China Development Foundation is promoting the "Heritage 100 x Tutoring 100" Program to financially assist outstanding college students and encourage them to become tutors for economically disadvantaged schoolchildren in Taiwan. This program has supported over 1,700 students in the past 17 years. Recently, the foundation held an online volunteering workshop, where this year's 100 scholarship recipients pledged to work together with love, patience, and tolerance to assist schoolchildren for 100 hours of tutoring sessions.
The "Heritage 100 x Tutoring 100" Program was established with the strong support of Angelo J. Y. Koo, the chairman of the China Development Foundation, to encourage college students to accompany disadvantaged schoolchildren in their growth. Volunteers who share similar backgrounds with the disadvantaged children can provide timely assistance and understand their needs. Since its implementation, a total of NT$84 million has been invested, and about 1,700 college students have participated in the volunteering program, benefiting more than 1,700 schoolchildren and families.
Luo, a student at the graduate school of Chung Cheng University, has received the scholarship for five consecutive years due to her outstanding performance in tutoring. One day, Luo met a younger student whom she had tutored before. The little girl said, "Sister, you used to remind me to concentrate on my studies and do my homework obediently after class. I have done it all now!" This simple sentence deeply moved Luo. She said that through interacting with the students, she has developed empathy and learned to think from their perspectives. Another student named Dai, who has just received a scholarship for the first time at Taipei University, is looking forward to becoming a volunteer tutor. "Looking back on my growth process, receiving help and encouragement from others gave me the courage to face the future. Now that I have the ability, I also want to be a person who gives strength to others," Dai said.
Angelo J. Y. Koo firmly believes that "education is the best investment." For 17 years, through this program, the volunteers have not only helped disadvantaged students improve their learning confidence but also had the opportunity to give back to society. The foundation will continue to be involved in disadvantaged education, assisting students in finding their academic direction and helping them to grow happily with the support and companionship of love. The Foundation hopes that college students who are interested in giving back will join as tutoring volunteers so that more disadvantaged children can benefit, expanding the cycle of kindness and working together to spread love and warmth.