President Tsai Ing-wen received recipients of the 21st Fervent Global Love for Lives Award at the Office of the President Sept. 20 in Taipei City, praising the individuals from home and abroad for selfless dedication to improving the happiness and well-being of others.
All of the winners possess touching stories that encourage people to reflect on life and think of ways to make a difference in day-to-day living, Tsai said. It is sincerely hoped the recipients will continue serving as beacons of self-belief and hope in their communities, she added.
The award—first presented in 1998—celebrates the life of 10-year-old poet Chou Ta-kuan who died in 1997 from cancer. His parents established Chou Ta-kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation as a way of sharing the boy’s messages of courage and optimism with the world while recognizing those demonstrating deep-seated respect for humankind and the Earth.
According to Tsai, the good works of this year’s 17 winners selected from 2,616 candidates range from establishing elementary schools in Africa and orphanages in India to exceling in art and music. Many have overcome personal limitations and all have challenged societal norms in reshaping the worlds in which they live, she said.
Local winners include Cai Lin-jhang, a 70-year-old Hakka anti-cancer crusader; Chen Shu-wen, an accomplished artist and musician with Down syndrome; and Dr. Chang Chin-chien, general counsel of Taiwan Adventist Hospital and chairman of Taiwan Breast Cancer Foundation, both based in Taipei.
Tsai said although all recipients are equally inspiring, she was particularly moved by Alexandra Kutas from the Ukraine.
Wheelchair-bound since birth, Kutas long dreamed of becoming a model, the president said. Hundreds of auditions and rejections later, she finally became her country’s first physically challenged model and, in the process, overturned the status quo and allowed the world to see true beauty, Tsai added.
In addition to the award, New Taipei City-headquartered CTKCEF organizes missions in 34 countries around the globe involving 430,000 volunteers. Four years ago, the foundation captured international headlines by awarding South Korean actress Lee Young-ae in recognition of her generosity and kindness for assisting a couple from Taiwan settle a large medical bill after the mother gave birth to a premature baby during a visit to Seoul. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw