Doors to Diplomacy 2007

The Role of Taiwan in World Health - International Medical Aid

(A) Project Information

	1.	Title: The Role of Taiwan in World Health – International Medical Aid
	2.	URL:： The Role of Taiwan in World Health International Medical Aid
	3.	Category: Health and the Environment
	4.	Number of Students who worked on the Project: 4
	5.	Age of Students who worked on this project: 15 – 16
	6.	Date that Project was Finished: 03/10/2007
	7.	List of Years we have participated in Doors to Diplomacy: 2007
	8.	Classes and Teachers: Huang, Chung-chih
	9.	E-Mail contact: f780313@yahoo.com.tw
	10.	School: Ming-Dao High School
	11.	Our School’s Web Sites: http://www.mingdao.edu.tw/

(B) Project Overview

1. Summary of Our Project:

In the long and difficult years of developing a health service in Taiwan, the international community and individuals provided expertise, financial and technical assistance in areas such as public health and disease prevention. While social progress and economic prosperity have made competent and accessible medical care for all a reality in Taiwan, we are keenly aware that many people in other parts of the world still live in poverty and disease.

“Health for All” is a universal call to action and we can not sit by idly while so many suffer from poverty, disease, and natural or man-made disasters. Firmly believing that health is a human right, that humanitarian aid knows no political boundaries, that giving international health assistance is our obligation as citizens of the world community, we stand able and willing to offer the international community our experiences and expertise in health services.

This website will show that the people of Taiwan care about those suffering in other countries. Their actions underpin Taiwan’s pledge to advance global health. We have no doubt that, given the scope and opportunity, we can contribute more, and contribute better, to the goal of health as a human right.

2. Description of Our Team:

　

Chang Chia-wei

Being Taiwan’s ambassador of child human right, Chia-wei is especially concerned about the welfare of the underprivileged children. She not only sponsors children from Philippine, she sponsors blind children in Taiwan as well. She has represented Taiwan in the World Child Human Right Summit of 2002, where she debated child human right issues with delegates from other countries. Chia-wei indicated that showing concern for the international affairs not only would expand one’s horizon, it would also enrich one’s self to become more globally minded. She does all the coordinating and integrating work. She is doing a good job as a team leader.

Hung Chin-ting
Ching-ting has been receiving volunteer training since the middle school, as she has chosen volunteer work as the work of her choice. She has indicated that she gained happiness from serving others. She is responsible for information collection and photography on our

	Chao Shu-han
	Shu-han is very interested in arts. She is not only talented, but she is also very creative. Her main task in the team is graphic design. She did not disappoint, for her work often delights her team members. Shu-han has indicated that becoming a outstanding designer is a future goal for her. We believe that it is only a matter of time before she achieves her goal!

Chen Yen-yu
Yen-yu has a non-pretentious demeanor, and she is a self-starter. That is why she always finds herself the leader of the team. She is very adept at writing. She would look over the drafts that we wrote and make them even better by adding her own touch. She has spent a lot of time in editing the web pages that we created. She is an indispensable part of our team.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access:

a. Percentage of students using the Internet at home: 100% b. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom: 6 c. Connection speed used in the classroom: T1 d. Number of years our classroom has been connection to the Internet: 16 e. Additional comments concerning our computer and/or Internet access:

Our school is connected to the Taichung area Internet hub – National Chung Hsing University – via a dedicated T1 line. We are also connected to the TAnet, the Hinet via three two-way 512K ADSL lines, and the Heshin System via a cable modem. All these Internet connections are fed into a load balancer so that different ISP’s could be sorted out. The parents and students use mostly 512/64K ADSL lines by Hinet at home.

4. Problems We Had to Overcome:

(a) Nervousness in the Beginning

When we first started working on this research project, we thought that the term “international medical assistance” was very remote, and considered it the job of medical workers. The truth is, anyone who is willing could do it. Even if they are not in the frontline, they could still participate by making donations and promoting to the public. Therefore, under the guidance of our teacher, we started learning one step at a time, as we slowly overcame that nervousness in the beginning.

(b) Inadequate foreign language ability

Because most related information about medical assistance is in foreign language, in order to obtain the information both quickly and accurately, all of our team members installed an instant translating software on the computer. We also carry portable translators so we could use them to translate foreign articles and web pages for us.

(c) Stage fright

Because our interviewees were all well known people in the medical community, we were feeling quite intimidated and shy. However, we believed that being prepared was the only way to overcome the apprehension during the interview. Before each interview, we did our homework by reviewing the interview’s background and going over the questions. When we did that, it not only built our confidence, it also showed our sincerity.

(d) Time management

The completion of a research project depends on the delegated tasks of each team member, as well as cooperating with each. Because our high school is in the middle of the country, but most of our interviewees live in the northern part, add to that the heavy workload of our classes, effective time management becomes very important. We not only used phone calls and e-mails to get in touch, we also planned everything well in advance, all in an effort to increase the efficiency of our work.

(e) Permission for Copyrighted Material

Respecting the copyrights of intellectual properties is a necessity for every world citizen, therefore we have always requested for permission from the author before we used any articles or videos in our project. However, we were troubled by not being able to locate the authors in some instances, but fortunately we were able to find these authors after some hard searches.

5. Our Project Sound Bite:

In today’s humanitarian society, “when you have the means, don’t forget to help others” has become a common goal. It enables us to not just place our focus on ourselves, but to combine our small portions of love into a large portion, and to spread this love to the rest of the world, making this world a healthier and more harmonious. So even if someone can’t become a participant, one can still play the role of a supporter, so this love can be passed down from generation to generation. Otherwise, one will find fewer and fewer things to touch his or her own heart if he or she continues to play the role of a spectator. Therefore, turning this emotion into action, lending a timely hand, and giving our lives a different meaning are what we would like to share with everyone.

6. How did our activities and research for this Doors to Diplomacy project support content standards, required coursework and curriculum requirements?

(a) Getting on the Same Page Internationally

The international medical assistance programs, which are politically neutral and boundless, are the best gateway to the world for Taiwan. They bring Taiwan’s love through the borders, and take medical services to the underprivileged third-world countries. They allow Taiwan to become a responsible world citizen and get on the same page with the rest of the world.

(b) Caring for Lives

Caring for Lives has become a common task for all the world citizens. We are sending our love and concern to the third-world countries that are facing difficulties and struggles due to poverty, diseases, and disasters. Caring for Lives is a basic respect for human lives, and it is the central idea of a series of live education classes at our school.

(c) Treat Human Rights Properly

The constitution of the World Health Organization states “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” Through the international medical assistance programs, the basic rights to health at birth are maintained.

(d) Sharing with Mankind

According to Dr. Noordhoff, “medical knowledge, experience, and expertise should be shared with the world in order to raise the level of medical care and benefit the mankind.” Therefore, we tried our best to demonstrate Taiwan’s willingness to share its experience and knowledge with the world.

(e) Applying Information Technology

Even though this world is so vast, we are still able to meet people in different parts of the world and expand our horizon through the application of information technology. When the information technology is used in medical services, it is a mission out of love, as well as the motivation for us to reach for higher standards; it even helps us form the correct value.

(C) Project Elements

1. What information tools and technologies did you use to complete your Doors to Diplomacy project?

Hardware
Desktop Computer Notebook Computer	Creating and editing web pages
Telephone	Reaching interviewer, teachers, team members, government offices
Pen Recorder	Recording interviewee’s words, as well as voice reminder for ourselves
Regular Camera Digital Camera Digital Video Camera	Recording the entire production process, as well as record our field trips
Television	Used for newscasts and related special reports
Monitor	Used for viewing briefings and the videos that we recorded
Scanner	Used for scanning pictures and photographs

Software
WORD2000	Word processing
Dreamweaver MX	Webpage creation
Flash MX	Animation creation
Adobe Photoshop CS	Image processing
Adobe Illustrator CS	Illustration for images
SwiSHmax	Special effects for texts of title and first page
PHOTOIMPACT 8.0	To edit drawings, photos, and pictures
Ulead GIF Animator 5	Producing photo animation
WS-FTP95LE	To transmit data files
MS-IE6.0	Searching Internet information and check results
ACDSee32	Browsing pictures
MS-Outlook Express	Sending and receiving e-mails

Printed Material
Library Cultural Center	To search for needed information
Museum	Collecting information and conduct interviews
Books Magazines	Searching for and double-check information
Verbal Interview	The verbal words of related people

2. In what ways did our students act as “ambassadors” and spokespersons for our Doors to Diplomacy project both on-line and in person.

(a) Voluntary Participation

We believe that achieving the principle of caring for human lives is only accomplished through voluntary participation. We took it upon ourselves to contact the pertinent organizations and persons and presented our topic of “International Medical Assistance” as part of the Doors to Diplomacy competition. These organizations and individuals not only asked us about the competition in detail, they also gladly provided information and agreed to be interviewed. They also encouraged us to continue to care for the international affairs.

(b) Powerful Promotion

To get up and act is better than sit and talk. The goal of our promotion in school and community is for the public to know Taiwan’s international medical assistance effort. Fortunately, in the course of this research project, the public television station was showing a special program called “Care without borders”. This program talked about how Taiwan’s medical teams had overcome many great obstacles to help more than 3000 AIDS patients in Malawi, and therefore earned the approval of the international community. Since this is such a touching documentary, we contacted the Department of Health, Bureau of International Cooperation, which is the copyright holder of this documentary, and gained their approval to show it at our school and community. This program enables more people to realize that there are still many more people needing our help outside of Taiwan.

(c) Event Initiation

We initiated the Love of Mingdao and AIDS Assistance events. The former urged students to sponsor impoverished third-world children, and the latter was a event that raised money to help Africa prevent the spread of AIDS, through the help of the World Vision. Both events gained tremendous support from our fellow students. According to the World Vision, our school has the largest number of classes collectively sponsoring impoverished third-world country children. We will thrive to continue this effort.

(d) Active Sponsorship

Even though we are only high school students, and we are not able to stand in the frontline of the medical assistance work, but we could become the small force behind Taiwan’s international medical team. The most powerful support for these humanitarian organizations is through actual donation. Therefore, we not only contributed our own allowances, but we also called on our friends and relatives to join in. We hope that this small force can multiply many times and become a major force.

3. What has been or will be the impact of our project on our community?

When we introduced our project to our school and community, many people started questioning us as to why we need to help those outside of our country when there are so many people here in Taiwan needing assistance. We would tell them that, being a member of the global society, we need to expand our vision in order for us to look further and broader. Taiwan has very advanced medical technology and abundant resources, so it is important to help those in other parts of the world who do not even have any access to medical care. After hearing our explanation, most people were able to accept our point of view.

While we were introducing our project to our classmates and area residents, many people told us that they had never come across the topic of “international medical assistance” before. After they saw our website, they grew sympathetic of the people who require the assistance, and they asked us how to make a donation toward that cause. After seeing such a good response to our project, we felt an even greater sense of responsibility.

Finally, we recognize that “international medical aid” still faces an uphill battle. It is important to continue to support these programs by either money or time contribution. We need to team together to fight the poverty and diseases on this earth, so Taiwan’s passion could spread to every corner of the earth and blossom into beautiful flowers. We are starting out from our school and community, one step at a time, as we hope that our research project could attract more passionate, zealous, and giving people to be a part of the international medical team.

4. How did our project involve other members of our community as helpers and volunteers?

(1) Minister of Department of Health, Dr. Hou Sheng-mou, MD

We have written an e-mail request to the Minister of Department of Health, Dr. Hou Sheng-mou, to request for an interview. His office promptly replied and agreed to our request, as well as providing necessary assistance. We have obtained a large amount of valuable information from Dr. Hou during the interview.

(2) Bureau of International Cooperation, Department of Health

We have obtained the permission of the Bureau of International Cooperation, Department of Health, to use its documentary Care without Borders for promotional purposes in our school and community. This documentary was shown on the public television at the end of 2006. It talked about Taiwan’s medical teams devoting themselves to the country of Malawi, helping them fight against the AIDS. Because the theme of this documentary is similar to our project’s, we not only used it as our teaching material in school, we also showed it to the community residents as a way of promoting Taiwan’s international medical assistance effort.

(3) The Spokesperson of Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lu Ching-long

Before we entered this competition, we had mentioned to Mr. Lu about our intention to enter the Door of Diplomacy 2007, and we viewed a documentary that was made by the Department of Foreign Affairs about Taiwan’s non-government organizations (NGO’s). This documentary provides an in-depth look at the international assistance work done by Taiwan’s NGO’s. It made us even more determined to participate in the research project of International Medical Assistance.

(4) Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

In a speech made by Dr. Noordhoff, who is the founding superintendent of the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, in 2006, he talked about learning how to develop one’s own unique personality and professionalism. We found this speech to be very inspirational and asked for, and obtained, permission to include this speech in our project.

(5) Chia-Yi Christian Hospital

The Chia-Yi Christian Hospital has provided background information about Mr. Judd Nelson. He was born in South Dakota in 1913. Having fought in World War II, Mr. Nelson started to care for and sponsor orphans from all over the world after he retired from the military. He came to Taiwan in 1975, and he became a volunteer at the Chia-Yi Christian Hospital. His nickname is “uncle”, and he spends his whole life caring for children suffering from polio.。

(6) The Representative of Department of Health in Africa, Dr. Chen Chu-chen

Ever since he took the job as the Department of Health resident doctor in Africa in 2002, Dr. Chen Chu-chen has been to 18 different African countries to actively establish a good working relationship with other international medical organizations, as well as helping Taiwan’s 4 medical teams in Africa expand the scope of their services. During our interview with Dr. Chen, he showed us what an unselfish doctor is really like.

(7) The Chairman of Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps, Dr. Liu Chi-chun

The Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps is a team of no-boundary doctors in Taiwan. We interviewed with its president Dr. Liu Chi-chun to talk about his views. Dr. Liu said that when Taiwan was experiencing shortages in medical resources in the past, it had received a tremendous amount of international aid. Taiwan is now capable of giving back, so it is necessary to lend a helping hand to those in the international community. He thought that the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps was able to learn a lot in the process of providing medical services. What it gained far exceeded what it gave. In those remote and underprivileged areas, they have all the diseases mentioned in the textbooks, as well as some that are not even in the textbooks. Dr. Liu reminded us to treat each service encounter as a learning trip.

(8) The first Taiwan’s MSF doctor, Dr. Soong Ruey-shyang

Dr. Soong is Taiwan’s first doctor to participate in the Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF. Following his first MSF trip to Liberia in March of 2004, he wrote the book MSF Doctor Out to Liberia. According to Dr. Song, he wanted to plant the seed for Taiwan’s future doctors to see what people in other countries are going through in order for them to realize how fortunate they are to practice medicine in Taiwan.

5. Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises

(1) The Discovery of Unlimited Hopes

A small amount of gift contribution may not mean much to someone who is leading an affluent life; however, that gift could bring unlimited hope to someone who is less fortunate. We discovered that a small gesture by us is powerful enough comfort the hearts of those who are suffering and light the fire of hope for them. This discovery leads us to believe that we should not be skimpy when helping others, as we share what we have with those less fortunate.

(2) The Lesson on Respecting Lives

Everyone is born equal regardless of political stands, socioeconomic statuses, or nationalities. It is the principle of international medical assistance to treat each life equally, which shows respect for the human right. In this research project, we have learned the right attitude toward human lives: cherish the preciousness of lives, share the joy of lives, and give the passion of lives.

(3) The Surprise of Miracle Creation

Medical services are continual and perpetual. According to the former secretary of United Nations Kofi Annan, “they share their time, their knowledge, and their abilities, but more importantly, they share their experiences. They have the courage to believe that their efforts could change things, even the whole world.” These medical workers who volunteer their time, seek the benefits of others, and ask for nothing in return, really are quietly changing the lives of so many people in certain parts of the world. To our amazement, we have discovered the miracles that they used their love to create.