Taiwan ambassador, minister’s delegation tour Amitofo
MBABANE – Visiting Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Council (ROC) Taiwan Dr Chen Yuan Tung and the delegation from South Africa yesterday joined the Taiwanese Ambassador in Eswatini Jeremy Liang tour of the Amitofo Care Centre of Eswatini at Makhondza in Nhlangano.
The Ambassador and the minister’s delegation were all welcomed by the founder of the Centre Master Venerable Huili where art exhibitions and performances were displayed to all the guests.
Master Huili disclosed that the centre currently enrol 280 pupils.
He also disclosed that the centre has a capacity to accommodate 500 pupils.
Master Huili further disclosed that the school will be sending two pupils this month to further their studies in Taiwan.
The visiting minister said he felt at home at the centre, after seeing the architectural buildings that resemble home.
He also assured Master Huili that he would take the initiative of the Amitofo Centre, because it’s preserving the cultural heritage of the Taiwanese people.
THANKED
He further thanked the centre for not forcing the children, but assisting them to learn another culture that is different from their own.
He said children who learn another culture are able to open up and be tolerant to others who are different from them. The ambassador thanked the delegation for visiting the Taiwanese natives in the country.
In an interview the ambassador said the ministry overseas and community council was taking care of about two million Taiwanese around the world, ensuring their interest were nurtured and secured.
He disclosed that there were about 40 million Taiwanese around the world, where the ministry is responsible for creating a conducive environment for them, to meet and discuss issues that were of interest to them.
The ambassador further said there were other initiatives that also assisted these natives to keep their heritage intact.
LEARNING
He said there were courses for pupils to learn mandarin. Such courses were geared towards assisting them not to have difficulties when they return home, because the learning conditions are different in the country from what was available in Taiwan.
The ambassador disclosed that the minister was in the country with his delegation to maintain a connection with the locals and further encourage them to remember home.
“He is also around to check on what services they would want their homeland to assist them on, while away from home and where collaborations can be forged,” said the ambassador.
DELEGATION
The ambassador and the delegation were treated to Taiwanese cuisine and entertainment by the pupils of Amitofo.
They further toured the school, temple and different stands displaying what the children were learning at the centre.
The language of communication was only Mandarin no English even by local pupils.
This journalist had to get assistance on interpretation from the Ambassador Jeremy Liang.