2024-3-12

Taiwan World Vision held a press conference to mark its 60th anniversary on February 22. The opening of the event was jointly hosted by Taiwan World Vision President Albert Ting and CEO Li Shao-ling as well as Andy Kang-i Chen, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of NGO International Affairs, and Shen Yi-ru, Secretary General of the Taiwan NPO Self-Regulation Alliance. 

As part of the event, World Vision released a social return on investment report. The results showed that every dollar invested in World Vision's sponsorship program saw a return of 13.4 dollars in terms of social impact on recipient children and their families. The impact of nonfinancial support from social workers produced an average value equivalent to over NT$50,000 for each family and child. The report clearly demonstrated the impact and effectiveness of World Vision's child sponsorship program.

Li noted that 60 years ago, Taiwan was a recipient of World Vision funding. When Taiwan World Vision was established in 1964, it began by distributing overseas donations to assist vulnerable people in remote rural areas of Taiwan. In 1985, charitable giving within Taiwan took off. Now, one in every 8.2 children below the poverty line in Taiwan is cared for by World Vision. In the past 40 years, more than 150,000 children have received assistance. In 1992, World Vision officially reclassified Taiwan from a recipient to a donor country. Joining the aid community, Taiwan World Vision delivers assistance to other regions where there is greater hardship and fewer resources, helping communities steadily develop toward self-sufficiency and transform from recipients to benefactors. Sixty years later, Taiwan and World Vision are still standing together, sowing seeds of hope that will continue to bear fruit, create a positive impact, and produce unlimited possibilities.