SIMPLYHELP Foundation, a US-registered non-profit organization founded by in 2000 by Taiwanese-American, Mrs. Tina Bow, has once again come to the aid of deserving Saint Lucians.
On Thursday morning (January 18, 2024), H.E. Peter Chai-Yen Chen, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, officially handed over a generous donation of items on behalf of SimplyHelp Foundation to Hon. Joachim A. Henry, Minister for Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment.
The items donated included summer shoes, cooler lunch bags, toys, and sanitation supplies – all of which will be distributed to people in need through the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment.
“It is worth noting that this year we managed to acquire four boxes of golf gloves to support the ‘Golf for Older Persons’ initiative launched by the Ministry of Equity and other NGOs in Saint Lucia,” said Ambassador Chen in his brief remarks at the ceremony held in the Ministry’s conference room in the Greaham Louisy Building on the Castries Waterfront.
Since 2015, Ambassador Chen said, the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been collaborating with SimplyHelp Foundation to deliver personal effects to underprivileged children, individuals and households in Saint Lucia.
“Under Hon. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s leadership, social justice and needs remain priority on the agenda, and Taiwan is proud to be part of endeavors in improving the livelihood of the people of Saint Lucia,” Ambassador Chen stated. “Here, I would also like to extend my appreciation to Hon. Minister Joachim Henry and his team for this handing-over ceremony. I believe the partnership we share will continue to navigate us on the right path to sustainable development of beloved Saint Lucia.”
Hon. Henry said his Ministry remains thankful for the kind gesture extended by SimplyHelp Foundation annually, noting that the items bring a sense of hope and great cheer to those who receive them. As an agency mandated to meet the needs of disadvantaged citizens, he said his Ministry will continue to seek partnerships that redound to enriching people’s lives.
“I really want to thank the friendship (that exists) between Taiwan and Saint Lucia that allows us to receive every year a container of goods that we can share with persons who are less fortunate,” Hon. Henry said.
Hon. Henry added: “This morning, I just need to remind us of the mammoth task that we have as an agency. We are positioned to bring hope to persons who are hopeless. We are positioned to reach and bring light to those who somewhat have darkness. We are positioned to reach out to persons who may be hungry and are contemplating to find food in ways that they ought not to. We’re really that Ministry that brings about that level of consciousness, and to also stimulate to other parts of society to join and come on board to give.”
Also expressing gratitude for the donation from SimplyHelp Foundation was Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment. She said her Ministry continues to appreciate the support and kind gestures expressed by the Taiwanese people.
“The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice & Empowerment recognizes that our mandate is to care for those who are in need, but we also have a spin to offering good cheer and goodwill to those persons we deem vulnerable,”she said. “While we recognize, too, that our role is to support those persons in the community, we also embrace and we are grateful for stakeholders and other friends who actually help us carry that baton.”