On April 29, Senator Isalean Phillip, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Aging and Disabilities, Social Development, and Gender Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis, led a delegation to visit the Garden of Hope Foundation’s Linkou Service Center in Taiwan. The delegation was welcomed by Center Director Ms. Lee Yu-Hua and joined by Deputy Commissioner of the New Taipei City Social Affairs Bureau, Ms. Wu Shu-Fang, and Director of the Domestic Violence Prevention Center, Ms. Hsu Chih-Chi. Together, they exchanged experiences and practical strategies on women’s empowerment and gender-based violence prevention.

The GOH hopes this visit will help share Taiwan’s innovative approaches with the world—especially with women leaders from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies who are working to improve women’s rights.

Housing as a Starting Point for Healing

During the visit, Director Lee explained the foundation’s guiding belief: stable housing is the foundation for recovery. When women feel safe, they can begin to regain control of their lives. The Garden of Hope uses a comprehensive support system to help women and children break free from violence.

Deputy Commissioner Wu praised the foundation’s work and recognized its long-standing partnership with the New Taipei City Government in supporting women and children in crisis.

The delegation toured the center’s key facilities, which reflect the Garden of Hope’s holistic approach to supporting women and children affected by violence. These included the “Good Times Living Room,” a space dedicated to providing counseling and emotional support for women; the “Sunflower Cottage,” designed to offer a safe and nurturing environment for children; and the “Sensory Regulation Room,” which helps children recover emotionally and rebuild their sensory regulation abilities after experiencing trauma.

Minister Phillip expressed strong interest in how the foundation helps women become independent and how it handles cases involving perpetrators. She gave high praise to the center’s holistic and thoughtful service model.

Taiwan’s Model Goes Global

Originally founded as a shelter for girls, the Garden of Hope has grown into a national leader in gender-based violence prevention. Its Linkou Center is the first in Taiwan to combine social housing with integrated services—including housing, job support, and child care—to help women and children rebuild their lives.

The center also works closely with local communities and has received honors such as the Taiwan Healthy Cities Award for its innovation. It stands as a model of collaboration between government and civil society.

This visit, supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allowed international leaders to see Taiwan’s social service expertise firsthand and opened the door for future global cooperation. Moving forward, the Garden of Hope will continue building international learning networks to strengthen the global fight against gender-based violence.