Taichung Teacher Zhang's 55th Anniversary: ​​With Love as a Lamp and Heart as a Bridge, Volunteers Illuminate the City's Profound Power

Director Liao Ching-chih (second from right) of the Taichung City Social Affairs Bureau, Chairperson Chang Lily (first from left), Chairman Ge Yung-kuang (second from left), Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (first from right), and award recipient Zhang. (Photo provided by Teacher Chang from Taichung)

The Taichung Spiritual Support Network once again shone its gentlest light at the year's end. The Taichung branch of the "Chang Teacher" Foundation held its "55th Anniversary Award Ceremony" on the 22nd at the Good Luck Intercontinental Convention Center. Over 330 guests, volunteers, and their families gathered to witness the appointment of 212 volunteers and the recognition of 127 volunteers by the foundation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Taichung City Government. This ceremony was not only a heartwarming commemoration but also a symbol of the unwavering support and companionship that has characterized the city for 55 years.

This year's most notable achievement was the awarding of the "Lifetime Achievement Medal for Counseling Service" to a senior volunteer who has served for 41 years and 7 months, accumulating 8,374 hours. His life story also reflects the consistent spirit of the Taichung Center—times of focused listening and gentle responses have connected countless people with the resilience to overcome life's difficulties.

The ceremony, themed "Rooted in 55 – Moving Forward, Love Never Ends," symbolized the Taichung Center's mission of deep roots in the community. A special "Passing the Torch" ceremony was arranged, where the chairman, guests, and all volunteers jointly lit small candles symbolizing hope. The candlelight converged in the center of the stage to form the iconic logo of the volunteer group. As soft, colored lights illuminated the venue, the entire hall fell silent, as if witnessing generations of volunteers supporting the city with love over the past 55 years.

Taichung City Government Social Affairs Bureau Director Liao Ching-chih also personally visited the center to commend the volunteers for their long-term selfless dedication. "Every time a call is answered, every willingness to respond builds the gentlest psychological safety net for the city," she said. According to statistics from the Taichung Center, the center handles approximately 15,000 calls annually, with issues primarily concerning self-exploration, life dilemmas, and family relationships, reflecting the continuously rising demand for psychological support among citizens. The total number of volunteers has exceeded 200 for two consecutive years, demonstrating Taichung's stable capacity in volunteer services.

Chairperson Chang Lily (President of Treasure Dragon Corp. Construction) expressed her gratitude to all the families who supported the volunteers with the phrase, "Once a teacher, always a teacher." She stated that the volunteers' contributions were the achievement of their entire families, adding, "Without family members willing to accompany them, that love could not have continued to this day." She also pledged that, upon assuming the position of FIABCI World President, she would continue to fully support the long-term development of the Taichung Center and mental health initiatives.

At the ceremony, the young confidants paid tribute to the volunteers with their original song "Teacher Zhang's Starlight." Their delicate and moving singing was like the faint light that each volunteer shone on the other end of the telephone line.

Ge Yongguang, chairman of the "Teacher Zhang" Foundation, also shared the foundation's "School Bus" mobile service, which has been actively promoted in recent years, bringing psychological support to schools and enabling educational institutions to reach children earlier. He especially thanked President Chang Lily for donating Taichung's first school bus, making central Taiwan an important starting point for the mobile implementation of mental health services across Taiwan.

Foundation advisor Chang Fang-min proposed a new direction for philanthropy: "Starting from the Heart, Walking with Beauty," hoping to help more people rediscover the importance of mental health in their daily lives through art, corporate volunteering, and cross-sector collaborations. "When more people are willing to listen to others' stories, love will naturally converge into light."

The Taichung Center has long upheld the principle of "companionship for all and sustainable development," providing diverse services such as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, health education promotion, school outreach services, and psychological support for the disadvantaged. For 55 years, volunteers have used their hearts as lamps and love as paths to help countless people rise again from the depths of despair.

If you need psychological assistance, you can call the toll-free hotline 1980 (contact us using the Taichung area code to connect). In every corner of Taichung, as long as you're willing to reach out, "Teacher Zhang" is always there.