Bringing foreign brides into Taiwan society/外籍新娘來上課

　In order to help foreign brides adjust to life in Taiwan, starting from May 2001, the Bureau of Civil Affairs (BCA) of the Kaohsiung City Government is launching a counseling class in the districts of Sanmin and Chienchen.

　The initiative social program launched by the BCA aims at providing assistance to the foreign brides married to Taiwanese men and are living in Kaohsiung City. The course includes classes on literacy, lifestyle, eugenics and local customs. Instructors and assistants will be professionals with enthusiasm and patience. Also the BCA officials will frequently go to the schools to inspect and give guidance during the 72-hour course.

　According to statistics, there are more than 2,100 foreign brides in Kaohsiung City, mostly in Sanmin, Chienchen and Hsiaokang districts. The BCA hopes that, by helping them overcome language barriers and adjust to life here, the foreign brides can successfully assimilate into our society and build a happy family with local people. Existing domestic and social problems due to their adjustment difficulties can be reduced too. The BCA will enlarge the scale of the program if the counseling class can achieve good results.

　　為協助外籍新娘適應生活，高雄市政府民政局自5月起在三民、前鎮區各開辦一班「外籍新娘生活適應輔導班」。

　　這是民政局首次辦理「外籍新娘生活適應輔導班」，輔導對象為與國人辦妥結婚登記，且已入境依親居留或定居高雄市的外籍新娘。上課內容包括語文訓練、生活環境適應、生育及優生保健、地方風俗民情等，講師及助理人員將由校方聘請有熱忱、愛心及耐心的專業人士擔任，民政局也將在上課期間不定期派員至學校實地訪視與輔導，全期共計72個小時。

　　根據統計，高雄市的外籍新娘有二千一百餘人，以住在三民、前鎮、小港區居多。民政局希望藉此輔導班增進外籍新娘的語言及生活適應能力，協助其順利融入我國生活環境，與國人組成美滿家庭，避免因適應不良衍生各種家庭與社會問題。如果學員反應良好，民政局未來將擴大辦理。