The United Nations (UN) established December 18 as International Migrants Day to call on countries to value the human rights of the immigrant and respect multiculturalism. In response to the International Migrants Day, Hualien County Government held an event, “2019 International Migrants Day-Enjoying Diversity Fair” and invited the service stations for new residents in the county to do cultural performances to present the results of the services. The booths of ethnic cuisines were also provided for the people to understand the culture of new residents’ life.
The county mayor, Xu Zhenwei, expected to build Hualien to be a new hometown for the immigrant by the target, “New residents bringing in new strengths”. The purpose is to make the new residents who have come to Hualien and become our neighbors, friends, and colleagues feel at home, and their rights of jobs, receiving medical treatments, residency, and personal safety are guaranteed. The county government will also provide the greatest assistance to make Hualien become the second hometown for those who seek a steady life. The county mayor also expected the county, the service center for new residents, and the service stations for new residents in townships to be a home that new residents can rely on.
The wonderful “2019 International Migrants Day-Enjoying Diversity Fair” combined the performances of various ethnic groups. A migrant band kicked off first and was followed by many traditional dance performances from multiple countries to provide many styles of dancing of new residents. The indigenous groups drew a perfect ending for the event. Both of the indigenous, the inhabitants, and the new residents are rooted and truly present themselves in Taiwan. The people experienced the multicultural styles as they being in foreign places, and the new residents at the event also brought in their hometown tastes for the participants to enjoy the foreign cuisines. This event also provided a station of welfares consultation for the new residents to consult related problems of personal rights.
At the end of the fair, “New girl power- new residents’ photographs sharing” was held to disclose and make the public understand how new residents have lived, how they have helped each other, and how they have created their happy lives in Taiwan through the self-made documentaries made by the new residents and the Taiwanese in the county.
