Two Social Service Agencies rely on their Social Enterprises

More and more NGOs are utilizing social enterprises as a way to
not only fund core activities but to be an active part in achieving their
mission.  I visited two such organization on my visit to Taipei. The
Garden of Hope Foundation helps disadvantaged girls and young women. In
particular, they target girls caught in the sex industry, victims of sexual
abuse and family violence. One of their job training programs is a chocolate
and cookie business along with a café and a thrift shop.  The chocolates
are not only delicious but are nicely packaged so they can be purchased as
gifts.  This program provides real life skills for these woman to help
them towards reintegration into society. www.goh.org.tw/english
I also visited one of the Eden Social Welfare  Foundation’s centers.
They help people with physical and mental disabilities with vocational
training, employment service, rehabilitation, early intervention, long-term
care service, new immigrant service, and community reconstruction for disaster
victims.  The center that I visited focuses on the arts.  I met some
amazing artists that were trained in both oil and water color paintings in the
Chinese and European styles.  I was honored as one artist, Abel, painted a
pear blossom scroll for me.  It is beautiful.  Much of the work
created is sold including paintings, pottery and items such as stationery and
mugs.  The talent that I saw that day was something you would expect at
one of the finest art schools. http://engweb.eden.org.tw/