Teng Hsin-Ting and Joseph Tiangco dedicate their time to causes ranging from domestic violence survivors to victims of Syrian civil war

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/25
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A non-profit organization funded by a Taiwanese woman and her Filipino husband is calling for support this festive season as it seeks to build a loving home for children with irreversible brain injuries resulting from domestic violence.

Depending on the severity of the brain injury, the children experience various neuromuscular issues, including problems swallowing food and eating by themselves, a general difficulty performing actions such as crawling, grabbing objects, and walking, and cerebral palsy — an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of neurodevelopmental deficits.

Young survivors of domestic violence and trauma might not be well cared for at existing orphanages in Taiwan due to the difficulties involved in tending to their special needs. According to the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) 2013 Factsheet, these children, especially girls, are the most vulnerable to further abuse and neglect during their time in institutions. UNICEF data also show that improper healthcare management in unsupervised institutions often leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

Teng Hsin-Ting (鄧馨庭) and her husband, Dr. Joseph Anthony Narciso Z. Tiangco (田安克) experienced this firsthand four years ago.    [FULL  STORY]