By Kettelene Eloissaint

Being a volunteer and the curriculum coordinator for the SALT Collectiv Education Program has been a fantastic experience. Volunteering to help those in need has always been a passion of mine. As a Christ follower, my church family and mother in Florida taught me the importance of giving back from a young age.

 

During my teenage years, I accumulated over 5,000 community service hours through various activities such as teaching Sunday school, hosting a radio show, and participating in organizations like March for Dimes, AYSO Horses for Handicap, and Autism Soccer Saturday. I found fulfillment in giving back and continued by becoming a youth leader at Southmost Mennonite and Grace Haitian United Methodist Churches, a literacy teacher through AmeriCorps Miami Rescue Missions, a camp counselor at Branches org, and a reading interventionist in the Miami-Dade Public School system. Through these organizations, I was able to participate in soup kitchens, feet washing of the homeless, street and beach clean-ups, city regentrification projects,  literacy fundraising and programs, spring break and summer camps, after-school programs, and more. This lifestyle became part of my DNA.

After earning three degrees, I realized that the law field wasn’t my calling. So, I pursued a Master’s in Education specializing in ELL and ESOL. I vowed to use my education to give back and glorify God. Moving to China and immersing myself in the culture was challenging due to the language barrier, making volunteering challenging. But that all changed after moving to Taiwan and becoming part of the Bread of Life International Church. We are about being a light, doing life together, and engaging in missions.

 

As a partner for the SALT Collectiv orphanage program, there were limited opportunities to volunteer at the onset of COVID-19. However, the first visit to the orphanage felt like a breath of fresh air. Teaching the children volleyball and hearing their laughter brought immense joy and a yearning for more. This led to more volunteering opportunities, including orphanage visits and beach clean-ups.

 

Through these events, I connected with the core members of SALT Collectiv and developed a passion for the orphanage program. After praying and reaching out, I discovered a need for a curriculum. By collaborating with Mr. Chris Lo, we developed a curriculum using my children’s book, “A Children’s Motivational Goal Journal Book,” written over ten years prior. Implementing the curriculum in the fall of 2023 was a success. We created engaging activities that helped the children set and pursue their goals despite setbacks. They learned new dances and created goals through drawing and journaling. 

Although we face language barriers and cultural differences, we persevere in our goal of making the SALT Education Program beneficial and sustainable. Our volunteers bring hope and love to the children through their time, skills, and expertise. I know firsthand the impact of presence and love, as it was a Jamaican pastor and his family who reached out to me—a scared and confused seven-year-old Haitian immigrant seeking asylum in a foreign country.

 

To anyone interested in making a difference in the lives of children in Taiwan, this is a wonderful opportunity to give back. Your presence matters, and you can make a difference. Join us in being SALTy and spreading light in the lives of these children.

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1.) Can I volunteer with orphans in Taiwan?

 

Yes, contact us for more details about our orphanage ministry. SALT Collectiv partners with the SOS Children’s Village in Taoyuan. With each visit to the orphanage, we aim to provide friendship, hope, and guidance as a big brother or sister by leading through example. Volunteering with SALT Collectiv not only makes a lasting imprint for the vulnerable and marginalized, but also makes a lasting imprint in your heart. In volunteering, you engage in causes bigger than yourself, cultivate meaningful relationships and positively impact your community.

 

2.) Can foreigners volunteer in Taiwan?

 

Yes! SALT Collectiv is a diverse international community of volunteers uniting for the purpose of making a lasting imprint for the vulnerable and marginalized. There are no prerequisites required to sign up for events and we welcome expats and locals alike to join our community. We ask only that you come with a heart to serve. When individuals come together, dedicating their time and talent to serve the marginalized, lives are touched and communities are transformed. In volunteering, you engage in causes bigger than yourself, cultivate meaningful relationships and positively impact your community.

 

3.) Where can I volunteer in Taiwan?

 

SALT Collectiv is a nonprofit headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan that hosts volunteer opportunities to serve the marginalized. Volunteer opportunities include serving the homeless through our SALT soup kitchen, orphanage visitations, elderly care, biannual beach cleanups, and our annual Christmas Giving Tree that gives over 1,000 gifts each year to the marginalized all over Taiwan. We also have fundraiser events such as trivia nights, bake sales, F45 workouts, carwashes, and many more. Our FUNdraiser events bring the fun into building our community. Come checkout our community and join the movement.