The Kuang Ching Foundation

1989

0800 I'm Listening Psychological Support Hotline
Between Whole and Imperfect—Disability Film Festival
Psychological growth of the disabled
Journey of Love

Profile
   This foundation was established on January 10, 1989 to serve persons with mental and physical disabilities.
   In the early days, this foundation offered classes and activities intended to enhance the artistic skills of the disabled, including choir, art, Chinese painting, writing, and broadcasting classes. The foundation also helped with the establishment of a choral group consisting chiefly of disabled individuals. In 1994 the foundation introduced the "Expressing Love Campus Tour," which sent a team of disabled individuals to schools to give talent performances and tell their life stories, in order to inspire young people. This program was renamed "Journey of Love" in 1995, and was expanded to include the inmates of reformatories and prisons. The activity was renamed the "Young people! Forward!" program in 1997.
   In order to help meet disabled individuals' employment needs, starting in 1998 the foundation cooperated with the Vocational Training Bureau, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan for two years to hold the first broadcasting vocational training class for the disabled in Taiwan. This class was accompanied by employment counseling for the disabled.
   In 2000, the foundation established the "I'm listening" psychological support hotline, which was the first hotline of its kind in Taiwan for the disabled and manned by the disabled.
   In October 2001, the foundation introduced the "Between Whole and Imperfect—Disability Film Festival in conjunction with International Disabled Persons Day. Every year carefully-selected documentary films concerning the disabled are shown throughout Taiwan for this festival. These films help society learn more about the disabled, and show the disabled the power of self-confidence.
   Starting in 2006, the foundation has developed more psychological counseling service for the disabled.

0800 I'm Listening—Psychological Support Hotline
Hotline number: 0800-581-185
- I will listen to your innermost voice; there is strength in companionship -
Service times: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday & Friday
                           9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday

Hotline Features
1.   A free service hotline established exclusively for the disabled.
2.   Trained disabled volunteers listen to calls from disabled callers.
3.   The hotline's "listening & companionship" functions enable the volunteers and callers to share their disability experiences, resolve disability-associated problems, and create the energy needed to take action. By encouraging callers to face up to their problems, and giving them the confidence to do so, the hotline inspires the disabled to make real changes.

Hotline Development
1.   The hotline was established on February 22, 2000, and was originally a toll number ("Don’t give up on yourself; I will accompany you a lifetime").
2.   The hotline was changed to the toll-free number 0800-581-185 on September 5, 2005 ("I help you, you help me"). The foundation provides funding for this service.
3.   The additional number 0800-881-345 was added in 2007; there are currently two numbers.
4.   After nine years in existence, the hotline has received 18,815 calls. Callers numbered 5,991 person-times in 2008.
5.   Twenty volunteer training sessions have been held, and a total of 242 volunteers have completed training. Current hotline volunteers consist of around 40 disabled persons.

Between Whole and Imperfect-Disability Film Festival

Features
1.   Gathers outstanding domestic and foreign documentary films about the disabled every year.
2.   Conducts free showings throughout Taiwan from October to December in conjunction with International Disabled Persons Day.
3.   Disabled persons of relevant types are invited to discuss the topics in the films with experts and others viewers.
4.   On-campus awareness is performed in conjunction with life education courses.
5.   Disabled service groups and organizations are invited to participate, giving social workers opportunities for in-service education and skills training.

Development:
1.   The activity began in 2001. Approximately 6-9 films are shown each year. Film topics include limb disabilities, hearing disabilities, visual disabilities, psychological impairments, rare diseases, and cerebral palsy.
2.   A total of 58 films had been shown on more than 400 occasions as of 2008. More than 30,000 persons viewed the films.
3.   A first public viewing collection was issued in 2008; this collection contains five films and is available for purchase by interested persons.
4.   The foundation's web site provides a Between Whole and Imperfect blog and film information for public queries.

Psychological Growth for the Disabled
1.   The foundation is concerned about the mental development of the disabled, and therefore offers various types of mental health services promoting psychological health and adaptation among the mentally and physically disabled. These services are intended to foster a self-confident, happy mental life.
2.  The foundation offers various helpful classes and services, including stress relief classes, artistic creativity activities, parenting education, adaptation assistance, individual and group psychological consulting, and psychological role playing workshops.
3.   The foundation collaborates with psychological counseling departments at universities and colleges, invites experts and scholars to participate in activities, and hires psychologists on special contracts.
4.   The foundation sponsors reading clubs for the disabled (directed by guidance master Hao Ming-yi, president of Dakuai Publishing).

Journey of Love
1.   Since 1994, the foundation has drawn on society's resources to conduct the "Spreading Love Campus Journey" activity. This activity consists of talent performance by the disabled in high schools, and the participants also tell their life stories in order to inspire and motivate the young students.
2.   This activity was renamed "Journey of Love" in 1995, and its scope was expanded to orphans, the elderly, and young offenders.
3.  In order to make it more relevant to in-school students and young offenders, the activity was renamed "Young people! Forward!" in 1999.
4.   After many years, this activity has been held more than 200 times, and has been attended by over 30,000 persons.
5.   Joint sponsors have included the United Daily News, HappyNet Children's Foundation, and Ling Hua Educational Foundation.

Come Join the Friends of Kuang Ching
I. Types of Friends of Kuang Ching
        A. Donations:
1.  Donation of NT$1,000 or more annually (may be donated in installments)
2.  Donations may be made by credit card, bank transfer, postal money order, or Taiwan Cellular cell phones (5180 #00). This foundation will make out receipts; donations may be deducted on tax returns.
3.  Large donations and donations of goods.
       B. Volunteers:
1.  Volunteer service of more than 50 hours annually.
2.  Volunteer types:
      a.  I'm Listening psychological support hotline volunteers must successfully pass training and must continue to revision guidance and in-service training.
      b.  Activity volunteers participating in "Between Whole and Imperfect" and "Journey of Love."
      c.  Administrative volunteers
3.  The foundation will provide a volunteer service handbook and record hours of service.

II. Rights of Friends of Kuang Ching
1.   First priority attendance at the foundation's various activities.
2.   May participate in the foundation's monthly special Friends of Kuang Ching activities.
3.   Regularly receive the foundation's e-bulletin.
4.   May participate in the foundation's various volunteer training classes.

Address: Room 1209, 12F, 206 Songjiang Rd., Taipei 104
Tel: 02-2581-1954 Fax: 02-2562-4282
e-mail: kcf.love@msa.hinet.net
http://www.kuang-ching.org