Jerry Yan, Asian pop star of Taiwan' boy band F4 and lead actor in the popular TV series "Meteor Garden" has been appointed World Vision's first Asia Regional Child Sponsorship Ambassador endorsed by World Vision offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
In his first inaugural trip as the humanitarian organisation' s Asian Regional Child Sponsorship Ambassador, Jerry will be visiting World Vision supported projects and communities in Mongolia from Oct 24 to 30, 06 under World Vision's Child Sponsorship Programme. He will also be visiting his three sponsored children during the trip.
Following Mongolia, Jerry will tour Asia to promote child sponsorship in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore (Nov 29-30, 06) Thailand and Taiwan from November to December 2006.
Jerry joins more than 2 million World Vision child sponsors in supporting needy children all around the world.
When asked what prompted him to take up this role, he replied:"Becoming a World Vision Child Sponsor has changed me. I had a better understanding of the children living in poverty around this part of the world and the dire circumstances many are living in."
Coming from someone who used to work as a part-timer during his 4th to 5th grade in primary school, Jerry could empathise with the economic hardships and struggles many children living in extreme poverty experience.
Despite knowing that he will be battering a bitter winter where temperatures can drop to as low as minus six degrees celsius in Mongolia this time of the year, Jerry agreed without hesitation to the visit and remains undaunted and focused on the task ahead, that is to esee for myself, the conditions the children have to bear withh. Remarked Jerry: "I've learnt from World Vision staff that winter temperatures in Mongolia are harsh and can fluctuate to as low as minus 44 degrees. Lots of livestock die from the severe cold and many children therefore have little food to eat, and have no heating at home. Some street children can only get warmth in the underground tunnels where extreme heat of the city's heating system can cause serious injuries and even deaths. Winter is the most difficult time for many Mongolian children."
"Many street children in Mongolia are also abused because of the poor economic situation; The reason why they are wandering in the streets is partly because they have no place to stay; They have no other choice but to experience this kind of suffering," he added.
Back from being a distinguished guest at Jolin Tsai's concert in Australia, Jerry looks fresh and is looking forward to this trip. In a pre-trip briefing held earlier this week in Taipei, he observed: "I believe this world is still filled with compassionate people who are merely not aware of the ways to give. I hope that through this visit, the people in Asia will have a better awareness of the plight of the poverty-stricken children and extend their hand to help bring hope to these children."
In conjunction with the visit, some of Jerry's fan clubs in Asia have collectively sponsored 29 impoverished children through World Vision, five of whom are Mongolian children. The eight World Vision offices will also be posting more information and updates of Jerry Yan's trip to Mongolia on their websites soon.
Log on to www.worldvision. org.sg for more information about this visit and the benefits of World Vision's Child Sponsorship Programme.
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