President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of April 17 with a delegation led by Kiwanis International President Gunter Gasser and Mrs. Gasser. The president applauded the longstanding work carried by the organization and its contributions in providing services to children and communities. Meanwhile, he explained the substantive measures and successes of the government's efforts in promoting children's welfare here.
In remarks, President Ma stated that the organization's name Kiwanis has been extended to start an expressive acronym: "KIWANIS Is Where A Need Is Served." It is an international charitable group that works in accordance with the concept of providing service wherever service is needed, he said. The president commented that the organization was founded nearly 100 years ago and embraces the spirit of providing service for children and communities.
President Ma noted that President Gasser has been involved in Kiwanis International for 27 years, and began serving as the organization's leader in October of last year. Over this period, he has actively promoted the affairs of the organization and has designated the 2013-2014 Kiwanis theme as "We Build Bridges for Children to the Future." This initiative is helping to make many contributions to the welfare of children throughout the world, he said. President Ma commented that Mr. Randy DeLay, Campaign Chairman for The Eliminate Project, has been instrumental in fundraising work for the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), and became the first "Lead Donor" in the organization. The president saluted the charitable spirit of Mr. DeLay, who is also in the visiting delegation, and his enthusiasm in helping others.
President Ma mentioned that the Taiwan District of Kiwanis International has 16 sub-districts, 320 chapters, 24 Circle K International clubs for college and university students, 45 Key Clubs for teens, and 34 Kiwanis Kids clubs for primary school students, and its 12,000 members covering three generations of individuals here. These individuals not only have provided children's and community service for many years, but also have spared no effort in public service activities. The Kiwanis, he noted, has many times been singled out by the Ministry of the Interior as an outstanding civic organization and an important asset to Taiwan society, he remarked. President Ma said that three years ago he responded to the MNT initiative promoted by Kiwanis International by donating US$1,250 to the program and becoming a Walter Zeller Fellow. He mentioned that Vice President Wu Den-yih joined the following year in a substantive move to show his support for the project.
President Ma also thanked Kiwanis International for publicly recognizing during its 2012 and 2013 international conferences in New Orleans and Vancouver that the Taiwan District made more donations to the Walter Zeller Fellowship than any other district in the world. This, the president said, corresponds to Taiwan's desire to play the role of "provider of humanitarian aid" in the international community. He expressed hope that the two sides can continue to cooperate to protect the interests of children and youth around the world so they can grow up more happily.
The president also mentioned that the objective of the visitors on this trip was to attend a ceremony unveiling a commemorative plaque at Yangming Park in central Taiwan's Changhua City that recognizes support here for the MNT initiative, as well as a banquet to thank those who have donated to the Walter Zeller Fellowship, by issuing them special medallions recognizing their contributions. The visitors, he noted, have also witnessed the establishment of a "second generation of Kiwanis club" in Taiwan, which is the first of its kind worldwide. President Ma said he hopes that contact and interaction between Taiwan and the organization will forge greater understanding of the state of development of the Kiwanis in Taiwan, as well as the government's efforts and achievements in promoting children's welfare.