“As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is honored to work with our friends throughout the world to care for those in need, especially parentless children,” MOFA Minister David Lin said.
“We are pleased to collaborate with local workers serving the little ones in Africa and applaud their contributions over the years.”
Lin made the remarks while meeting with a team of 24 orphans from Lesotho and Malawi at the MOFA headquarters in Taipei City. The children are on a concert tour around Taiwan to convey their appreciation until Jan. 7, 2015.
They are under the care of the Taipei City-headquartered Amitofo Care Center launched 22 years ago in South Africa, which also runs orphanages in the above two countries and Swaziland.
Also attending the event were Antonio Quintas do Espirito Santo, Sao Tome and Principe Ambassador to the ROC; Temnotfo Nkambule, the charge d’affaires of Swaziland; and Ibrahim A. Mohammed, Nigerian representative to Taiwan.
According to Lin, MOFA has joined forces with the ACC to care for more than 6,000 disadvantaged children since the center set up its first orphanage in 2004. Such collaboration shows the compassion of the people of Taiwan and the nation’s sincerity to provide humanitarian aid around the world.
In response, ACC founder Master Hui Li from southern Taiwan’s Pingtung County said the center deeply appreciates the government’s support. He is certain the orphans, whose lives have been significantly improved, will grow up to help transform Africa and further cement their countries’ ties with Taiwan.
According to Hui Li, plans are underway to build new ACC facilities in Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, allowing more orphans to benefit from Taiwan’s love and compassion.
Lin said MOFA will continue supporting such expansion plans and helping ACC with other benevolent endeavors. “We pledge our efforts to advance the center’s meaningful cause to the greatest possible extent.” (DF-GW)
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