The Garden of Hope Foundation

Our Work

The Garden of Hope Foundation is a non-government, non-profit group established in 1988 to help disadvantaged girls and young women, especially girls caught in the sex industry, survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and survivors of human trafficking. Many of our clients have been subjected to more than one form of abuse.

From one halfway house, our services have grown to include shelters and service centers island-wide providing everything from counseling and temporary housing, to employment training, social work and legal aid. Our latest phase of development helps women “go the second mile” with job training, housing aid and emotional support after they leave the shelter.

Vision

A world free of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and domestic violence.

Goal

Relieve and rehabilitate misfortune children, youths, women and their families.

Promote gender justice, and advocate for social and educational reform.

Empowering girls and young women so that they can realize their full potential and take charge of their lives.

Services

Shelters services

We have 20 shelters in Taiwan and one in the US under the Garden of Hope in New York. In the future we plan to establish a shelter in Taiwan’s Nantou County for victims in more remote areas of the island. Apart from services for survivors of domestic abuse, we also run a shelter for survivors of human trafficking and other migrant women in New Taipei City.

Women and children survivors and witnesses to violence

We provide legal services for survivors of domestic violence in eight district courts in Taiwan. In 2014, we produce a miniature model court to teach children about the legal process and help reduce the trauma they may suffer.

Go The Second Mile

Since 2013 we launched a new phase of development to help our clients “go the second mile” after they leave our shelters by providing a package of employment and housing services to help women become economically independent, able to escape abuse and achieve their own goals. We continue to run six preparatory employment workshops with accompanying follow-up career services.

Teenage pregnancy and adoption

The Garden of Hope runs Taiwan’s National Teenage Pregnancy Hotline. To support pregnant teenagers and young women, we offer a prevention program, telephone counseling and online interventions from social workers. For families who are unable to bring up a child we offer an adoption service.

Sexual assault victim services and prevention efforts

We run four Dandelion Counseling Centers in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung for victims of sexual assault. At the same time, we also run government sponsored intervention programs and follow-up services in Taoyuan, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Hualien.

Services for disadvantaged youth and capacity building for teenaged girls

The Garden of Hope empowers girls and young women so that they can realize their full potential and take charge of their lives. In Taiwan we help school drop-outs and children working in the sex industry to stay in school, find jobs and adjust to a normal life.

Campaigns & Programs

The Garden of Hope continues to contribute to research and policy discussions with the government, and advocate for reform of key legislation to improve the rights of the child and the scope of domestic violence.

Asian Network of Women's shelters

The Garden of Hope is the secretariat for the Asian Network of Women’s Shelters (ANWS) which is a regional alliance of shelters and anti-violence groups under the Global Network of Women’s shelters. In 2015, we will join the 3rd World Conference of Women’s shelter in the Hague.

One Billion Rising

In line with the 2014 One Billion Rising theme of justice the Garden of Hope ran a campaign for woman and child friendly structures.More than 4,000 people joined the OBR campaign accross Taiwan.

Asian Girl Campaign

The Garden of Hope’s Asian Girl Campaign is a series of programs around the October 11 International Day of the Girl Child to promote the rights of girls in Asia. The campaign helps raise awareness of the problems that face Asian girls, and encourages more empowerment and investment in girls.