Home>Publisher> Books> Climb Walk Dive Adventures —The Adventures of Rowan Garel, Blind Hero from Belize
Climb Walk Dive Adventures —The Adventures of Rowan Garel, Blind Hero from Belize

 
■ Author :  Katie Usher & Gia Martinez
■ Illustrator: Marvin Vernon
■ Translator: Chang,Yu-Ta / Li, Hsiang-En
■ Publication Date: June 2017 by  Chou Ta Kuan Foundation.
■ Pages:  96
■ ISBN:  9789869395212
■ Price:NT $ 350
 
Adventure for Social Welfare

Chin-Hua Chou, founder of Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation


The pursuit of public welfare drives human civilization.
The adventure for public welfare is a heroic act admired by all. 
Every day, we salute to heroes with best wishes and highest regards.   

Rowan Garel – 
2017 Fervent Global Love of Lives Medalist awarded by Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation
Rowan Garel was born on June 5, 1998 in Belize. He came to this world completely blind. Since a child, he has been receiving sponsorship from the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired (BCVI). This is why he would like to express his gratitude by helping the beneficiaries to become supporters. 

Rowan comes from a poor family, and this does not deter his determination to achieve good things in life. His father Joe Garel is a carpenter who leaves home early and return home late every day. His mother Milagro Garel works around the clock as a volunteer. His elder sister is a university student on scholarship.  
Rowan also comes from a poor country. Belize is a small and swampy country with a total size of only 22,966 square kilometres and it suffers frequent hurricanes. It does not boast a rich human resource either, given its population of approximately 360,000 people. The unemployment rate of 9.4% in Belize is the highest in Central America. The country’s 33.5% of the population is below the poverty line. Today, Belize still relies on international aides.  

Rowan has always been an optimistic boy. Every semester he volunteers to serve as the class leader, the organizer for singing and storytelling activities and events in environmental protection. He is also a good student with outstanding academic grades. Everybody thinks highly of him. 

Rowan always says, “Even if your eyes cannot see, it does not mean you cannot do something”. 
Rowan made a timely decision to adventure for social welfare.  

In March 2011, the 12-year-old Rowan, with the company of his father, climbed to the top of Victoria Peak, the highest mountain in Belize. After one step at a time for three days and three nights, he became the youngest and the only blind person that have achieved this in Latin America. By doing so, Rowan raised $90,000 for BCVI for the purchase of 18 state-of-the-art computers for the blind people. 

In June 2012, the 13-year-old Rowan, under the company of his whole family and a hundred volunteer workers, trailed 150 kilometers and all over Belize within six days. This helped BCVI to raise $110,000 required to restart the summer camp for blind children.  

In July 2013, the 14-years-old Rowan, under the support of international experts, successfully snorkeled in the Great Blue Hole of 480 feet in depth and over 1,000 feet in diameter. The Great Blue Hole, formed during the Ice Age, is hailed as one of the world’s top ten geological miracles. Rowan set the Guinness World Records by becoming the first totally blind person who dived in the Great Blue Hole. This accomplish amazed the whole world and raised $130,000 for BCVI to offer scholarships to the disadvantaged blind children.  

Rowan’s adventures for the society have attracted many helping hands. Upon a scholarship from Drew University in 2016, he embarked on his college life by going to New Jersey in the U.S. on his own. Rowan also took part in the thrill-seeking activities to raise funds for research in echolocation for the blind people around the world. He will be visiting Taiwan for the first time on September 14-22, 2017 by participating in “Wave of Life‧Wave of Love—2017 Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal Ceremony and Care for Life Charity Events”. 

We would like to thank Minister Ta-wei Lee of Foreign Affairs, Minister Wen-Chung Pan of Education of the Republic of China, Headmaster Shun-ho Chen of Taipei Municipal Xingan Elementary School, PTA President Yung-hao Kao, CEO Hui Ko of 3&3 International Education Corp. for their generous support. We would also like to acknowledge the assistance from You-da Chang and Hsiang-en Li who are currently studying in the fifth grade of Taipei Municipal Xingan Elementary School. Their faithful translation in the innocent tone speaks of the achievement of English-language education in the elementary schools of Taiwan and spreads the love with the children’s painting book, “The Adventures of Rowan Garel, Blind Hero from Belize”. 

This painting book tells the story of bravery and love beyond national borders. We hope you can purchase this book to bring hope and light to all the blind children in Belize, a friendly country to Taiwan.