wfn.org | Aboriginal Tribe in Taiwan Marks Education Foundation=A1=A6s 10th=

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Year

Taiwan Church News 2767, 7-13 March 2005

Reported by Gu Hao-jan. Written by David Alexander

Taiwan¡¦s Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation was established 10
years ago. In terms of its educational mission, the decade has seen it
train over 100 aboriginal youth and support more than 80 others with
scholarships. It has also given employment to over 200 local artisans.

Entering its second decade, the foundation plans to open an alcohol
detoxification center for Aboriginal people, an ¡§old peoples¡¦ village¡¨,
a half way house and a home for children. The foundation anticipates that
it may eventually be known as the ¡§hope of the century¡¨.

The foundation¡¦s executive director Rev. Bai Kuang-sheng is thankful for 2
hectares of land originally given to the project by his own father and for
the way that many helped build the facilities of the Bunun Cultural Village
brick by brick. Help came from the Eden Social Welfare Foundation, the
Garden of Hope Foundation and from commercial ventures including the
7-Eleven stores all over Taiwan.

Mr. Bai said that over the past ten years the foundation¡¦s ability to do
compassionate work, though limited, has returned to the Bunun people in
great measure. Production has increased, welfare has improved, and the
spirit of the people¡¦s cooperation has improved. This model of community
development is one that the foundation is proud to share.

For the coming decade, he said that the foundation will focus on local
cultural education and social welfare service while continuing to strive
for the establishment of the alcohol detoxification center.

For those who feel inclined to support the work, from 1st March until the
end of April Taiwan¡¦s 7-Eleven stores will all be participating in a
fund-raising activity.	Customers will be encouraged to drop their loose
change into donation boxes at the check-out stand as an act of solidarity
with and support of Taiwan¡¦s weak minority peoples.

For more information: http://www.bunun.org.tw/

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.

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