The "New Life Social Service Center" has been hosting the "International Migrant Worker Zen Doodle Art Exhibition" since 2019, receiving recognition from various sectors. On September 10th, this year's exhibition opened with great enthusiasm at the Da'an Forest Park MRT Station from 10 AM to 4 PM, marking its fifth edition. The theme for this year is "Entering the World of Migrant Workers: Hometown and New Hometown," aiming to bring us closer to migrant workers, transforming them from strangers into friends.
▲ Indonesian Traditional Dance Performance
The event commenced with the participation of Ms. You Zhu-Ping, Deputy Director of the Taipei City Labor Bureau, Father Xu Sen-Yi from the New Life Social Service Center, Director Zhong Jia-Ling, and nearly 30 international migrant friends. This year's exhibition featured over 60 Zen Doodle artworks and vibrant traditional dance performances by Indonesian migrant workers, creating a lively atmosphere.
▲ Deputy Director You Zhu-Ping's speech, Taipei City Labor Bureau ▲ Father Xu Sen-Yi's speech, New Life Social Service Center
▲ Director Zhong Jia-Ling's speech, New Life Social Service Center
▲ Visitors Participating in Booth Challenges and Signing Area
▲ Indonesian Booth for Cultural Exchange
▲ Vietnamese Booth for Cultural Exchange
▲ Filipino Booth for Cultural Exchange
Deputy Director You Zhu-Ping expressed that the Taipei City Labor Bureau has been a long-time supporter of cultural exchange between international migrant friends and the public through the Zen Doodle Art Exhibition. The goal is to foster mutual understanding during the event, promoting greater tolerance and respect for diverse cultures and ethnic groups.
Director Zhong Jia-Ling of the New Life Social Service Center explained that their center has been providing migrant worker counseling services for an extended period and organizing numerous employer-migrant worker sharing sessions. In preparation for the exhibition, migrant workers not only created artworks but also prepared dynamic performances such as songs and dances. They hope that more people can learn about and accept their home country's culture.
In addition to the art exhibition, there were interactive booths representing Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries, offering in-depth cultural exchanges and fun activities. Participants who completed the challenges received limited Southeast Asian snacks and were invited to write blessing cards for migrant workers, attaching them to the Zen Doodle Art Wish Tree, symbolizing the fusion of diverse cultures and expressing friendliness towards migrant workers.
▲ Vietnamese Dance Cultural Exchange ▲ Filipino Migrant Worker Song Performance
Visitors to the exhibition shared that they had limited contact with migrant workers in their daily lives and didn't pay much attention to their issues until they had a need for caregivers in their families. This exhibition allowed them to get to know migrant friends better. They found the most interesting part to be the interactive activities, where they not only enjoyed themselves but also learned about the different cultures of various countries. They realized that "they are not different" and quickly engaged in conversations, offering their best wishes for the success of migrant workers in Taiwan.
▲ Long-term Care Resource Introduction and Blessing Booth
▲ Visitors admiring artworks
▲ Southeast Asian Snacks Exchange
The New Life Social Service Center is a social service organization dedicated to caring for disadvantaged workers in the workplace. They work tirelessly to promote resource sharing for a harmonious society, focusing on the well-being of migrant workers and elderly care. Their mission is to build a harmonious society with the cooperation of migrant workers and employers, helping marginalized groups who suffer from exploitation and unfair treatment. They invite you to become their guardians, and your donations will help those in need to overcome difficulties and receive assistance. Please click "(I want to donate)" or call (02)2397-1933 #122. Thank you for your response and concern!