YOUTH IGNITE | Empowering Taiwan's Next Generation

Unlike most of her peers, Chelsea is from skipped-generation family and raised by grandfather given her parents have been imprisoned on frequent basis. Chelsea, lack of idea about what a two-parent family should be like, has long been under absence of proper childcare.

Grandfather is getting old, suffering from stroke, and becomes disabled.  He is obliged to not only undertake financial responsibility for the family, but also take care of Chelsea as well as Chelsea's cousins. Only when his health condition permits, grandfather will engage some degree of agricultural works, to earn the keep by farming and selling the bamboo shoots.  Nevertheless, this produces trivial income. Under such financial distress situation, Chelsea and the cousins do not have excess cash to buy themselves new clothes; they can only rely on neighbors and the Mustard Seed Mission community service center for second hand clothes donation.

At the year end, the MSM community service center invited Chelsea and her family for reunion dinner party. To enjoy good amount of food has been such a luxury while unattainable for Chelsea, as there are just so many kids to be fed at home. Most of the time, Chelsea is craving for food as she is in the stage of growth. Hence, as soon as Chelsea learns there will be yearend dinner gathering supplied with hot pot and steak, she really looks forward to it. Social workers understand there is almost no chance for Chelsea to dine out. They expect this gathering is a great opportunity for Chelsea to learn table manners. Furthermore, such social event allows people living in the same community to get to know each other. Eating and chatting over the meal keep everyone warm and will strengthen the relationship from one family to another. 

Every year, the Mustard Seed Mission hosts year end reunion dinner party in community service centers, helping those from single parent and skipped generation families, as well as disadvantaged children get together.  Throughout the dinner, let them not feel alone but heartwarming and at ease.