The recipients of the 2023 Presidential Education Award were just revealed by the Ministry of Education. One of the winners is Cai, Yu-ci (蔡育慈), a second-generation immigrant to Chiayi County who attends Chiayi County Jhuci Senior High School. She was also chosen this year in Chiayi County as a model of filial piety at the same time. Because of the family background, Cai, Yu-ci has a different growth story. She wrote numerous superb pieces and used language to describe the facts of her life. The works that themed with the mother of the new immigrant (腥媽) were chosen as the first prize of this year's Prose Youth Category of the New Taipei Literary Award.
A Second-generation immigrant of Chiayi (蔡育慈) wrote a life story and was recognized by the Presidential Education Award.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
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The father of Cai, Yu-ci (蔡育慈) was bedridden at home with a handbook for severe disabilities. Since childhood, Cai and her two sisters have taken care for his wheelchair-dependent father so that her mother may go to work without worrying. Since Cai loves literature and has translated her life stories into words, her unique growth experience from her peers has enriched Cai’s creative inspiration. The publisher even invited Cai, Yu-ci to compile a book of the award-winning works, and the new book is scheduled to be released in September of this year.
A Second-generation immigrant of Chiayi (蔡育慈) wrote a life story and was recognized by the Presidential Education Award.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
Writing has always been Cai, Yu-ci's passion, she claimed. She engages in self-examination through writing. Cai grows up with diverse life experiences because her mother is a new immigrant and her father is a physically challenged person. She uses writing to tell family experiences in an effort to spread uplifting concepts. Cai stated her happiness at being acknowledged and her desire to assist with underprivileged families in the future as a social worker.
Despite coming from a challenging background, Cai, Yu-ci (蔡育慈) always had a thankful attitude and responded to the difficulties presented by her surroundings, which is truly impressive, according to the director (林炳煌) of the Chiayi County Service Center. The Presidential Education Award is a well-deserved honor for Cai, Yu-ci.
