Twenty-five children from Malawi have arrived in Taiwan with the support of World Vision Taiwan, a spokesman for the charitable organization said yesterday.
The children, who all come from Katimbira in central Malawi, are among the many poor people in the impoverished country that have received long-term assistance from World Vision Taiwan, the spokesman said.
During their visit, they will join with other children from Congo and South Africa, as well as children from two Taiwan Aboriginal tribes -- the Rukai and the Puyuma -- in concerts in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung.
"They will sing out their gratitude for the love, concern and aid from Taiwan," the spokesman said.
World Vision Taiwan has donated NT$20 million (US$574,713) annually to help poor families in Malawi since 1995. World Vision is now assisting in constructing five elementary schools in the Katimbira region.
This visit is the children's first overseas trip. Before their departure, World Vision Taiwan volunteers in Malawi bought them new clothes and shoes.
They started their journey on Tuesday with a four-hour bus ride to the Malawi capital of Lilongwe, followed by a flight to Taipei via Johannesburg, South Africa and Hong Kong.
Upon arrival at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, many children said they were amazed and excited by what they had seen so far.
RSS