MARCH 31 2010 - Joseph Cheng, and Mike Ho, spokespeople for World Vision Taiwan’s “Child Health Now” campaign returned from India last Saturday. And despite the 42 degree heat, they both said that the visit was meaningful as they saw the wide smiles of children whose lives are being changed through World Vision.

For Mr. Cheng and Mr. Ho, trip to India was their first visit to poor and desperate areas. And although the trip was challenging, Mr. Cheng and Mr. Ho said that they were grateful for World Vision Taiwan to give them opportunity to join this trip and gained much insight into the health challenges faced by children today.

“In Taiwan, if you have diarrhea, you can take medicine and feel better soon. But in India they need to walk a long way to reach a small clinic. Many children in India have died from curable diseases, such as diarrhea,” said Mr. Cheng.

Mr. Ho also expressed surprise that children in India live in such terrible circumstances.

“I saw very dirty water in wells where villagers draw their drinking water from. Because of this, the children are vulnerable to diarrhea,” said Mr. Ho.

In the midst of these tragic conditions, the two celebrities also realized that change is possible as they witnessed improvement in villages where World Vision has already worked for several years through World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program.

“In a village, I saw a clean water pump that can draw water from 40-50 meters deep, so the water is very clean. I found that the children and the villagers are very happy to have clean drinking water,” said Mr. Ho.

To bring hope to communities where children and their family haven’t gained support, Mr. Cheng and Mr. Ho decided to join the sponsorship program during their visit to India.

“Many youth probably wonder if they can afford monthly donations. I used to doubt that the need is so big. Is it effective to make a few contributions?” said Mr. Cheng. “But Sylvia’s advice has resolved my doubts. She told me to just do what moves the heart.”

Sylvia Chang, also a spokesperson for Child Health Now and went with Mr. Cheng and Mr. Ho to India, was not able to be present at the press conference. She shared her thoughts by video.

“Although we are now working in 42C weather, when we finish, we can go back to comfortable places with air conditioning. Children here were born into dire circumstance. We should share our happiness with them and let them know that many people care for them and will help them improve their living circumstances,” said Ms. Chang.

Hank Du, Executive Director of World Vision Taiwan, said: “Experiencing this difficult trip, we knew that children living in tragic circumstances are vulnerable to diseases.”

“Today, nearly 3,000 sponsors in Taiwan have supported needy children in India through World Vision’s child sponsorship program. The aim of the trip is to remind the Taiwanese public that globally 8.8 million children under five years old children die from curable disease, such as diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. However, through World Vision we can change their lives and bring hope to them,” emphasized Mr. Du.

At the end of the press conference Mr. Cheng and Mr. Ho called on the people of Taiwan to join Child Health Now and sponsor children in need.