Premier Jiang Yi-huah today visited the Changhua County Private Christian Joy Nursery for disadvantaged children, saying the facility demonstrates Taiwan's true spirit and provides a wonderful social service.
The premier donated a gift of NT$100,000 and sampled the nursery's handmade dumplings and biscuits. He later received a tour of its facilities, including the Changhua County Assistive Technology Resource Center and the Joyce McMillan memorial museum.
Jiang said he was grateful to spend an enjoyable afternoon at the nursery, thanking board chairman Chng Hau- sheng, president Lin Yu-chang and all the staff for managing the institution so well.
Joy Nursery was founded by American Joyce McMillan, who came to Taiwan in the 1960s and saw a need for care among underprivileged children. The premier said McMillan's is a compassion that goes beyond race and borders. The institution not only provides the disabled with assistance for living, education and work, but also brings out the kindness in society.
Premier Jiang said he has met many people who received help from charitable organizations in their childhood and later returned to help others—Joy Nursery's president Lin is one example. "It is the people who are willing to pass on that kindness that bring a positive force to society," Jiang noted.
The premier hopes that McMillan's example of selfless devotion in central Taiwan would spur followers in the rest of the world so that the needy and destitute would receive the care they need.
Touched by the many classes that help disadvantaged people gain cooking, baking and art skills, the premier said if a private institution can provide such an excellent program, there is no reason government agencies cannot do likewise. Jiang said during his previous post as minister of the interior, he pushed for many social welfare changes including revising the Public Assistance Act, increasing the number of social workers in Taiwan, and introducing an international standard for disability evaluation. He hopes to see more breakthroughs during his term as premier.
Council of Labor Affairs Minister Pan Shih-wei has also proposed a program to match job openings to physically challenged people who complete training courses. The program is expected to be launched this July or August. The premier directed government agencies to make the arrangements with public and private organizations to enable the physically challenged to contribute their skills to society.