House of Dreams Youth Development Association | 社團法人中華民國夢想之家青年發展協會
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Mission Statement
“Education is the key to the future!” With shrinking economy more and more families are struggling with problems such as unemployment, poverty, and depression. These vulnerable families are often unable to provide good education or even a good learning environment and spiritual support for their children. As a result, thesekidscan become very susceptible to temptations, such as internet, sex, and drugs.Without guidance, they are likely tofall into temptation before they realize the serious consequences they are to face.Thus, we are trainingpeople who have passion and dreams for these kids, especially youth, to become role models and guidance for them. We have started free programs to help teenagers develop their talents, skills, and motivation to engage in school tasks. We also regularly hold activities and events to help develop self-esteem and character building. Our aim is to provide holistic education to the disadvantaged youth.
About This Cause
1. ORIGIN OF THE PROGRAM Hsi-Men-Ting, a place in the Wanhua District of Taipei, is considered as the paradise for the youth. Studentslike to hang out, shop, watch movies and do many more activities here. Yet, behind this prosperous market, there hides a lot of problems, especially those of teenagers with poor family support.These children are the most likely to escape from school and home to come to Hsi-Men-Ting to look for fun and friends.In order to get acceptance and support, some may join gangs. Others may get involved in drug dealing or prostitution to earn money. According to Government statistics, among the 12 districts of Taipei, Wanhua District has the highest number of low-incomefamilies, low-educated families and single-parent families. The Global Views Monthly magazine in September 2008 had included Wanhua District as one of the socially and economically disadvantaged communities of Taipei City. In September 2006, a bunch of passionate young adults, with an average age below 20, decided to do something to make the society better. Touched by the heart of these youngsters a christian lent them a 66 m2 apartment for free. With no finance and little initial support, House of Dreams was born. In the beginning of 2007, one high school volunteer had an idea to offerfree street dance lessons. From that day on, more and more free classes have been been opened to the youth in House of Dreams. Now there are over 10 classes, including classes for street dance, music, performing arts, financial management, and etiquette, etc. There is also an academic support class for children of the poor, which was started in 2008. To cultivate the children’s inner stregth, we would give them character education one hour before the end of every class. So far we have established a long-term partnership with two middle schools (Wanhua Junior High School and Longshuan Junior High School) and four elementary schools (Fusing Elementary School, Hsimen Elementary School, Hsiyuan Elementary School and HsihehElementary School). Till now House of Dreamshave already reached a total of 3,000 students, with an average of 1,000 each year. Provision of free classes for the youth was not enough, these children need material support. As we had noticed, many poor kidsalways came with empty stomaches.Some families did not even have money for a meal. Thus, we started the Hope in Taipei charity program with our cooperated schools. Now every year we manage to visit over 100 families, with over 200 volunteers. We make friends with the families and givethem stationery and daily supplies. House of Dreams is a place for youth not only to find but also to fulfill their dreams. Our vision is to make House of Dreams the warmest home for all the children in need. 2. OUR GOAL We dream that there will be House of Dreams in every city and town in Taiwan, the youth everywhere will be enlightened, enhanced, empowered. 3. OUR MISSION STATEMENT Become companions to young people as they struggle through difficulties. Encourage and inspire them through moulding of character, abilities, creativity and public services into remarkable leaders of tomorrow. 6. PLANS A. Services we provide a. Competence Enhance i. "Be Outstanding!"— a youth academic improvement project According to the director of Guidance and Counseling Office of Wanhua Junior High School (the largest middle school in the Wanhua District) quite a lot of parents in the Wanhua District cannot afford, and therefore do not think it is necessary, to spend for their kids on education after school. Also, many of these parents are too busy working than to check on their kids’ performance at school. As we have learned, children are very sensitive. When they get left behind in class too often, and their parents are not there to encourage them, they may often feel frustrated and lose interest in learning, as well as the motivation to work harder. As National Tsing Hua University honorary professor Lee, Chia-Tung (aka Richard C.T. Lee) wrote in his book Do Not Let Poor Kids Fall Into Eternal Poverty, “education is the only hope of breaking long-standing poverty cycles within families.”A child who does not get a good education, loses a great opportunity to change the situation of his/her family for the better in the future. The Warrior League provides for the students perfect studying environment and teachers with great patience and love whose goal is to help the children gain both interest in learning and good grades at school. We also provide poor children with free suppers to help loosen up some burden on their families. ii. Study Group The Study Group is for children who do not have adequate places to do their homework or study at home. We provide quiet and spacious rooms with comfortable chairs and lighting for reading. iii. Digital class in rural areas In order to give all the rural children in Taiwan the same opportunity to education we are giving to the children in House of Dreams, we have cooperated with telecom carriers and cram schools to design digital classes. We have also established the “Dream School Platform” for fundraising. b. Character building and holistic development i. The Passion Group Many disadvantaged youth have difficulties in self-expression and interpersonal relationship. All the students in House of Dreams have to join the Passion Group, through which our trained college volunteers will make friends with them and help them to build healthy relationships with themselves as well as others. ii. Speeches and lectures with interaction on life, character building, and career planning House of Dreams hold regularly speeches and lectures with interactions intended to cultivate the youth the right thinking and a positive attitude toward life. iii. Activities for special events (Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Thanksgiving Day) These activities are designed to give opportunities for parents to spend quality time with their children. Through the activities, we help the children to learn to be grateful and to pass on the love they have received. iv. The macho man training program Compared to teenage girls, teenage boys seems to be more active and impulsive, and, without proper guidance, are more likely to go astray. The Macho Man Camp provide the boys to challenge the physical limits. Through accomplishing the activities we have designed for them in the camp, the boys will learn to be strong and take responsibility. c. Creativity inspiration and arts education i. School of Creative Arts School of Creative Arts provides courses in dance, music, drama, makeup artistry, and English conversation. Our aim is to help the youth to find confidence and learn to express themselves. ii. Talent and Character Development Camp for younger children Other than youth camps and classes, we also open a camp for younger children to stimulate their potential talents and give them lessons on character development. d. Care for the disadvantaged & volunteer training i. Hope in Taipei — Home visiting charity program Our trained college volunteers will visit these families to give away daily supplies and school supplies. Through spending time with the families, many of our volunteers have learned how rich and blessed they are. They get encouraged and are willing to pay forward more blessings to others. ii. Rural service Team During every winter and summer vacations we encourage the youth to join our rural service team to visit the people in need in Eastern Taiwan. iii. Give and Teach Operation — volunteer training Volunteers are the key without which House of Dreams could never be opened. We desperately need those who have passion and are willing to submit themselves to help the youth. The main contents of our volunteer training include leadership training and personal development.