Taiwan: St. Tobias Social Welfare Foundation

About the local hosting organization

ICYE TAIWAN is a non-profit and non-governmental independent organization now. ICYE Taiwan was founded in 1991 with the support of the International Division of Tainan YMCA. The office is located in Tainan. The construction of ICYE Taiwan is for the expansion and development of the leadership of young people through living and volunteering abroad for one year. The exposure experience will certainly benefit both the out-going and in-coming exchangees a great deal.

Presentation of the programme

Tobias Social Welfare Foundation is a day care center for adults with developmental or multiple disabilities from moderate to severe degree. It has been legally registered with the City Government of Tainan as a social welfare organization since 1982. Aim: A program for 25 individuals suffering from autism and mental or multiple disabilities. This service is provided in the “Tainan Municipal Home for the Disabled“. Its indoor and outdoor activities are designed to reinforce the participants‘ daily living skill, functional mobility, communication, creativity and recreation in a safe, supportive and cheerful environment. Tasks: Co-assistance in day-to-day tasks and rehabilitation course in the center, such as feeding and accompanying with them. The volunteer would have to teach handicrafts in her/his classes with professional staff’s supported.

About the accomodation

The volunteer will stay with the host family. It’s getting difficult to find host families in Taiwan, and most host families are not exchangees’ families. This means that many families are open-minded enough to have you as one of their family members not as a guest. So, please try to be a part of the family. Take part in the activities of your host family and spend some time with them. If they don’t have so much time to be with you, you can also arrange your entertainment by yourself (just for reminding, there’s no perfect host family). The host families need to take responsibility for you because you are a part of their family members, so that they will worry about your life in Taiwan. Some rules to protect you, such as curfews (back home before 10pm.....), or mention in advance before your activity.

About the location

The Tobias Social Welfare is situated in East District, Tainan City. The southern of Taiwan.

About the leisure activities

Exchangees may travel inside/outside the country ONLY during the weekends, official holidays, or in the free time.

Requirements

• Age 18-28 (Exception must be negotiated beforehand) • Mature and responsible, open-minded and adaptable. • Motivating to be a volunteer, not a tourist or a student. • Willing to fulfill the responsibilities of being an ICYE exchangee in the different country. • Following the decisions taken by ICYE Taiwan. • Interests in working with mentally disabled young adults. • Positive, active and patient.