TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Sunday presented awards to 22 children selected by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) for their resilience in overcoming hardships such as poverty, physical disabilities, and unstable family environments.
Lai presented trophies to each child and expressed confidence in their continued growth and success. He encouraged them to believe in themselves and strive to become the best version of themselves, UDN reported.
Among this year’s 22 recipients, 15 come from single-parent families, three were raised by grandparents, six were born to mothers who are new immigrants, and three have physical or mental disabilities. TFCF Chair Liu Bang-fu (劉邦富) emphasized that for 75 years, the foundation has been committed to promoting child welfare, believing that every child is entitled to basic rights.
To ensure that every child thrives in a safe and caring environment, TFCF provides financial aid, educational subsidies, mentorship, and empowerment programs.
One of the honorees, 14-year-old Chang Yan (張晏) from New Taipei, dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. He lost his father at an early age, and his mother left him in the care of his grandmother, CNA reported.
Despite financial struggles, he remained committed to baseball training, even as he struggled to afford the NT$6,000 (US$180) monthly team fee for jerseys, sneakers, and gloves. His grandmother repaired his uniform whenever it was damaged.
His dedication paid off when his team won the championship last year. His favorite player, Wei Chuan Dragons’ Kuo Tien-hsin (郭天信), sent him a video message, encouraging him to believe in himself and keep working hard. Chang pledged to continue training and caring for his grandmother.
Another honoree, Lin Wan-chen (林宛蓁), was born prematurely, weighing only 1,250 grams. Diagnosed with hearing impairment, she persevered and excelled in swimming, winning second place in the women’s 50-meter backstroke and third in the 50-meter freestyle at the National Deaf Swimming Championships.
Lin said that playing in the water with her father as a child inspired her to pursue competitive swimming. Her dream is to one day compete in the Olympics.
Her mother, who has been on dialysis for 15 years, learned sign language during her treatments to communicate with Lin. Overcome with emotion, she expressed hope that her daughter would take the next step toward achieving her dream.
In his closing remarks, Lai thanked TFCF for its dedication to social welfare and called on society to work together to give children the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
