Having visited Taiwan 13 years ago, the internationally renowned sport journalist from Japan, Hirotada Ototake, also a person with disabilities as a result of tetra-amelia syndrome, is invited by the Taiwan-based Sky Digi Entertainment Co. for the national premier of his latest film, Nobody’s Perfect, on 3rd May, 2013. Staring Ototake as a primary school teacher working with dozens of Japanese primary school students, the movie features the inspiring story of how young pupils at the school are invigorated to appreciate the difference and diversity of their peers thanks to the model example presented by the protagonist. A part of the premier’s revenue is donated towards Eden Social Welfare Foundation’s services for adults with disabilities.

A 7 magnitude earthquake broke out at 8:02 am on April 20, 2013, in Sichuan Province, China. According to local news agencies, 196 people were killed, 11,470 injured, and 21 reported missing in addition to the displacement of 237,655 individuals.

On 29th April to 1st May, 2013, Ms. Chia Yin Pan, staff representative of Eden Social Welfare Foundation at the annual InterAction Forum, headed for Washington D.C. to attend a three-day event presided over by the American Voluntary International Action. With nearly 1,000 attendees representing hundreds of organizations from all over the world, this year’s InterAction Forum features a wide variety of workshops and tracks on issues critical to the development of common solutions to the challenges faced by the world’s marginalized and impoverished communities.

Given the scale of the most recent earthquake in Ya’an, Sichuan Province, China, where almost two hundred were killed and 12,000 injured, it is estimated, according to a study by Handicap International, that 30-40% of those who were injured in the earthquake have acquired disabilities, meaning the earthquake might have singlehandedly caused the world’s total number of population with disabilities to increase by three thousand to five thousand.

LATEST EARTHQUAKE NEWS

A 7 magnitude earthquake broke out at 8:02 am on April 20, 2013, in Sichuan Province, China. According to a news report on the same day by The Telegraph, it is feared that hundreds have been killed or injured in the earthquake.

On 25th March, 2013, Hong Kong PHAB (physically handicapped and able-bodied) Association calls on Eden Social Welfare Foundation for a tour of Eden’s accessible housing project in New Taipei City. Staff representatives of the hosting and visiting organization have both benefitted a lot from the face to face exchange of firsthand experience in accessible housing.

On 25th March, 2013, Eden Social Welfare Foundation cooperated with The League of Welfare Organizations for the Disabled in the international exchange program, Proud to Be Myself-Challenges and Response to the New Identification System, where professionals from various fields were invited from Japan, Canada (Quebec), and Taiwan to share their experience in the implementation of ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health), approved by World Health Organization.

In late March, the emblem of Eden Social Welfare Foundation is proudly observed in the mountains of rural Nepal, where Eden’s two staff members from Taiwan traveled thousands of miles and donated a total of 100 brand new wheelchairs to local villagers with disabilities. Staff members at Eden have been working incessantly on the project since 2012 after learning from our fellow ICBL (International Campaign to Ban Landmines) campaigner in Nepal the dire need for wheelchairs among the country's rural residents with disabilities.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the decease of Ms. Liu Xia, our beloved founder, Eden Social Welfare Foundation held a memorial concert at the Taipei Nanking East Road Christian Church on February 23, 2013. The Eden Rejoicing Chorus staged the debut of their latest album, “Heart of Rejoicing” (translation), where all the lyrics were inspired by the writings of Ms. Liu, who was also a renounced writer spreading lifetime enthusiasm for faith and altruism with her words throughout the world.

On February 8, 2013, the day before the traditional Lunar New Year, President Ma of Taiwan visited Eden Social Welfare Foundation Career Training Center for Persons with Disabilities and gave out red envelops to 54 service users for their year-round efforts and excellent performance in various areas including arts and crafts and pottery.