Families in Adversity Support Program
Families in Adversity Support Program
Program Overview
Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF) supports over 600 families across Taiwan facing severe hardship each year. Many have been pushed into crisis by sudden family emergencies, job loss, or serious illness. They rely on caregivers' limited income or subsidies to make ends meet. For many children, this means going without nutritious meals, living in cramped homes with leaking roofs, missing medical care when they get sick, and growing up without the childcare or learning support they need. For many disadvantaged families, this is everyday life—and for their children, these hardships can become lasting childhood memories.
“Families in Adversity Support Program” supports families in adversity across Taiwan by providing emergency relief, long-term financial aid for living and educational expenses, home visits, counseling, and family empowerment services. Through these efforts, we ensure children in these families have the right to grow up healthy and happy, just like every other child.
Join us in reaching families in adversity in every corner of Taiwan! Your donation can bring practical help and hope to children growing up in hardship.
Use of Funds
Improve children’s living conditions
- Financial subsidies:
Depending on each family’s situation, we provide financial support for basic daily needs, including meals and emergency assistance. - Essential supplies:
We provide food and basic living necessities to families in need, including rice, clothing, winter blankets, and eyeglasses. - Holiday giving:
During holidays and school breaks, we provide seasonal support based on each child’s needs so they can enjoy the kind of everyday experiences many of their peers take for granted. These resources include holiday meals, red envelopes for Lunar New Year, and summer/winter break food supply boxes. - Parenting and Family Support:
We provide parenting training and childcare knowledge to caregivers who need extra support or skills, helping them improve their caregiving abilities and parent-child communication. Additionally, we assist unemployed or re-entering caregivers in finding job opportunities to stabilize family income and break the cycle of poverty.
Helping children Access Medical care and Nutrition
- Special medical care:
For children facing illnesses or developmental delays, we help families access medical care, address caregiving challenges at home, and cover related medical expenses. - Nutrition supplies:
We provide nutritious food and dietary support such as milk, meat, and soy milk to children in need, helping them get the nourishment they need to grow up healthy.
Giving Children the Educational Support They Need
- Educational support:
We subsidize tuition fees and extracurricular activity expenses and provide essential educational supplies such as desk lamps and extracurricular reading materials. - Childcare support:
We provide childcare subsidies for families unable to afford childcare, allowing children to access learning opportunities as soon as possible.
Little Lemon's Story
Little Lemon’s family of six lived in a cramped tiny rooftop room. Their father had patched the ceiling with cardboard and tape, but rain still leaked in. The walls were covered in mold, and the mattress was soaked, worn out, and broken. Exposed springs had even scratched the children.
Their housing was unstable, and food was often scarce. Some days, their meals were little more than broccoli and tofu — just enough to ease their hunger.
Then, a CWLF social worker visited their home with a new bed frame and mattress. The children cheered, "Yay! We don’t have to sleep on that prickly, damp, cold bed anymore!" Their mother took a photo of the giggling children and said to the social worker, "Thank you so much. We don’t even want to get out of bed."
The social worker continued to bring formula, diapers, and picture books. She also talked with the mother about the children’s growth and needs, and encouraged her to continue the older sister’s early intervention therapy.
The old, damp bed was finally taken away. Life is still hard, but with steady support beside them, Little Lemon’s parents have found new strength to keep going for their children.
To help more families like Little Lemon's please support CWLF's programs for families facing hardship here: Donate (When making your donation, please choose “Adversity and services for disadvantaged families” under “Purpose of Donation.”)