Achievements

AEF Achievements for 2013

2013-12-13

1.Life Education Programs

(1)Gave life education speeches in schools

(2)Coordinated with the Cathay Charity Foundation for an inmate and student care program

(3)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

(4)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, developed his eloquence 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 the following education institutes: the Muzha Campus of National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, Er Chong Junior High School, Bailing Elementary School and Bailing High School in Shilin, Cheng-De Elementary School in Nangang, Dong-Guang Elementary School in Keelung, Guang-Wu Junior High School in Hsinchu, Li Ming High School in Tainan and Fortune University in Kaohsiung.

Coordinated with the Cathay Charity Foundation for an inmate and student care program

AEF received sponsorship and support from Cathay Charity Foundation seven years ago and started the “Delivering Love to Prisons” Project. More than 20 correction facilities were visited, some more than twice. Starting from last year, education institutes in remote areas were included in the program. This program 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.

In 2013, this program took place in the following 6 correction facilities and 6 educational institutes in remote areas: February 5 in Hualien Prison, February 6 in Zihciang Minimum-Security Prison in Hualien, March 15 in Yulin Second Prison, April 10 in Taoyuan Prison, April 12 in Taiting University Laboratory Elementary School,  May 20 in Chang-Hua Senior School of Commerce, June 3 in Ping-Shi Junior High School, June 7 in Keelung Commercial & Industrial Vocational Senior High School, August 23 in Tainan Prison, September 13 in Kaohsiung Second Prison, September 25 in October 16 in Hsin Hua Industrial Vocational High School and October 16 in Lo-Tung Commercial Vocational High School.

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

The China Youth Corps has worked closely with the Disabled Performing Arts Group (DPAG) to promote the importance of life education in schools. Through the life stories of DPAG members, students could learn about perseverance. After the event, they will develop the ability of positive thinking and the courage to cope with challenges, valuing life.

This year, AEF took part in 11 school events organized by the China Youth Corps, including January 18 in the Youth Activity Center in South District in Taoyuan, April 25 in Kinmen Agricultural and Industrial Vocational Senior High School, April 26 in Kinmen Senior High School, April 27 in the auditorium of Kinmen Culture Center, May 8 in Cheng Kung Commercial & Aquaculture Senior Vocational High School, May 9 in Szu Wei Junior High School in Hualien, May 10 in Lo-Tung Senior High School in Yilan, September 16 in Ta-Ming Senior High School, September 17 in Chushan Senior High School in Nantou and Beidou Senior Home Economic and Commercial Vocational High School in Changhua, and September 18 in Pei Shin Junior High School in Chiayi.

2.Publications

I Write with the Breath of Life

Author: Wen-Zhao Chen

Production company: Yi Yang Xiang Liang Marketing

Release date and time: April 15, 2013, 2pm – 5pm

Location: School of Continuing Education in Chinese Culture University

Wen-Zhao Chen, a retired non-commissioned officer who lives in Nantou, was in a car accident and was paralyzed from the spinal cord injuries that he sustained. He can barely turn his head and move his fingers. The tragic incident brought about major mood changes and depression. His father took care of him until he also succumbed to depression and committed suicide. This event opened Chen’s eyes and he reshaped his life.

Chen started taking a computer course in the Vocational Training Center in Nantou, learning to use a “hands free mouth mouse” to keep a diary. He applied to set a Guinness World Record with a present word count of one million words.

Inspired by obstacles and struggles in his life, Chen is now a frequent speaker. AEF is deeply moved by his life stories and published this book containing his diary entries in order to provide support and inspiration to people with spinal injuries or those who are suffering from depression.

What is DPAG? Life stories of DPAG Members Vol. 2

Author: Li-Hong Liu

Production company: Yi Yang Xiang Liang Marketing

Extraordinary life stories of 15 members from DPAG, a group of disabled performers with different forms of disabilities, were collected in this book.

The book What is DPAG? Life stories of DPAG Members, published in 2009, was awarded as recommended reading material for 1-9 graders by the Information Bureau. Events promoting life education have been carried out in schools, correction facilities and hospitals, both domestically and internationally. With the increased participation from new members, more inspiring life stories can be found in What is DPAG? Life stories of DPAG Members Vol. 2, sharing stories in places that DPAG cannot be.

3.Volunteer Training Programs

Volunteer Training for DPAG

Date and time: April 20 and 21, 2013, 9am – 5pm

Location: Training Room, 9F of ADLINK Technology Inc.

Description:

The demand for volunteers increased when the number of DPAG’s performances reached 170 last year. The aim of this training was to recruit more volunteers who took interest in performing arts to provide assistance in terms of transportation and other particulars before and after staging. In addition to offering the volunteers an opportunity to experience the strength and resilience to face life’s challenges, it improved their understanding of needs of people with different forms of disabilities and developed relationships with them.

Youth Volunteer Training for ADLINK Cross-Straight Summer Camp for Kids

Date and time: July 5 – 7, 2013

Location: Training Room, 9F of ADLINK Technology Inc.

Description:

ADLINK Cross-Straight Summer Camp for Kids has been AEF’s annual event in July since 2011. It provides disadvantaged students in Shanghai and Taiwan a unique learning experience during summer vacation, as well as a chance to build team spirit and develop a positive attitude.

In 2013, ten more freshmen and sophomores served as camp counselors. It was in AEF’s hope that their passion and leadership would affect each and every disadvantaged student by providing role models through perseverance and optimism. With these skills, they would definitely succeed in the future, and they would also be able to share and pass on the joy and experience to their peers.

4.Care for the Disadvantaged

ADLINK Cross-Straight Summer Camp for Kids 2013

ADLINK Education Foundation was established eight years ago by ADLINK Technology Inc. with the mission to give back to society, and has achieved public visibility and recognition. With the establishment of the Pudong branch office in Shanghai, China in June, 2010, Jun Liu, Chairman of ADLINK Technology Inc., wished to provide cross-strait students from remote areas access to technology education, as well as an opportunity to increase the branch employees’ involvement in charity work. Ten youth volunteers served as camp counselors this year.

Ten students with disadvantaged backgrounds from Taiwan took part in the summer camp, including four ed by the World Peace Organization from Leli Elementary School in New Taipei City, Shin-Jie Elementary School, and Yuan Sheng Elementary School, while the other six students were chosen by the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts (NTCPA). Wei-Chian Ma, a lecturer from NTCPA, and Quong-Yao Huang, a teacher from Jilin Elementary School, served as program counselors. With the assistance of Bao-Hua Zhang, CEO of Zhong Hua Education Service Center, and Cheng-Long Fei, Secretariat Director of Shanghai Private Middle and Primary Schools Association, ten disadvantaged children were chosen from Zhulin Elementary School and Yumiao Elementary School, making a total of 20 students who participated in the summer camp.

Sixth Annual Zhong-Xian Ni Scholarship Award

Application period: August 1 to September 30, 2013

Requirement: Applicants should obtain an average score of 85 for both the first and the second semesters.

Award date: Thursday, October 17, 2013

Grants and recipients: 5 in senior high school, with NT$10,000 each; 10 in university, with NT$20,000 each. A total scholarship grants of NT$25,000 were rewarded.

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.

[Picture: Zhong-Xian Ni Scholarship Award recipients from junior high school (left) and university (right)]

Sixth Annual Zhong-Xian Ni Scholarship Award

Application period: August 1 to September 30, 2013

Requirement: Applicants should obtain an average score of 85 for both the first and the second semesters.

Award date: Thursday, October 17, 2013

Grants and recipients: 5 in senior high school, with NT$10,000 each; 10 in university, with NT$20,000 each. A total scholarship grants of NT$25,000 were rewarded.

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.

[Picture: Zhong-Xian Ni Scholarship Award recipients from junior high school (left) and university (right)]

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 a movie showing, sponsored by Chang-Chao Liao, Manager from Cathay Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and Jia-Wen Chen, CEO of Jinhong Foundation, and invited people with different forms of disabilities in New Taipei City to attend. A list of movies and dates shown were as follows: Promised Land on February 24, 27℃– Loaf Rocks on August 5, Zone Pro Site on September 4, Bridge over Troubled Water on September 15 and Linsanity on October 28. Five movies were shown.

Sponsored Boyo Social Welfare Foundation

Sponsorship was provided to the Boyo Social Welfare Foundation (BSWF) in support of an afterschool English tutoring program to narrow the learning resource gap between urban and rural schools. With the participation of 415 teachers, BSWF has 11 education centers in Taiwan, which assists 142 elementary schools and junior high schools in 18 remote towns and counties. After school tutoring is scheduled 5 days a week, with 2 to 3 hours each day. A total number of 2,115 students benefit from it. Tutoring and textbook materials are free of charge. Students who receive tutoring will be traced for their further academic improvement.