Chen Jun-lang, founder of Taitung County Educational Development Association, successfully put pen to paper in “Fearless Love,” a tale in which he as the main character battles to overcome an array of life challenges and become a valuable member of society.
“I was lost once and know the despair of when there is no hope for the future,” he said. “Most of the kids I come in contact with have troubled pasts and are discarded by society for fear of links with drugs, violence and behavioral problems.”
According to Chen, the book is a natural extension of his TCEDA experiences, enabling him to better build a bond between those he seeks to assist and their surrounds.
“It is only natural for people to care about the place where they grew up,” he said. “I help troubled teens flee dens of vice by entrusting them with a mission, to build a place where others in the same boat can read, study and experience a sense of belonging.”
Chen and his young builders started from the ground up. They mixed cement, laid the bricks and erected wall frames of the centers themselves. In the process, the youth learned the value of honest toil and proved capable of tangible achievement.
“So far we have constructed eight of our bookhouses,” he said, adding that the centers have solid reputations as local hubs of learning. “Children read the classics, discover history and most importantly, learn how to get along.”
Each bookhouse boasts a specialty course, including archery, band formation, indigenous dance, kayaking, music and theater. Through hands-on experiences, members gain confidence by overcoming difficulties and conquering fears.
“We will continue caring for those cast on the scrapheap of life,” Chen said. “For every soul we save, we are watering their potential as human beings in the hope they may one day do the same for someone less fortunate.” (YHC-JSM)
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