Staff writer, with CNA

The Taichung Daughter Center (台中女兒館), the nation’s first public space dedicated to girls, was officially opened in Taichung yesterday, coinciding with the day designated by the UN as International Day of the Girl Child.

At the opening ceremony, Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) urged companies and non-governmental groups to put more resources into promoting girls’ rights and activities, and making Taichung the most girl-friendly city in Taiwan.

The space is designed for multifunctional uses, including holding exhibitions or empowerment courses, aerobics classes and talks.

Lin said he is happy that Taiwan is part of the international trend to promote female empowerment.

The Garden of Hope Foundation Center has been commissioned to operate the center.

“Taichung Daughter Center is something that Taichung residents can be proud of, because it is not only the first in Taiwan, but also the first in Asia to renovate an unused space and make it into a dream garden for empowering girls,” Foundation chief executive officer Chi Hui-jung (紀惠容) said.

The city’s Social Affairs Bureau said it plans to hold a “21st Century Girl Special Exhibition” at the center showing the history of women and girls’ rights movements, showings of the Women Make Waves Film Festival Taiwan, gender-thinking workshops, and a series of other classes and activities.

Resource: Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/10/12/2003629867