President Tsai meets winners of 21st Fervent Global Love of Lives Medals
On the afternoon of September 20, President Tsai Ing-wen met with the winners of the 21st Fervent Global Love of Lives Medals awarded by the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation. She recognized the Foundation for awarding the medals, spreading to every corner of the world such inspiring and positive energy. The president also praised all the winners for responding to life's most difficult trials with grit, enthusiasm, and courage, becoming a role model of life for people around the world.
President Tsai first opened her remarks by thanking the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation for awarding the Fervent Global Love of Lives Medals every year, and thus spreading to every corner of the world such inspiring and positive energy. She also thanked the winners for coming to share their stories with us here at the Presidential Office in Taiwan, so that more of us can be touched by the fervent love they have for life. The president then conveyed her deepest respect for all the winners and their family members.
For the past 21 years, President Tsai pointed out, the Foundation has brought together over 430,000 volunteers from throughout the world, and has awarded 400 Fervent Global Love of Lives Medals. The eighteen winners of this year have each overcome obstacles and limits to accomplish the impossible with their inspiring optimism and will. But beyond that, what she admires even more is that many of them not only broke through limitations in their own life; they have also challenged existing societal norms and structures, and have even transformed their communities. "To life's most difficult trials, you responded with grit. I thank you for becoming a role model for people around the world through your enthusiasm and courage," the president stated.
President Tsai mentioned Columbian Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee former President Juan Manuel Galan, who was on hand, as an example. Even though his father was assassinated for fighting against drugs and corruption, she said, Mr. Galan never shrank from these dark forces, and continues to stand on the frontlines to fight drugs and help the poor. His courage and determination deserves our respect.
President Tsai further noted that Ms. Alexandra Kutas is a professional model from Ukraine, and has been in a wheelchair since birth, but always had her mind set on becoming a model. Through hundreds of auditions, Alexandra never gave up, and finally became the first model with disability in Ukraine. In doing so, she not only challenged the status quo, but also helped the world see what beauty truly means.
The winners this year, President Tsai stated, have contributed and accomplished so much in so many fields. Some established elementary schools in Africa and some set up orphanages for underprivileged children in India. Some have overcome physical and mental challenges and shown outstanding achievements in music, art, and literature. She believes that their stories will have a lasting influence on everyone here, and will help them think differently about their own lives, and about life in general.
In closing, the president once again congratulated every winner, and hopes that everyone will continue to uphold the positive spirits of Chou Ta-Kuan (周大觀) and celebrate life.
President Tsai then joined the distinguished guests for taking in melodious performance by a winner Wu Tsung-Ling (吳宗霖), a master of forging and playing handcrafted brass gongs, whose music is known as the "Sound of Formosa." The president gave him a big round of applause, recognizing his enthusiasm and perseverance for life.