Ahead of Father’s Day on Aug. 8, the Changhua County Government last week presented awards to 36 men for their dedication and for serving as an inspiration to their families.
Among the award recipients was 75-year-old Chen Kun-hua (陳坤華), who raised three young men despite his physical and financial difficulties.
According to the Changhua County Association for the Deaf, which recommended Chen for the award, Chen taught himself how to read because his family did not have the money to allow him to attend a school for the hearing-impaired.
Chen spent his teenage years with his elder brother learning how to cook and started his own roadside stand selling sausages after he got married, the association said, adding that his wife is also hearing and speech-impaired.
Although unable to communicate verbally with his customers, Chen has never been bitter about his condition and sometimes even performs magic tricks for them, the association said.
“His customers often say that Chen’s smile, his magic tricks and his sausages are what continued to draw them to his stall,” an association member said.
Although his three sons were also born deaf and speech-impaired, Chen gave them the best upbringing possible, the association said.
The eldest is a screenwriter and director, the second is in the culinary business and the youngest is a computer engineer, it said.
Changhua County Deputy Commissioner Ko Cheng-fang (柯呈枋) praised Chen for his perseverance in overcoming his physical difficulties and his courage in the face of adversity.
“Chen and his family had succeeded in carving out their own niche in society, rather than becoming a burden,” Ko said. “Chen deserves the award in every sense because of his optimism in trying to overcome difficulties in life.”
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