Taipei (AsiaNews) - A collection of new and used clothes, to be donated to families in financial difficulties: inspire by the Gospel invitation "I was naked and you clothed me" (Mt 25:36), students of Catholic schools in Taiwan are bent on giving a more humane and dignified Christmas to people who have been affected by the crisis. On the island in fact, many families have been hit by unemployment or very little pay, that allows them to buy food, but not other essential expenses like clothes. The work of these young Taiwanese students is aimed not only at their fellow countrymen, but also to people of other countries.
A group of university students in Taichung is in constant contact with the Catholic Church in Swaziland, in a sponsorship that has been running for four years. Every summer, they organize camps for two weeks, with volunteer doctors. A charge of Caritas, Miss Anne Kholi, has come in recent weeks to Taiwan to thank them for the collaboration. In an interview she said: "I saw with my own eyes children crying with joy for having received sneakers for the first time in their lives! It didn't seem true to them to have new and shiny shoes."
The Gospel goes on to say "[I] was in prison and you came to me" (Mt 25:36). For this reason, for many years the ministry of school education in the Diocese of Taipei has taken steps to allow students to learn about the reality of those who live in prison.
On 17 December last, to prepare for Christmas, 60 high school students from four large Catholic schools in Taipei and its environs went to Taipei prison (台北 监狱) in the area of Taoyuan (桃园县), to give Christmas greetings to 300 prisoners detained there.
During the visit, students preformed Christmas carols, dances and comedy sketches. The morning ended with two songs sung together with a group of prisoners. Speaking on behalf of his school mates, a young student in Taipei, Chen Jinhua (陈金华), explains: "We performed in different places bringing these dances and these shows, but here the audience has shown us a very special warmth. I believe they need to feel human contact from the outside. For us it was very touching. " For the prisoners it was a pleasant moment of sharing, especially for those who complete their sentences in the coming months, while for all the others, see you next year!