The Children Are Us Foundation (
The foundation is a nonprofit group that provides the mentally-disabled with long-term care and job training. Known for its efforts to enable clients to be self-supporting, the organization sponsors several restaurants and bakeries in Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hsinchu that provide clients with work opportunities.
At the organization's 10th anniversary celebration yesterday, foundation representatives said they hope the learning center will fulfill the post-secondary educational needs of their clients.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"The current education system only provides for the mentally disabled until they are 18 and graduate from special education vocational high schools. A study we did, however, indicates that 80 percent of parents feel a need for further education for their disabled children," foundation chairwoman Hsiao Shu-chen (蕭淑珍) said.
"Since there is no system in place for these individuals, our foundation is trying to set up an institution where the developmentally disadvantaged can develop living skills and get job training," she said.
"In this day and age when almost all students of average intelligence can get further education if they want it, it's natural for parents of the mentally disabled to want their children to have similar opportunities. Realistically, it would be difficult for such individuals to go to regular universities and obtain degrees, but our foundation hopes to act as a channel through which the disabled too can have the extra time and guidance to decide their life's direction," Hsiao said.
The foundation hopes to establish centers in Taipei County and Kaohsiung City by next January. It is currently in negotiations with the Ministry of Education, Council of Labor Affairs and local authorities to map out plans for the schools and their place in the education system.
"There's never been anything like this done before," Hsiao said.
The foundation said the school will hold classes in two categories: vocational training and community-college style classes in arts and physical fitness.
To raise money for the centers, the foundation is holding a 21-day auction through Yahoo Auctions Taiwan at bid.yahoo.com.tw. The auction includes autographed items from various politicians and entertainers, such as Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
More information on the foundation is available at www.c-are-us.org.tw. To volunteer, call (02) 2325-7383 in Taipei and (07) 726-6096 in Kaohsiung.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS