千哩微笑越南語言治療計畫新樂章

重啟孩子們微笑的夢想-一起送愛到越南 -「溫暖白色巨塔的小螺絲釘」WHC-USR計畫，2019年9月獲邀隨同合作夥伴義大醫院的國際行動醫療團前往越南，親眼目睹Operation Smile 世界級的NPO組織是如何帶領一群來自世界各地的專業國際志工，充分發揮每個人的領導力及行動力，從事意義非凡、令人感動的兒童唇腭裂修護手術。

雖然醫療不是我們文藻人的專長，但是我們看見我們的英文跟越語能力是能夠幫得上忙的，尤其在整個醫療團的服務當中，「non-medical volunteer」也扮演著不可小覷的角色。因此計畫主持人回台後一直苦思如何規劃國際服務學習方案，期盼我們的學子能夠跨國、跨域参與世界性組織，將台灣的愛送到越南。更期盼看見越南經濟弱勢的唇腭裂孩子們能重啟微笑、重建信心，有機會去追逐他們人生的夢想！

即使因為COVID-19讓一切都暫緩下來，感謝令人欽佩的鄭勝峰副院長（自2002年開始投入OSV的服務至今），帶領義大醫院自2014年開始前進越南，持續與Operation Smile Vietnam合作，進行唇腭裂手術修補及種子醫師培育。但是術後修補療程重要的一環 - 語言治療(Speech and Language Therapy, SALT) 至今仍然面臨許多挑戰。因此小螺絲釘合作夥伴-義大醫院發起「千哩微笑越南語言治療計畫」，自4月28日開始到5月26日，展開小螺絲釘越南國際志工的專業培訓課程，期盼日後由-義大醫院透過線上課程，以“Train the trainer”模式，指導當地語言治療師專業技能時；小螺絲釘越南國際志工們也貢獻所長，擔任口譯的工作。

期待能夠藉由無私熱血、已深耕越南20年鄭勝峰醫師的引導，WHC-USR能成為一個跨國、跨域的合作平台，讓台灣有志青年學子參與越南場域的專業服務學習，擔任國際志工開拓跨域、跨界及跨文化的視野，日後有機會能成為國際級的Leader。最後特別感謝義大醫院夥伴的協助，雖然課程中遇疫情來襲，然團隊大家一條心：努力招募志工、安排專業課程，並已規劃將展開扣人心弦的下個樂章。

A new chapter in Miles Smiles Vietnam Speech-and-language Therapy Project

Fulfilling children’s dream of a beautiful smile – brining love to Vietnam – a WHC-USR Project. In September 2019, WHC-USR was invited to travel to Vietnam with E-Da Hospital’s International Medical Mission Team to witness Operation Smile in person. How does a world-class NPO organization lead a group of professional international volunteers from around the world to perform cleft lip and cleft palate repair surgery for children? Although medical treatment is not Wenzao’s expertise, our language abilities in English and Vietnamese plays an important role as “non-medical volunteers” who assists in the communication services of the entire medical team. Therefore, after returning to Taiwan, the host of the project has been thinking about how to plan an international service learning program for our students. With love from Taiwan to Vietnam, we look forward to seeing the Vietnamese children from poor regions once again being able to smile, rebuilding their confidence, and have the opportunity to chase their dreams in life.

Even though everything is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, we would like to thank Vice Superintendent, Seng-Feng Jeng (who has been part of Operation Smile Vietnam since 2002) in leading the medical teams from E-Da Hospital to Vietnam in carrying out the services of repairing cleft lip and cleft palate in children while cultivating doctors since 2014. However, an important part of postoperative treatment – Speech-and-language Therapy (SALT) still faces many challenges. Therefore, E-Da Hospital, a partner of WHC-USR, launched the “Miles Smiles Vietnam Speech-and-language Therapy Project”. From April 28 to May 26, WHC-USR hosted a professional training course for Vietnamese international volunteers. Through the online courses, a local speech therapist from E-Da Hospital guided the students with professional knowledge by using the “train-the-trainer” approach while the Vietnamese international volunteers also contribute their strengths by working as interpreters.

Under the guidance of Prof. Seng-Feng Jeng, who has been deeply involved in Vietnam for 20 years, WHC-USR has become a cross-disciplinary platform for aspiring young students from Taiwan to participate in professional service learning in Vietnam. As international volunteers, students have the opportunity to become international leaders in the future by expanding their international and cross-culture awareness.

Finally, we are very grateful to our partners in E-Da Hospital for their assistance. Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected the course, everyone is dedicated to recruiting volunteers and arranging professional courses. The next exciting chapter has begun.