Five Hundred Wheelchair donated to China

Eden Social Welfare Foundation Wheelchair Donation Ceremony was held on June 12th 2008 in Beijing. On behalf of Eden, Mr. Huang Cho-Sung, Eden’s CEO and Mr. Ye Ying-Bin, Managing Director, donated five hundred wheelchairs (valued two million NTD), to China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF).

It’s the end of year; every salary worker is covetous of the year-end bonus and stock-share of finance and technology companies. However, for over a million physically and mentally challenged people across the island, especially 240,000 working members among them, the high bonus is a dream too far to reach. Having a job just to make a living and to reduce the burdens of their families is still a dream that can hardly come true.

On June 26th 2008, the 11th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China- China’s top legislative body, has ratified a bill submitted the Central Government for China’s accession to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This summer Eden Social Welfare Foundation International Cooperation Center will be hosting a Community Service Trip to Taitung for foreign volunteers. The community service will be along side aboriginal culture activities. We are going to recruit ten foreigners (over 16 years old) in Taiwan to do the volunteer service in Taitung

In Sichaun and Myanmar, countless families have been broken and countless lives have been taken, and what have we done to help?

Run the “New Zhongxiao Line,” increase 300 buses in Taipei within 3 years

The first bus route run by low floor bus, “New Zhongxiao Line” running from Taipei Main Station to Nangang Exhibition Hall is available today in Taipei. Chung-Shing Bus Company which runs this line has bought 20 brand-new Low Floor Buses, which features no stair in the entire bus in order to facilitate passengers to get on or off the bus. Department of Transportation has announced to increase the number of Low Floor Bus running “New Xin-Yi Line” by the end of June this year.

Mr. Maruyama was the Secretary General of WI Asia (Workability International Asia), he founded the Regional NGO Network (RNN) to promote the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 1993-2002. Among his countless contributions, one of the most outstanding achievements was to start the training courses on rehabilitation of persons with disabilities which were implemented while he was working as an expert officer in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 1985. Mr. Maruyama devoted his whole life for people with disabilities in assisting them to realize their potential, making effective governmental policies and inspiring the creation of disability networks not only in Japan but in the region and in the world.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Entered Into Force on May 3rd 2008

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has entered into force on May 3rd 2008, becoming the first human rights treaty of the 21st century, and insuring the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) who represent 10% of the global population. Of all the UN conventions, CRPD has been taken as an issue of priority, which shows the necessity and significance of protecting the rights of PWDs.

3 April 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the entry into force of the first international treaty on the human rights of persons with disabilities, after the required twentieth country ratified the landmark convention today.

Owing to the efforts of Eden Social Welfare Foundation and Disability Alliance of Republic of China, Taiwan Central Election Commission announced on 18th March 2008 an “Assistive Measures for disabled electors,” which include: audio voting bulletin, installation of accessible facilities and shield for voting booth, assistive voting equipment for visually impaired electors, and voting assistance from election officials or person of elector’s choice. The aim is to provide the public an accessible polling environment on 22 March, 2008, Taiwan’s 12th Presidential Election Day.