By Lee Pin-hsuan:
JOHANNESBURG — Taiwan’s expatriate community in South Africa held a Mandela Day winter-relief event at the Tshepang Care Centre in Tembisa, Gauteng
Province, on July 18, donating warm clothing, food and daily necessities to support more than 300 local children and community residents.
The program of the day included a lion dance performed by the Qisheng Lion Dance Troupe. Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini delivered a video message encouraging disadvantaged children to study hard, while Acer founder Stan Shih also expressed his support from Taiwan.
Student volunteers helped children apply temporary “Team Taiwan” tattoos, which proved popular. The event concluded with all participants singing and dancing together to the “Team Taiwan” theme song.
Xavier Luo Ching-jung, director of the Economic Division of the Taipei Liaison Office in South Africa, attended on behalf of Taiwan’s Representative to South Africa Liao Wen-che.
Luo said Mandela Day, observed annually on July 18, not only commemorates the birthday of former South African President Nelson Mandela but also encourages people to devote at
least 67 minutes to community service, symbolizing Mandela’s 67 years of public service.
Through donations of blankets, food and daily necessities, the Taipei Liaison Office and Taiwan’s local community sought to convey the care and goodwill of the people of Taiwan,” Luo said.
Quoting an African proverb — “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” — Luo said Taiwan and South Africa were moving forward hand in hand. He also told the children: “You are the future, and we believe in you.”
Eswatini Prime Minister Dlamini, a longtime friend of event organizer Ryan Yao-Feng Juan, also delivered remarks in a prerecorded video.
Dlamini said Mandela’s values continue to inspire people around the world. Even when life begins under difficult circumstances, he said, the past does not determine the future: “You have the power to shape your own destiny.”
He encouraged the children to uphold respect, empathy, compassion, community solidarity and the spirit of Ubuntu. These African values help strengthen families, unite communities
and nurture responsible citizens, he said.
Dlamini also thanked caregivers, volunteers and members of the community for their long-term support of the children. He commended Rayn Juan, Claire Cheng, Chi-Chi Juan and Cherry Juan for their continuing commitment to disadvantaged children and community-building.
Acer founder Stan Shih also delivered a prerecorded message in English in support of the winter-relief initiative organized by the family of Ryan Juan, his partner in sustainable energy projects. Shih encouraged children at the Tshepang Care Centre to continue learning. Shih said his father died when he was young and that his mother taught him from childhood
to become “a person useful to society.”
He said he continues to learn new things and encouraged the children to develop their abilities while considering how they could help others and give back to society.
The event was initiated by Taiwanese businessperson Ryan Juan and his family, who have supported the Tshepang Care Centre for nearly 10 years. His wife, Claire Cheng, is a member of the South African Chinese Women’s Association, which co-organized the event.
Their daughter Chi-Chi Juan received the Overseas Community Affairs Council’s Top
Overseas Compatriot Student Scholarship in 2024 and is studying medicine at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. Their other daughter, Cherry Juan, is a Grade 12 student at Crawford International Sandton and serves as the school’s Humanity Head.
During the donation ceremony, Ryan Juan expressed particular thanks to Tex-Ray Industrial Co. for donating clothing.
Chi-Chi Juan, who served as master of ceremonies, thanked Tshepang Care Centre founder Sarah Sibiya, affectionately known as “Mama Sarah,” for protecting children and improving the local community over the years.
She said that when she first visited the centre, it consisted of only a few shipping containers and had no electricity. It now has a sewing unit, bakery and library, where children and women from the community can acquire practical skills.
Cherry Juan told CNA that she had participated in community service with her family since childhood. With support from her school, expatriate organizations, Taiwanese businesses and volunteers, the event was expanded this year, she said.
Participants shared not only material supplies but also culture, stories and compassion, reflecting the mutual support and spirit of sharing embodied in Ubuntu, she added.
South African Chinese Women’s Association President Joyce Tseng said that although some donors were unable to attend, they still contributed money or supplies. She said the association would continue mobilizing Taiwan’s expatriate community to support disadvantaged groups and provide local community services.- CNA – @NewsSA_Online
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