A Taipei adoption program is seeking donations for children who are still waiting for a happy home. Due to the pandemic, children at the Garden of Hope Foundation in Taipei are waiting longer than ever to be adopted. The foundation has launched a fundraiser to support their care. Formosa News reporter Stephany Yang has the details.

This is Ling Ling. She was given up to a foundation when she was 45 days old. Early on, her caretakers discovered that her development was slower than that of other children. They’ve sought out intensive medical treatment to support her special needs.

Kuo Tung-yun
Social worker
She is slower than the average child. But because her nanny has worked with her extensively, she is able to keep up. In addition to her intensive training at home, she still has to go back routinely for physician follow-ups.

The Garden of Hope Foundation in Taipei is holding a fundraiser to support adoptable children like Ling Ling. Over the past three years, its adoption program has taken in a rising number of children with special needs. It’s also been caring for the children for longer periods of time. Due to COVID border controls and restrictions, it now takes at least one year on average before an adoptable child finds a family.

Lai I-cheng
Garden of Hope Foundation
In the past, the Garden of Hope Foundation took an average of 4 to 6 months to help children find a suitable adoptive family. In the past few years, we’ve seen a rising rate of special needs children. More care and support or medical resources are needed to help the children find a suitable adoptive family.

The Garden of Hope Foundation says it costs NT$42,000 a month to care for an adoptable child, and that it still has 15 children waiting for a loving home. Donations, which can be made online, will go toward the children’s medical care, nanny fees, food, and other living expenses. The Garden of Hope Foundation in Taipei began providing adoption services in 2009 and has since helped to place 160 children in new families.