August 30, 2009
Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan
Written by Lydia Ma

After Typhoon Morakot rescue and relief efforts come to a close, relocation and rebuilding must begin. The most important rebuilding of all may be the emotional healing of victims.

Just before students start school again, churches housing typhoon victims have asked college students to help children and youth who lost their homes during the typhoon by offering tutoring sessions and leading group activities and games.

According to reports, children make up a significant percentage of victims temporarily housed by churches. For example, of all the victims staying at Kangshan Presbyterian Church in Kaohsiung County, about 25% are less than 16 years old, and about 50% of victims staying at Mucha Presbyterian Church in Kaohsiung County are children and youth.

Since children are normally carefree, full of energy, and accustomed to running around like they did while living at home, living in churches has its constraints for them. Furthermore, their parents are now focused on getting jobs and securing government compensation, and most likely don't have enough time or energy to play with them or help them rediscover laughter.

Fully aware of these children's needs, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Youth Ministry Committee Secretary Itan Pavavalong and Tainan Presbytery Beimen Church Pastor Rev. Chi Chia-sheng decided to ask youth from churches not affected by the storm to become volunteers. They want to ask youth fellowships from these churches to sponsor one church each and take turns volunteering.

Chi said he hopes youth from Tainan presbytery will volunteer to help as it would give them an opportunity to participate in typhoon relief efforts as well. Because students will soon start school again, volunteering activities will be scheduled during weekends.

When offering assistance, volunteers must first ask churches or shelters what kind of help is needed, plan ahead instead of arriving empty handed and starting from scratch at the scene (for example, prepare appropriate books and songs beforehand), plan various short activities during their visits but commit to volunteering at a shelter for the long term, assess their own gifts, abilities, and limitations, and extend empathy instead of patronizing victims or church staff.

Taiwan Church News