Taiwanese Acem member donated 1000 dollars:

- Don't you want donations?

From Acem International Newsletter No. 2 2003.

How is it possible to travel across the world's most expensive country on a 4-5 days guided tour for a modest amount of money that includes board and lodging? Many of the participants on Acem's Post-Retreat Tour last summer asked this question. One of them, Mr Tseng Yung-hui from Taiwan, decided to donate 500 US dollars to Acem International and 500 US dollars to Acem Taiwan.

It is not the first time Mr Tseng or his wife Ms Lin Chun-chen have offered their generous support to Acem Taiwan, both in terms of donations and voluntary work. They are well aware that non-profit organizations depend on such contributions, and they were puzzled by the fact that during last summer's World Retreat, which gathered almost 300 participants from a number of countries for a whole week, they were not even once asked for donations. Organizations they know in Taiwan would have been extremely conscious of the opportunity for donations offered by such a retreat. "Don't you want donations?" Mr Tseng asked. "Doesn't Acem need money?"

The truth is, of course, that Acem does need monetary and volunteer support. Norway has a poorly developed culture for private donation. Instead, many Norwegian organizations choose to rely on government support. This has never been an option for Acem: the voluntary work of members is Acem's most important asset. Only in the past few years has the organization begun to receive more substantial donations. It may in fact be 'typically Norwegian' to forget to mention the opportunity to donate money.

Most countries have different attitudes towards donations. One single issue of Acem Taiwan's newsletter, published after the opening of the Acem localities in Taipei in 2001, list the following donations from local members:

Lorna Jeng - refrigerator, TV, sofa, bed, desk, cupboard, gas oven, computer desk, desk lamp, kitchen utensils and stereo equipment
Lin Chunchen - 30 chairs suitable for meditation
Alice Lu - washing machine, water filtering machine
Huang Chinlien - 40 pairs of slippers
Lotus Chang - telephone, fax, signboard
May Lin - all the food for the opening festivities
Cassy Cheng - tea set
Chang Fu-ning - printer
Chou Hung - keyboard and mouse
Frank Hsieh - modem

In addition there were many anonymous donors. The willingness to support Acem has not abated: when the water pipes began to leak this year, one member took it upon herself to find a suitable plumber and pay the cost.

To further the international growth of Acem, donations are most welcome. If you want to donate to Acem, or help in other ways, please contact Acem.