The local chapter of the Christian charity World Vision said yesterday that Inventec Appliances Corp (英華達) had raised more than NT$4 million (US$122,000) in a one-month drive to help 1,335 disadvantaged students attending primary and junior high schools around the country.
From July 1 to July 31, the Taiwan-based manufacturer of smart handheld and network appliances partnered with World Vision to raise money through a “Love Loaf” coin donation program, mobile phone sales, donations from the company and its employees, as well as a World Vision account designated specifically for the cause.
TUITION
World Vision Taiwan said it had already selected 710 primary school students and 625 junior high school students, who will receive tuition aid to help ease the financial burden on their families.
World Vision Taiwan said Inventec Appliances president Daniel Lee (李家恩) sent an internal message to encourage his employees to support the cause, saying many businesses have shut down or laid off workers because of the financial crisis. As a result, many low-income families lost their only source of income and were pushed deeper into poverty.
“Although they may not go hungry immediately, their children risk dropping out of school. Let’s do our small part to save these children from losing the only opportunity they have to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty,” Lee was quoted as saying in a press statement released by World Vision Taiwan.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Financial contributions from the Inventec Appliances appeal will be offered to students living in the cities and counties that recorded the highest jobless rates in the first half of the year — Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Taichung City, Taichung County, Nantou County, Tainan County, Kaohsiung City and Hualien County.
According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, the unemployment rate climbed to 5.94 percent in June, representing 647,000 people out of work.
This year, World Vision Taiwan plans to help finance 45,000 children in school.
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