Rerum Novarum is an affiliated organization of the Society of Jesus, dedicated to serving disadvantaged workers in vulnerable situations and caring for foreign fishermen working at sea. This year (2019) we uphold the spirit of Jesuit’s discernment and our core mission of “direct service to reach, care for, and accompany those in need. ” Therefore, we collected living supplies for foreign fishermen in fishing ports in northern Taiwan and decided to organize “Sending Warmth to Foreign Fishermen” activities on 12/4 (Wednesday) and 12/6 (Friday) respectively, which aimed at providing those working hard at sea in the cold winter with warm materials. May it add a little warmth to the severe cold winter. Accompanied by Father Hsu Sen-Yi, director Chung Chia-Ling led the center’s fellow workers, interns, and partner Magis Youth League to deliver cold weather supplies from all over Taiwan to 12 fishing ports in northern Taiwan. More than 1000 foreign fishermen were given quilts and winter clothes, which makes them full of gratitude and joy.
In recent years, we have gone deep into the 12 fishing ports in northern Taiwan (Longdong, Shen-ao, Wanli, Gueihouo, Yeliu, Huanggang, Fuji, Dawulun, Waimushan, Zheng-bin, Badouzi, Chang-tan) to visit fishermen from tropical countries in southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines) and have been sending winter coats to fishing ports for two consecutive years. Among these foreign fishermen, 487 benefited in 2017 and 851 in 2018.Now in its third year, the “Sending Warmth to Foreign Fishermen” activity continue to expand the scope of services and further establish the fisherman services group to provide further services, so as to understand the plight and needs of fishermen, including overtime work, inadequate legal protection, off-license work, labor exploitation, etc. Furthermore, we promote their own rights and interests; provide psychological support and group activities to cultivate more knowledge, so that the fishermen feel the love and warmth of Taiwan.
Foreign fishermen who come to work in Taiwan are generally poor and have to pay off their debts due to the high fees paid by agencies. They also have to send the rest of the money home to support their families, which puts them in a very difficult situation. According to the survey, foreign fishermen only keep a little cash every month in case of emergency. There’s almost no extra money for them to add clothes for themselves, let alone coats or thick quilts. Foreign fishermen wearing thin short sleeves or long sleeves cotton T-shirt can be seen everywhere. Though blew by the extremely cold wind and exposed to the rain, they are still trembling to do the tough work. They dare not slack off , complain or easily take a shout of pain. If there’s no work, there’s no money. As a consequence, they have to bite the bullet for the family fortune.
At 7:30 in the morning, on December 4, school children entered the school for class, our staff also set out from the agency on time, with more-than-three-months collected quilts, coats, hats, hot pants, socks and other warm materials forward to the fishing port, ready to give to the painstaking fishermen. When we arrived at the fishing port, we saw a neat line without pushing or fretting. All the fishermen waited patiently for us to get ready. Several fishermen even excitedly took up their mobile phones to take selfies and broadcast live, calling on other fishermen in need to get supplies. Waiting in line with excitement, fishermen acted like innocent children, waiting in line for a gift with a carefree smile. When they saw someone picking up a camera, they made funny gestures and shouted out “Shoot me! Shoot me!”, which is completely different from what they used to be in daily life.
It was a sunny day in spite of the chilly wind on December 4. However, on December 6, not only was it approaching 10 degrees in the harbor, it was also very windy and rainy. There were not enough shelters in several harbors. Nothing but roofs and no walls could keep out the biting wind. Fishermen lining up for supplies kept crossing their hands, rubbing their arms together , and occasionally breathing into their hands with their mouths to keep warm. To make matters worse, several fishermen shivered in thin short-sleeved shorts or raincoats rather than warm long-sleeved sweaters and coats, as we did. Our staff sped up to get the supplies out so the fishermen could put them on quickly.
Back to the original intention of this activity, in addition to allowing the fishermen to spend a warm winter, we also hope that the public can take this opportunity to understand the situation of foreign fishermen, to invest more care and support, so that the warmth and influence can be continuously spread. A dress or a quilt is not only one behalf of people’s benevolence, but it also illuminates that everyone is born to have dignity. One is happy due to his contribution; happiness is increased due to sharing. What we gave out were warm clothes, and what we were paid back were warm spirits.
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