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  • 台灣國旗
  • 越南國旗
  • 泰國國旗
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  Bond of Hearts Across the Ocean: A Bridge of Relationships in Love -- Hearing Unseen Needs, Embracing Families Abroad

  Greetings to friends in Taiwan, Indonesia, and wherever you are. May peace always be with us! I am Timothy Fu. In the consultation room, I am a doctor in a white coat helping to alleviate patients' pain. However, in the eyes of my Indonesian brothers and sisters living in Taiwan, I might be more like a brother or an uncle—a place to share grievances and longing for family in their mother tongue.From an overseas student who came to Taiwan alone at 18 without knowing a word of Mandarin, to becoming a specialist and founding GICA, this journey is a tapestry of small but real life stories. This is a narrative about "Loving, Listening, and Accompanying," marking GICA's journey in building a bridge of hearts between Taiwan and Indonesia.Tears in a Foreign LandI remember coming to Taiwan as a teenager to "seek my fortune" amidst many challenges. "Language" was the first high wall to climb, causing daily difficulties in ordering food, reading street signs, or even simple communication. Economic hardship followed; I worked as a newspaper delivery boy, waiter, dishwasher, and even washed goat milk bottles to pay for school. The loneliness and helplessness from miscommunication were constant. Because of this, I deeply understand the pain of "having complaints but being unable to express them".Years later, I achieved my dream of becoming a specialist. In my clinic, Indonesian migrant workers and caregivers began to appear, often sitting silently with tired, anxious faces. I realized that physical pain often cannot be cured by medicine alone. It stems from extreme fatigue, longing for children back home, and the frustration of being misunderstood by employers due to language barriers.There are nearly 320,000 Indonesian friends in Taiwan. They are the unsung heroes supporting Taiwan's social stability, yet their spiritual needs are often "invisible". Their helplessness made me realize I must do more than just provide therapy; I must act for my fellow countrymen.The Birth of GICAChanging society requires collective action. Since 2015, I began sharing the dilemmas of migrant workers with church colleagues and concerned locals. Initially, we simply went to parks and hospitals to listen to their stories. We found most conflicts arose from "misunderstanding" rather than bad intentions. Employers might not understand a Muslim's need for prayer, while workers might not know how to ask for a ten-minute break in Mandarin.GICA was officially founded in 2016 to address these roots. In April 2026, we celebrated GICA's 10th anniversary. Seeing Taiwanese employers and Indonesian workers smiling and hugging regardless of nationality made me feel that GICA has truly become a "second home".Strategies: Accompanying, Empowering, and RelatingGICA's strategy centers on "Making Human Life Dignified and Hopeful":1.Translators and Faithful Listeners: We run 15 language and culture classes to break communication walls for both workers and employers. When language is no longer a barrier, "foreign workers" become "family who helps".2.A Supportive Family Network: We provide legal and psychological support. Our dedicated volunteers, like Yoyon and Esti, help with hospital visits and late-night emergencies.3.Creating Space for Relief: Humans are not made just to work. We organize activities like hiking and BBQs at Dakeng Trail to help them find joy and a sense of youth.GICA is like a warm big family where everyone can bloom with happiness in Taiwan.Boundless LoveGICA exists because of the solidarity of volunteers, teachers, and the Taichung City Government. This bridge of hearts has been built over ten years through sweat and tears. In the future, GICA will continue to ensure every Indonesian in Taiwan feels valued and loved. We hope for a society where there is no "us" and "them," but only one family. Thank you, Taiwan!

  2026-05-13 09:00
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  • 台灣國旗
  • 越南國旗
  • 泰國國旗
  • 印尼國旗
  • 菲律賓國旗

  Win a Share of NT$2.15 Million by Using the Uniform Invoice Prize Claim App

  Managing receipts digitally is not only convenient but can also earn you rewards. Taiwan's Ministry of Finance is inviting the public to join its "A New Cloud World, Enjoy Eco-Friendly Convenience" campaign by downloading and using the Uniform Invoice Prize Claim App. A total of 16,000 prizes worth NT$2.15 million are available during the campaign.The campaign runs through September 30 and features four activities: "Join and Receive Gifts," "Donate Invoices for Rewards," "Bonus Green Points," and the "Mission Points Leaderboard." Participants who register as campaign members can receive an electronic coffee voucher while supplies last.The "Mission Points Leaderboard" encourages users to complete tasks such as saving cloud invoices, linking invoice carriers, setting up a prize claim account, watching tax education videos, completing an app survey, and inviting friends to join. Participants can also earn additional points through interactive games, including spinning wheels, scratch cards, and slot machines, while becoming familiar with the app's convenient features.All prizes will be distributed as electronic gift vouchers in support of paperless services. Rewards must be claimed by October 31. Those who complete designated tasks during the campaign not only have a chance to win prizes but also help promote environmentally friendly and paperless living.

  2026-07-18 09:05
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  • 台灣國旗
  • 越南國旗
  • 泰國國旗
  • 印尼國旗
  • 菲律賓國旗

  Starting from Gongliao, Connecting with the World: A Principal's Journey to Fulfill Her Educational Dream

  Author / Yang Hsiao-Mei, Principal of Gongliao Elementary School, New Taipei CityWhen I first arrived in Taiwan in November 1979, I was filled with uncertainty about what lay ahead. I never imagined that this island would become the place where I would study, build my career, marry, and raise a family. Looking back, I realize that family background, cultural differences, and financial hardship often create invisible barriers for children. These experiences inspired me to devote myself to education and become a bridge, helping every child overcome limitations and pursue their dreams with confidence.International education is more than a global trend—it is the commitment that has guided my work as an educator. Children in rural communities need more than classroom knowledge; they need opportunities to see the world. Taiwan's International Education 2.0 White Paper, promoted by the Ministry of Education, aims to cultivate globally minded citizens while creating more opportunities for rural students and second-generation immigrant children. To me, international education connects local values with global perspectives and helps every child discover their own potential. In the 2023 academic year, I became principal of Gongliao Elementary School, a school with only 26 students. We introduced bilingual maps, multilingual signs, and an international learning environment to broaden students' horizons. More importantly, I believe that genuine international education comes not from language lessons alone, but from meaningful encounters between people.The seeds of dreams are planted through authentic cross-cultural encounters. In 2021, Gongliao Elementary School established sister-school partnerships with Rapids Landing Primary School and Margaret River Senior High School in Australia. At first, our exchanges were limited to online activities because of distance. Everything changed when Australian principals, teachers, and students visited Gongliao on October 31, 2022. I watched children who were usually shy confidently teach their Australian friends how to play the Chinese yo-yo and enjoy activities together on the playground. Their confidence grew remarkably in just one day. Simply knowing that they had friends in another country encouraged them to dream bigger. Our international partnerships later expanded through the Taiwan International Youth Exchange Association, which invited high school students from Utah, United States, to visit our school. Together they played soccer, shared stories about their daily lives, while our students proudly introduced local plants found on campus. These exchanges helped our children become comfortable communicating with people from different cultures and transformed Gongliao Elementary School into an open and inclusive international learning community.High school students from Utah, USA, visited Gongliao Elementary School for campus tours, cultural exchange, and student interaction. (Photo courtesy of Principal Yang Hsiao-Mei, Gongliao Elementary School)True global competence begins with understanding who we are and where we come from. As Taiwan's first principal with a new immigrant background, I have always dreamed of taking rural students beyond Taiwan to experience the world firsthand. For second-generation immigrant students, these journeys also provide an opportunity to reconnect with their family roots and cultural heritage. This dream became reality thanks to the support of the Yu Rong-Ji Education Foundation. In March 2025, Executive Director Shen Chung-Yuan fully supported our plan to take students "back to their homeland to learn." In May 2025, I led teachers, parents, and students to Hanoi, Vietnam, where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nguyen Tat Thanh Primary School and began a new chapter of educational cooperation. After months of cultural preparation, our students confidently introduced themselves using English and basic Vietnamese. One student, Heng-Yu, shared that although he felt nervous at first, encouragement from his Vietnamese partner gave him the confidence to introduce the Satoyama–Satoumi ecosystem of his hometown using English and gestures. The experience made him realize that connecting with the world was not as difficult as he had imagined.Leading students through these two successful international exchange programs strengthened my belief that education is not simply about helping children leave the classroom—it is about giving them the courage to embrace the world. This achievement was made possible through the combined support of the Ministry of Education, education authorities, local businesses, and parents. Through international education, Gongliao's children have become active participants in global connections rather than passive learners. Watching them explore the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay and build friendships with students from other countries convinced me that the boundaries surrounding rural education are gradually disappearing. As principal, I will continue promoting international education so that our children remain deeply connected to their homeland while confidently engaging with the wider world. Helping them value their roots and communicate with the world with confidence is the greatest promise I can make—and the most meaningful vision of my journey in education.Students from Gongliao Elementary School visited local markets during their exchange program in Vietnam to experience the local culture. (Photo courtesy of Principal Yang Hsiao-Mei, Gongliao Elementary School)

  2026-07-14 09:00