Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. (TFCF)

A delegation of Taiwan nongovernmental organization representatives attended the InterAction Forum June 12-14th in Washington as part of efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen ties between local nonprofits and their counterparts abroad. Established in 1984 and headquartered in Washington, InterAction is a global alliance of around 190 NGOs and holds general consultative status with the U.N. Economic and Social Council.

Led by Lai Ming-chi, director-general of the MOFA’s Department of NGO International Affairs, the group comprises nine leaders of local nonprofits spanning environmental protection, medical care and humanitarian aid. These include Taiwan Fund for Children and Families and Environmental Quality Protection Foundation, as well as Zhi-Shan Foundation.

This year the Taiwan delegation was kitted out in outfits made of Recycled plastic bottles, and gave out erasers shaped like traditional divination cups and mobile phone screen cloths in the shape of the Formosan Black Bear as souvenirs.

The Taiwan delegation also took this opportunity to visit National Environmental Education Foundation, National Institute of Health, Mercy Corps and Center for American Progress to raise awareness of the achievements and efforts of Taiwan NGOs while highlighting their willingness to play a bigger role in international affairs.

According to the MOFA, Taiwan’s nonprofits have provided humanitarian aid and contributed to global efforts in key areas like food production, green energy and public health for decades, and first took part in InterAction with the support of the MOFA in 2009. Taiwan Fund for Children and Families participated in 2016 and 2018.