In the News

Making a difference

(CNA photos)

• Publication Date：08/04/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today

On July 23, Taitung veggie vendor Chen Shu-chu was named winner of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for her dedication to helping the less fortunate. Chen, who has donated over NT$10 million (US$333,750) to local charities, was recognized for the pure altruism of her personal giving, reflecting a deep, consistent, quiet compassion that has transformed the lives of fellow citizens.

The 10th ROC national to win the award, Chen joins a select club of selfless individuals throughout the Asia-Pacific region who take great pride in reaching out to others and effecting grass-roots change. She shares the honor with Indonesian Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto, Indian Kulandei Francis, Filipino Romulo Davide, Bangladeshi Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Cambodian Yang Saing Koma.

Chen and the five other Magsaysay awardees are all deeply involved in creating sustainable solutions to poverty and its accompanying disempowerment. Working in unpretentious ways, they are showing how commitment, competence and collaborative leadership can transform millions of lives and galvanize progressive community action.

Yet this is not the first time the 63-year-old has received well-deserved credit for her philanthropic efforts. In 2010, she was lauded by U.S.-based Time magazine as a hero and included on the publication’s 100 most influential people list.

The presentation ceremony in New York, which Chen attended with the assistance of the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, afforded her the rare opportunity to take a bow on the global stage and spotlight Taiwan’s soft power.

Leaving school at 13 to sell vegetables and help support her seven-member family following the death of her mother, the magnitude of Chen’s giving is praiseworthy, especially in this age of rampant consumerism and increasingly luxurious lifestyles. By maintaining a simple existence, she is making a badly needed difference in the lives of the economically disadvantaged.

But in Taiwan, Chen’s heartwarming story is not that uncommon. She is just one of many who place a spiritual and moral premium on sharing their time or income with the less fortunate.

In June, four ROC nationals were named among the most generous souls in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a list of 48 prominent altruists compiled by Forbes Asia magazine. The significant charitable work of Evergreen Group founder Chang Yung-fa, part-time cleaner Chao Wen-cheng, WowPrime Group Chairman Steve Day and Chimei Group founder Shi Wen-long had largely flown under the radar until now.

Given that no-strings-attached assistance is increasingly rare these days, it is refreshing to see that such an approach is alive and well in Taiwan. Shaped by a unique mix of cultural and religious influences, the island’s special brand of low-key charity work leads the way in helping those who need it most, and is a model worth replicating.

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