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Taiwan's volunteer movement a valuable asset: president
2010/02/09 14:07:00 |
Taipei, Feb. 9 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that Taiwan's thriving volunteer movement is one of its most valuable assets and it has helped light up local society.
"Volunteerism has emerged as an energetic, dynamic social movement in Taiwan, with many of our people generously contributing their time and wealth to altruistic causes, " Ma said while meeting with winners of the 22nd Golden Camel Awards.
Noting that the award has been created to honor outstanding volunteers, Ma said only those who have given more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service are likely to receive the award.
"It is a tall order and requires a loving heart, patience and perseverance, " Ma said. "You have helped illuminate our society with your selfless actions," he told his guests.
The volunteer movement is a special feature of Taiwan, and is linked to the fact that Taiwan is an open democratic society, he noted.
"In comparison, volunteerism is not so popular in China as evidenced by the less enthusiastic contributions by mainland Chinese people in the wake of the magnitude-8 earthquake that struck Sichuan Province in May 2008, " Ma said. Because China is not a very open society, volunteerism is not likely to thrive there, he added.
Ma recalled that more than 100,000 local people dedicated themselves to volunteer post-disaster relief work after Typhoon Morakot wreaked havoc in southern Taiwan last August.
Other indicators of the dynamic volunteer movement in Taiwan are World Vision Taiwan and the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families' sponsorship of 200,000 underprivileged children around the world and the donation of blood by 10 percent of the country's population, Ma added.
He further said volunteerism epitomizes a philosophy of sharing.
"Volunteer service requires sharing of time and energy; financial donation is a form of sharing wealth, blood donors share health, and organ donors share life," he said. (By Garfie Li and sofia Wu) enditem /pc
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