關於我們 About Us
Well, I suppose we had
better explain first, how this Karma Relief effort got off the ground in the
first place...
It
began, I'm nearly sure, in 1999 - Christmas time. A few of us went to visit the
kids' cancer ward at the Veterans' Hospital in Tien-Mu, Taipei, with some gifts etc. I
had been in that hospital many times before over a few years, and knew the
set-up and situation there, hence the reason for choosing that particular
hospital. That's been pretty much been our regular Christmas Day afternoon
'activity' every year since then - bar a couple of times when we were out of
the country.
We
decided we wanted to do a little more, give a little back, if you will,
beginning in 2006. So, with the help of many donations (monetarially and
musically), big and small, from many people - it all helps - we found a school
in Kaohsiung County that needed some assistance, and around 25 of us (Taiwanese
and foreigners), headed down there in late August of 2006, for a weekend of runnin'
around in the heat with the kids, which included team games/sports/theatrics
etc., and the obligatory water-fight...highly recommended! 
Since
then, we have...oh, and by the way, 'we' here encompasses a considerably big
group of people in comparison to the size of our wee operation; the 10 to 20-ish
who travel, get lost in the mountains for short spells, but eventually get our
bearings and distribute to these destinations around Taiwan, to the 20 to 30
who contribute, volunteer, and help out in other ways...and let's never forget,
all the many people that have thrown some 'shrapnel' or otherwise into
so-called collection jars at certain premium establishments in downtown Taipei
(the bedrock of our support is everyone involved from whatever quarter)...paid
two visits to a home for 'mentally' and physically disadvantaged kids, and
donated some supplies and what have you. Also six schools with students needing
help with their 'lunch-box' fees, winter clothing (it gets cold up on some of
these mountains during the winter, as many of you know), footwear, etc. in Taidong/Taitung
and Xinzhu/Hsinchu Counties. The number of students in attendance at these
schools ranged from 8 to 55, give or take, in both of these counties. All
schools visited were primary/elementary schools, with a few of the more remote
having a kindergarten combined.
So, an important reason
for this site, really, is to let people know where their money is going, and
what it's being spent on in the clearest way that's possible for us - other
than sending snaps around to all and sundry with an invoice of some description
attached.
The
site is still under so-called 'construction' for the moment, but please drop by
again in the next-to-near future, and see what's goin' on.
Thanks
a million to all who have helped, donated and contributed so far! You all know
who you are.
Luck!
一切都應該從1999年~甚至更久以前,因為一個機緣我們開始在聖誕節期間到台北榮總醫院探訪癌症及重症的小朋友,剛開始只有二個人,到後來越來越多的朋友加入,期間除了我們出國之外,這已變成例行每年我們一定要做的事....
經過了多年以後,直到2005年某一天看到新聞在報導有關於某個小朋友無法負擔營養午餐(持續一段時間也有不同的新聞跟付不起學費的報導)我呆坐在 椅子上,那個影像不斷的在我腦海裡盤旋....在台灣,一個不算貧窮的國家,怎麼會有這麼多的小朋友有相同的情況發生在他們身上,所以我興起了一個想 法....既然我們都已經在做了,那我們何不再多做一點,於是Karma Relief就誕生了.
"一切都從零錢開始",我的想法很簡單,很多人不用零錢,但這些零錢積少成多就可以幫助一個小朋友付她/他的餐費,甚至她/他的學費,所以很幸運 的,透過大家的幫忙,在2006/8我們獻出了我們的第一次~高雄縣荖濃國小,接下來在2007年也就是今年,除了台東的泰源國小,我們還到了新竹的新光 國小及他們的司馬庫斯分校,除了資助他們學費之外,還有午餐費,甚至買給他們衣服鞋子及文具.....等等,每一年我們會選一個學校舉辦3天2夜的活動, 帶著我親愛的外國朋友們到不同的地方,資助小朋友之外,也順便培養他們的世界觀.
學校跑的越多,就越發現偏遠地區學校的問題,事實上比我們知道的還要多~
我們能做多少?我不知道...但我們在做!!
感謝多年來幫助過我們的朋友,多年來我一路走來從不孤單,希望我能將我的幸運及幸福,分享給更多的人.. :)
