Education Taiwan Project #41469

Soaring Beyond for Children in Out-of-Home Care

by The Mustard Seed Mission

Project Report | May 3, 2022
Help Children Overcome 3C Addiction!

By Daisy Su | Director of Agape Children's Home

In the digital age, it is unlikely to prohibit children from using 3C i.e. computer/communication/consumer electronic products. But, as it has been said "water can overturn a boat, and it can also carry a boat.", digital technology can make people addicted, and of course it can also bring substantial help to life.

The teachers in Agape Children's Home have recently noticed that children are becoming more and more depending on 3C products.

For example, homework learning and application, watching news, finding maps, connecting with friends, and online games, more and more children need the assistance of electronic products.

It's good to use tools well, but before you know it, electronic products are eroding children's thinking like a drug stimulant, making them more and more inseparable from it.

On this day, the teacher gathered the children and led them to reconsider their dependence on electronic products

Since when did you use google for searching knowledge?

Since when did you only communicate with friends through messages and texts?

In order to make children aware of their addiction to electronic products, the teacher changed this week's leisure time to arrange reading activities.

The children felt a little irritable and anxious when they knew they would only be in the stack of books for the next hour.

However, after arriving at the activity center, the children were looking for books that might be of interest to them in the huge sea of books.

They fell silent one by one, chewing the meaning of the words in their own positions, tasting the emotions of this chapter, and immersed in the world of the book.

In the end, many children were only reminded by their teachers that an hour had passed, and they shared with each other what they had just read that they found interesting. Compared with staring at the phone screen and sending messages, face-to-face communication was more valuable.

Looking back at the children's feelings when they are immersed in reading, it can be found that it is very important to cultivate hobbies other than mobile phones. Even if there is no mobile phone, as long as you develop good hobbies, it is no longer so painful to put down the mobile phone. The point is "what to do after putting down the phone." In real life, there are actually many fun things that you can do with your children, such as reading together, riding a bicycle, climbing, hiking, painting, and labor. We can guide children to use the mobile phone as a daily life tool with self-discipline.

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Jan 9, 2022
What Else Can I Do for MS Youth Home?

By Kim Li | Director of Mustard Seed Youth Home

Before coming to Mustard Seed Youth Home, Hon often skipped class and wandered around. The main reason for Hon's behavioral deviation was the lack of proper care and upbringing of his birth family. 2 years ago, the court referred Hon to MS Youth Home and it was difficult for Hon to adapt to this new environment. He had never experienced regular schedule and school life before. Therefore, Hon often skipped school and ran away from MS Youth Home.

In addition to spending time with Hon, social workers often rushed to school or the court to discuss with school teachers and probation officer about how to help Hon adapt to the new life so that he can go to school stably.

After a long time of company and hard work, Hon found a goal in life a year ago. He was chosen to be class leader in the school, and cultivated his interest in jazz drums. The broken relationship between his father was gradually being repaired. This year, Hon took the Comprehensive Assessment Program for Junior High School Students and then Hon was registered to National Hualien Commercial High School and he decided to return home to live with his father and continue his studies.

In his last summer vacation at the MS Youth Home, Hon asked the social worker: "What can I do for MS Youth Home?" Hon said that because of everyone's acceptance and company, he was able to get rid of his former lifestyle and he really hopes to take actions to give back to the homeland. So when other people are having fun playing board games during the summer vacation, Hong alone repairs some of the facilities and equipment in the Youth Home under the sun.

The story of Hon's life continues. A new chapter is about to start after he returns home and continues his education.

Wish him get a little closer to his dream every day!

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Sep 14, 2021
Young Tim Has His Dream After Having Enough Food

By Ms. Ming-Chu Lee | Project Leader

The teenager Tim came to Mustard Seed Youth Home from the fourth grade of elementary school. His mother was in jail for taking drugs. His father was gone and haven't heard from him since. Tim was raised by his adoptive parents since he was a child. Because the adoptive father himself has a moderate intellectual disability, plus the family's financial difficulties, the adoptive parents gradually became unable to take care of Tim. Under the referral of the Hualien County Government, Tim was arranged to move into the Youth Home.

when just arrived at Youth Home, Tim was very quiet. He had no habits to bath and clean up dirty dishes after meals. Perhaps the poor life in the past, Tim was anxious for food and material. Even though the Youth Home normally served three meals to the children, Tim still secretly hid the food under the bed or in a place he felt unnoticeable. His misconduct was discovered by the counselor as the food became rotted and smelled badly.

After being cared and taught by the counselors, Tim slowly established good habits and learned how to take care of himself in daily life. Also, he can clarify the difference between "wants" and "needs", and takes only appropriate amounts of food at each meal. In order to achieve self-control and normal satisfaction, at the same time, Tim began to understand the concept of item ownership, and got rid of the behavior of wanting to take items as his own.

This year, 16-year-old Tim has a stable life at the Youth Home. Because he is interested in cooking, he studied catering at school. He is grateful for the kindness of his adoptive parents to nurture him. This year's New Year, Tim takes, he returned to his adoptive parents' home and with the money he saved to hold a barbecue New Year's Eve dinner for them to express his gratitude. Last month, while a VIP guest was visiting the Youth's House to make donations, Tim volunteered to make muffins to serve the guest.

For the future, Tim holds infinite hope. Maybe he is to become a chef, or one day he can open a restaurant of his own. Before his dream is realized, Tim intends to enlist in the army for voluntary service in order to have a stable life and give feedback to the society.

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