Print

Mail

wiki links

Group offers to help foreign brides

A-Hsian, a divorced Vietnamese bride, complains about her miserable marriage at a press conference yesterday held by the Eden Social Welfare Foundation. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

The Eden Social Welfare Founda-tion yesterday called on the public to pay attention to the plight of foreign brides and urged Vietnamese brides to contact the group's hotline if they need assistance.

"Most foreign brides are regarded as mere reproductive machines and they don't derive any happiness from their marriages," said Weng Yu-ling (翁玉鈴), director-general of the foundation, at a press conference yesterday.

Weng also used the press conference to further publicize a hotline for Vietnamese brides aimed at helping them overcome their problems and adjust to life in Taiwan.

The hotline is staffed by Vietnamese speakers and has received 41 calls since it was established on Aug. 2.

"Problems arise in mixed mar-riages mainly because the couples have different expectations of each other," said Tsai Miao-ying (蔡妙英), pastor of the Eden Church.

One former bride who attended the press conference said was the victim of a loveless marriage.

She said that since contacting the hotline, the foundation has helped her to finalize her divorce.

"My husband bullied me because his sister told him to. Once my son was born, he was so indifferent that I was not being loved," said the lady, who identified herself as Ah Hsian.

Ah Hsian said she married a Taiwanese man following an introduction by a marriage agency two years ago. She said she found it difficult to communicate with her husband, saying that he didn't love her. She said his family began treating her badly as soon as she gave birth.

However, Tsai also sought to emphasize that not all marriages between Taiwanese and Vietnamese are doomed to fail.

"Marriage should based on love in which couples are willing to help, concern and understand their spouse," Tsai said.

For instance, the experience of Tien Phei, a 21-year-old Vietnamese bride could not be more different from Ah Hsian's.

Tien and her husband Robert Hsiao (蕭家聲), a wheelchair-bound program designer, both attended the press conference. They said they have a happy marriage and have also have a baby girl.

The number for the Eden Social Welfare Foundation's hotline for foreign brides is (02) 2239-9444.
This story has been viewed 2708 times.