Taiwan aid brings hope to children in Armenia

Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) Aid from Taiwan is helping to change the lives of children living in the poorest region of the Central Asian country Armenia.

World Vision Taiwan set up a project known as an Area Development Program (ADP) in the town of Aparan earlier this year, with the goal of improving the standard of living of poor children in the area. The town lies in Aragatsotn, an impoverished province in western Armenia.

“The province lacks basic water and sewage amenities, with broken and muddy roads, " said Shi-jing Chen, a priest who had been to Aragatsotn to see the problems faced by local children.

"The children there face difficult lives…they are in need of foreign aid," he said.

After visiting new classrooms and kindergartens sponsored by the World Vision Taiwan, he could see the importance of such donations, he said.

Shu-zhen Yen, director of World Vision Taiwan's Central Area office, said that while Taiwan was once itself a receiver of international aid from World Vision, today it is helping to change the lives of those in poor countries such as Armenia, where just a small donation can make a big difference for those children in need, even making their dreams come true.

World Vision Taiwan has set a goal of helping a total of 2000 children in Armenia, she said.

The area development program established in Aparan follows the first ADP established by World Vision Taiwan in Armenia in 2007. ENDITEM/JC

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel