Getting on in life through helping others

As an organization working on the front line of homelessness, Miscanthus Heart Charity Association (芒草心慈善協會) has been assisting the homeless to a better life for countless years. Last June, the organization brought together homeless people with professional trades or skills, and in March this year, a renovation team called “KIGE (起家工作室)” was formally established. The renovation team, which is composed of painters and decorators, plumbers, electricians and builders etc., has completed the household repairs in nearly twenty homes since last year.

In May, KIGE collaborated with NTU’s Creativity and Entrepreneurship Program (NTUCEP) to launch a crowdfunding project, the third consecutive year in which NTUCEP has entered the community to assist vulnerable groups. At this current fund-raising activity, the students hope to raise funds for the renovation and repair of vulnerable households and help develop KIGE into a long-term and stable enterprise. KIGE” is the transliteration of a Taiwanese phrase that means to get married and start a career or, perhaps more simply, to get on in life. In what can only be described as a win-win situation, KIGE is benefitting the general public and empowering its workers, helping all concerned to get on in life. 

Getting on in life through helping others 

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/307149

(以下是中文對照)

幫別人起家，也為自己起家

照片

芒草心慈善協會是由一群服務街友的前線工作人員組成的組織，多年努力的協助街友們翻轉人生。去年六月，他們開始組織一群專業工班師傅。今年三月他們正式成立修繕工班，並命名為「起家工作室」，營業項目有油漆、水電、泥作等，去年至今已完成近二十戶的家戶修繕案。

五月份起家工作室與臺大創意創業學程合作推出群眾募資計畫，臺大創意創業學程已經是第三年投入社會弱勢協助服務工作。這一次募資活動，同學們希望募集弱勢家戶修繕的經費，並協助工作室開發長期且穩定的案源。起家（KIGE）是台語成家立業的意思，起家工作室希望師傅們幫別人起家（裝潢翻新），也同時為自己起家（創造事業）。期待能給工班師傅與家戶更好的生活。