Tucheng District in New Taipei City: Anhe Elementary School and Leli Elementary School. Mei-Yan Hong and Shu-Yi Han, Directors of Counseling from the two schools, served as program counselors. With the assistance of Bao-Hua Zhang, CEO of Zhong Hua Education Service Center, seven students from Changlin Elementary School in Shanghai were chosen to take part in the summer camp, making a total of 15 students who participated in the summer camp.The eight participants from Taiwan were ed by the Chinese Social Welfare Association from the two schools in Tucheng District in New Taipei City: Anhe Elementary School and Leli Elementary School. Mei-Yan Hong and Shu-Yi Han, Directors of Counseling from the two schools, served as program counselors. With the assistance of Bao-Hua Zhang, CEO of Zhong Hua Education Service Center, seven students from Changlin Elementary School in Shanghai were chosen to take part in the summer camp, making a total of 15 students who participated in the summer camp.

DPAG Bangkok Tour

DPAG’s seven-day tour took place from November 9 to 15 in Bangkok, Thailand. Tour dates and venues were as follows: The morning of November 10 in Prakkit Children’s Home, the afternoon of November 10 in Suan Amporn Dance Hall, the evening of November 11 in the Taiwan Association of Thailand, the morning of November 12 in Central Women's Correctional Institution, the evening of November 13 in the auditorium of National News Bureau, the morning of November 14 in Thonburi Remand Prison.

Years ago Xiu-Min Guo, who at the time was manufacturing water valves in Thailand, met Lian-Qiao Chen, a mime artist from DPAG, in an event for the disabled that involved climbing Jade Mountain. She made up her mind to bring the extraordinary performance and the members’ life stories of their perseverance to the Taiwanese businessmen and locals in Thailand. This year, with the generous donation and contribution from many people in Thailand, her dream came true. Fifteen people, DPAG members and volunteers included, were invited to do a seven-day tour in Bangkok, Thailand.

DPAG encouraged the disabled children in Prakkit Children’s Home with their performance, showing them that life could be fulfilling and meaningful despite their physical impairments. Through DPAG’s performance, determination and perseverance were promoted among the inmates in Central Women's Correctional Institution and Thonburi Remand Prison. DPAG’s was also greatly honored to receive attention from Thailand’s royalty and its press. The members were invited to perform in Suan Amporn Dance Hall, serving as the performers of honor for the Carnival for the Disabled in Thailand. Royal family members personally awarded them with the Shield of Appreciation. During the tour, great hospitability was offered by ambassadors, ministers and businessmen from Taiwan. DPAG’s performance brought tears to Taiwanese eyes and a successful international exchange was achieved.

4.Care for the Disadvantaged

Fifth Annual Zhong-Xian Ni Scholarship Award

Zhong-Xian Ni stipulated in his will that this scholarship be awarded to children of ADLINK Technology Inc. and AEF employees with outstanding academic performance.

This year’s recipients were 1 postgraduate student, 7 university students and 3 high school students. A total of NT$190,000 was awarded to the 11 recipients.

New Taipei City Movie Night for Disabled People

It is more difficult for people with disabilities to watch movies in a theater due to physical impairments or damaged senses. For this reason, AEF held two movie showings, sponsored exclusively by Chang-Chao Liao, Manager from Cathay Life Insurance Co., Ltd., and invited people with different forms of disabilities in New Taipei City to attend.

Many people – the physical impaired, amputees, people with hearing impairments, and even people with sight impairments gathered in the movie theater, using the senses available to them to understand and enjoy the film. It was a special experience and an event worth revisiting.

First movie: Din Tao: Leader of the Parade

Date: February 24

Language: Chinese

AEF was honored by the presence of director Kai Fung and the actors, who shared the production process of the film and showed support for people with disabilities.

 
Second movie: The Intouchables
Date: June 26

Language: French

The movie is about how a man who had to rely on unemployment benefit from Social Security accidentally becomes the caregiver of a quadriplegic millionaire. He learns about the obstacles that people with disabilities face on a daily basis and about their spiritual need for respect and acceptance.

Third movie: Touch of the Light

Date: October 16

Language: Chinese

Based on the true events related to the life of the blind piano prodigy Huang Yu-Siang, this is a story of inspiration, perseverance and fulfillment. Huang shared the filming process and his passion for music with the audience. 

Fourth Movie: Won’t Back Down

Date: November 19

Language: English

A brave determined mother with a daughter, who suffers from dyslexia, looks to offer a better education for her daughter despite her financial problems. Her perseverance, persistence and the fact that she never forgot her goals is inspiring to all.

Sponsored Gaorong Social Care Association

Sponsorship was provided to the Gaorong Social Care Association for charity events in support of the enhancement of technology and humanity among disadvantaged children and adults, as well as senior care service stations to provide basic medical care and programs.

5.Public Issue Awareness

“Tax Awareness and Receipt Donation Ceremony” 2011

Three tax awareness events were held by the Huwei Office of Taxation Bureau in Yulin on April 17 and 18. The events took place in Perpetual Help High School, Huwei Senior High School and Huwei Agricultural and Industrial Vocational Senior High School, featuring DPAG’s performance. The members demonstrated that people with disabilities can overcome barriers, and organize meaningful events like these for educational purposes.