Leaving home at dawn and returning late at night, social workers spend long hours on the road. The scenery gradually changes from concrete buildings to rice fields, and even to mountain or coastal landscapes. This is the everyday life of a social worker who provides services in rural areas.

When the social worker first met Quan, who was smaller than his peers, he was squatting off to the side, wrapping his arms tightly around his knees, curling up his body, and not daring to join the group. When interacting with the social worker, Quan could only respond to the social worker by murmuring in a low voice. When Quan was surrounded by his classmates, his classmates often excluded or teased him because of his poor academic performance and occasional use of foul language.

Through a home visit, the social worker learned about the difficulties Quan’s family was facing. A drastic change in the family had left Quan’s father financially unstable and struggling to care for him. For this reason, we helped Quan to attend schools regularly and ensured he could receive stable meals. We also cooperated with his school teachers to provide him with personalized lessons to help him with his assignments.

We aimed to allow Quan to keep up with schoolwork, discover his strengths, and boost his sense of accomplishment. Moreover, with the consistent support and companionship of social workers, Quan gradually developed better social skills.

After one semester, Quan became a completely different person.

Changes Bloom Gradually
Now, Quan confidently shares his academic progress with joy in his voice, and he finally has the chance to join his classmates on field trips. Among all the changes, the most visible one is Quan’s growth in height—he has grown a full ten centimeters, thanks to having regular, nutritious meals. Witnessing Quan’s transformation, his father began to change as well. This transition not only strengthened the bond between father and son, but also led to a more stable and nurturing home life.

We Help Children and Families in a Timely Manner
 “Please make a U-turn. Your destination is at your right side….” These are the words that often echo in the ears of rural social workers. It’s part of their everyday life: listening to the GPS navigation, confirming the next home visit address, staying alert to road conditions, and patiently searching for a child’s home on unfamiliar country roads.

Through Home Visits and Support, We Provide Timely Care to Children in Rural Areas
CWLF has worked closely with two types of rural schools over the years. The first type is located in remote areas, where resources are unequally distributed. The other type is defined by the Ministry of Education as neither in mountainous nor urban areas, with limited statutory subsidies. In these areas, many parents of the children often have to work in other counties or metropolitan areas to support their families. For this reason, children in rural areas are usually taken care of by elders in their homes or communities. The typical characteristics of this type of family include intergenerational child-rearing and caregiving responsibilities often complicated by the declining health of caregivers.

For children from these families with economic pressure and poor living qualities, they can't spend extra money on afterschool classes. These children are burdened with the responsibility of caring for their families and the inequality of getting learning resources. Furthermore, these conditions affect their confidence and interactions with others. On the other hand, these children’s living conditions and emotions are usually being ignored. This is why social workers need to visit and consult with these children and assist them timely.

Culturally Responsive Practice: Delivering Care That Truly Resonates

During their home visits, social workers often find themselves handling unexpected situations alone because many of these schools and families are in rural areas. Many social workers have learned to sharpen their skills to fix issues independently from the early stage of their professional lives. Yet the most challenging part is maintaining cultural openness and sensitivity. Since social workers will frequently work with people from different cultural backgrounds in rural areas, they not only have to be aware of children’s needs, but they also have to understand the idea and habit of taking care of children in different cultural contexts.

They also have to discuss with the individuals they provide service to and come up with methods of child-rearing that they can understand. At times, cultural misunderstandings may lead to conflicts. In such moments, social workers must reflect critically on their own values and find a balance between professional principles and the cultural norms of the community they serve.

The True Value of Our Services Lies in the Change We Witness

Even though resources in rural areas are comparatively abundant compared to the past, the number of people who are willing to dedicate themselves to this service is still scarce. CWLF’s Children in Rural Areas services have operated for 15 years. The act of keeping these children company allows social workers to help children in need to get new clothes and shoes and participate in our courses and after-school activities at ease. Having the opportunity to learn in different ways, these children will no longer be alone after school because there is someone to read, write, and play with them.

Lastly, social worker Chi shared her remark “I witnessed children grow from little kids who needed care to big kids who could help their teachers and parents. Initially, throughout the home visit, they only interacted with social workers when they were playing games and drawing, and now these children will actively share their feelings and thoughts with social workers. In this long-term accompany, these children have bloomed strong and have carried themselves with skills. To me, this is truly touching and valuable.”

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◼︎ Bring Hope to a Child’s Life in Taiwan’s Quiet Corners: Taiwan Children Nutrition Subsidy Program
◼︎ More CWLF stories:
【Hotline Services】Reconnecting Children and Parents Through Compassionate Support Networks
【Family Empowerment Service】Life Practice of Living with Emotional Challenges