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Home>Service> Awardees of Fervent Global Love of Lives Award> 22nd Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2019> The Presidents’ Chef – Chen, Kuo-Hsin
The Presidents’ Chef – Chen, Kuo-Hsin
[Taking setbacks as a form of training and changing culinary arts into power]
Opportunities are not reserved for those who are ready, but for the prepared people!
Chen, Kuo-Hsin
This is Chen, Kuo-Hsin, the presidents’ chef who has a great skill in knife work. Wearing a chef costume and holding a kitchen knife, he is focusing and carefully preparing each dish, and patiently explaining the preparation process for the children.

Born with a background in catering, he has served three state banquets, 18 presidents, 23 ambassadors, and even worked in a technology company before. He seems to have led a smooth life, but instead, his life is hidden with unknown secrets.

Now the founder of Hope Platform, Kuo-Hsin’s father died of cancer, and his mother is a moderately mentally ill patient who has to spend her entire life in the hospital, so he was sent to an orphanage when he was born.

At the age of 10, he suffered from discrimination and bullying. At 12, he began to stand on his own feet and lived in an illegal rooftop iron shelter; and at 16, he shot an advertisement film for the first time in his life.

Turning all sufferings into growth nutrients
At the age of 19, he experienced his first turning point in life to receive eight licenses, and successfully enrolled in National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. At 21, he served as a special assistant to a Michelin’s three-star chef, shared his life stories and taught culinary arts at various colleges around Taiwan; and at 22, he represented Taiwan to receive 3rd place in the World Food Championships, winning glory for the country.

At the age of 23, he has already served as a chef in three national banquets; at 25, he worked as the deputy chef in HTC, one of the global top 100 brands to serve more than 10,000 employees every day; at 26, he was responsible for undertaking the 49th Golden Horse Awards banquet individually; and at 27, he served as the Flight Kitchen Manager of China Airlines & Swire Group, helping the company to generate an annual growth rate of 2.28 times.

Spreading positive energy with the Hope Platform
At the age of 28, he became a model of life education. At 29, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumni by the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, the nomination of Taiwan Top Ten Outstanding Youth, and founded the “Hope Platform” to broadcast positive energy.

At the age of 30, he was recommended by the presidents and ambassadors of various countries and received the title of “Universal Peace Federation - Ambassador for Peace” to jointly create a culture of peace service.

On August 1, 2018, he represented the United Nations world youth leaders to give an English speech at the Peace Conference at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, finding ways to solve the global orphans from being labeled, discriminated upon, inequality, and other issues. He received applause from all the audiences and won support and recognition from the UN Chiefs. He is the first person in Taiwan’s history, having his photos being posted and promoted on the official community website by the UN.

Turning culinary arts into power
Whereby, Chen, Kuo-Hsin has been turning setbacks into a form of training for 33 years, and transforming culinary arts into power. He has even established the Hope Platform. To date, he has helped children from 185 nursery schools, orphanages, children’s homes, and other institutions in Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, and China to live with hopes and love.

He has also accompanied thousands and thousands of the vulnerable group and orphans to walk out being labeled, and live a strong, victory, and an infinite possibility life through culinary arts. He deserves to be praised as the “Presidents’ Chef,” and stood out among 2,723 recommended candidates from all over the world and earned him the “22nd Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2019” from Taiwan’s Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation.

The Foundation welcomes all walks of life around the world at any time to recommend candidates of life warriors who possess the contexts of endeavors, love, braveness, and achievement.
 
The Fervent Global Love of Lives Medal - Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, Taiwan
Recommended hotline: 886-2-29178770
Fax: 886-2-29178768
Address: 3F, No. 52, Mingde Road, Xindien District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Website: http://www.ta.org.tw
Email: ta88ms17@gmail.com

A turning point in his life at 19
Kuo-Hsin’s father died of cancer, and his mother was a moderately mentally ill patient who had to spend her entire life in the hospital then, so he was sent to an orphanage when he was born.

At 10 years old, he was laughed at by his classmates as a child without parents and had even gone further to beat him with a badly battered head, a broken finger, etc.

Just then, Kuo-Hsin cried and asked himself: “Why should my life be like this?” “Why is the world so unequal?”

After crying, he thought quietly and felt that everyone cannot not decide where he or she is born, but he or she can choose his or her path. So he stood up from the ground and encouraged himself to rise above the crowd, and help the world’s orphans to walk out being labeled and live a victorious life.

At the age of 12, Kuo-Hsin faced uncertain food and lodging issues due to the policy matter and the abolishment of many orphanages. He started to work through schooling, forced to stand on his own, and borrowed money from his employer to rent an illegal rooftop iron shelter.

Kuo-Hsin has been very optimistic since childhood. Not only did he do well in school, but also excel in interpersonal relationship, diversity development, and won many extracurricular awards, such as the Model Student of the City, excellent work in painting competition, the 9th place in the Billiards National Presidents Cup, the school’s English competition championship, and shot his first advertisement film in life.

At the age of 19, he also encountered confusion in life. Feeling dejected, he changed to study the Department of Restaurant Management from the Department of Advertisement.

Completing various tasks step by step
After the transfer, he and his classmate fell behind in schoolwork. Kuo-Hsin made advance plans by allocating the time and doing things in sequence, thus completing the tasks step by step and obtained eight licenses in one year.

He has also been very ambitious since childhood. Not complacent with the licenses, he went to the credit class of Nanya Institute of Technology to study foreign language after graduation.

At that time, he was serving as the chef of a large enterprise’s staff restaurant, where he had to cook meals for 1,000 to 1,500 people for a monthly salary of NT$30,000. He didn’t have a driving license then to deliver the meals.

So, he used his spare time hurriedly between after work and classes to learn driving.

He split one day into three stages to engage in working, attending the driving class, and credit class. After school, he continued to study until midnight, and woke up the next morning to work in the company at 8:00.

He said that he didn’t do well in the four-year technical program and was given another chance by Nanya Institute of Technology to attend the 80-credit class, allowing him to retake the exam and yet able to work through his study.

He developed the habit of reading every day. After the hard work, he finally got a brilliant result and let him enroll in National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, his priority school.

Bearing high responsibility and winning glory for the country
When he was studying in the 80-credit class at Nanya Institute of Technology, he had already built a good foundation in English. As compared with other classmates who were not proficient in English, he had no difficulty at all in reading English books and all kinds of food ingredients then.

He had more opportunities than others for being noticed, letting him to show his excel upon entering National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. Coupled with his own efforts, he was spotted by the General Manager of Villa 32, Beitou, inviting him to prepare meals for many political and business celebrities there. He was even covered by the CommonWealth Magazine.

Also, he even served President Ma Ying-jeou, Vice President Xiao Wanchang, the Republic of Kiribati, the President of the Republic of Palau, and the Prime Minister of Tuvalu at a state banquet at the end of 2007.

Kuo-Hsin was recommended by his teacher to participate in the Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) Culinary Challenge 2008 held at the Singapore Expo. Up to everybody’s expectation, he was selected among 100 candidates to represent Taiwan to compete with contestants from Dubai, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, Japan, etc.

The team led by the 22-year-old Kuo-Hsin won 3rd place in the world in the Dream Team Challenge.

The team displayed the platters integrated with Taiwan’s specialty tea leaf ingredient, tea culture. It received an award and allowed Taiwan to leap on the international arena.

The awarded set menus: “Mullet Roe Salad with Tea Flavor,” “Grilled Chicken Meat and Duck Liver Roll with Tea Flavor,” and “Fragrant Lava Chocolate Cake with Tea Flavor” were blended with tea leaves and other ingredients from Taiwan.

While the specially prepared flaming coffee known as “Passionate Formosa” was composed of Oolong Tea, ginger, brown sugar, and rum.

The judges were amazed and appreciated by the creativity, vision, and tastes of the dishes.

The Hope Textbook is translated into 13 languages to spread love
At the age of 28, Kuo-Hsin established the “Hope Platform” and became a life lecturer. To pioneer his Hope Textbook, he started to give lectures around the world to tell people about his successful life story, character, and spiritual thoughts.

The Hope Textbook has been translated into 13 languages ​​and spread around the world, and he broke a record to speak alone in front of 6,000 people.

During the lectures, he used to speak and cook delicious dishes at the same time in front of the children using the self-prepared food ingredients, telling his life story, teaching them the culinary arts, and helping them to create self-confidence, courage, and finding hopes and the values of life.

So far, he has accompanied thousands and thousands of vulnerable children from 185 nursery schools, orphanages, children’s homes, and other institutions in Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, China, etc.

The following are some of the experience sharing feedback from Taiwanese children after hearing the lectures of Teacher Kuo-Hsin:
 
  • My life seems to be colored, and I’ve a direction and more confidence in myself. Thanks to the encouragement and support from brother Kuo-Hsin, allowing me not to be ashamed of being in the children’s home, and urging me to march forward and never give up.
  • While listening to your speech, I’ve realized that even poor people have a successful side to develop their talents. You’ve taught me how to find success in difficult times. I wish I’ll listen to your words and develop my abilities.
  • After listening to this speech today, I feel that no matter where people are born, they can succeed if they’re willing to work hard.
  • You speech has let us know that there is no need to ask a hero where he was born. It’s just a process and a test. The future relies on your hard work. Thank you, brother Kuo-Hsin, for giving us a helping hand when we’re confused.
  • Your speech today is very thought-provoking. In fact, I always feel that living in a children’s home is different from others. I can’t go shopping with friends after school, can’t talk about TV dramas with everyone, etc. Today, you said that: “The children’s home is a “successful camp” prepared for us by God. I’m most impressed by this sentence. When we think about it, we get more concern from more people than the ordinary children, so I’m confident I’ll succeed in the future.
  • I’m very impressed after listening to this speech because teacher also comes from a children’s home like us. Now you’re already a successful person and have even become our role model in the children’s home. After listening to the successful examples such as how to remove the barrier in front of us and how to face adversity positively, they’ve prompted me to have a motivation to change myself. Finally, I really appreciate Teacher Chen’s sharing, letting me know how to face the future, and knowing how to let myself be successfully in the future from a kid in the children’s home.
  • I’ve a different feeling from this speech. It seems to have given us confidence, telling us that even children living in a children’s home can still accomplish great achievements because they need to work harder than other people for being born in a difficult environment. We must not set ourselves in a vicious circle and trapped in one place. Just as the teacher said, although it’s a tough road, we can anyhow be successful one day as long as we believe we can succeed. After seeing the award-winning licenses won by the teacher, and you’ve already fulfilled your goals, they made me realize that there is nothing we can’t achieve. I’ll also try hard and take teacher as a role model for holding your ideas firmly and moving towards your goals instead of wasting 33 years. You don’t feel inferior for being born in a children’s home but have worked even harder to fulfill your dreams and goals.
Praised by 18 presidents and 23 ambassadors
Through the affirmation of global awards, he has made a name for himself at home and abroad. At the age of 23, he had already served as the chef in three national banquets, 18 presidents, and 23 ambassadors.

At the age of 25, he served as the deputy chef for HTC, one of the top 100 brands in the world, serving three meals daily for more than 10,000 employees. He was deeply appreciated by Chairman Cher Wang and the staff.

At the age of 26, he bid with two renowned international brand hotels - W Hotel and Le Méridien Hotel to undertake the 49th Golden Horse Awards banquet individually, responsible for both the master planner and chef jobs.

At the age of 27, he was invited by the Chairman of China Airlines & Taikoo Group to work as the Airline Catering Manager of China Pacific Catering Services (CPCS), responsible for all catering businesses other than in-flight meals.

The Ministry of Education awarded his life experience and outstanding performance in the catering profession the Model of Life Education. He was personally presented with the award by the Deputy Director Chen De Hua and Director Li Yan Yi personally, and he shared his life experience in front of the Principals of the country.

Among the participants was Chi-yeh Yung, the Second President of the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. After hearing the speech, he was moved and full of admiration, and immediately recommended Kuo-Hsin as an outstanding alumnus of the school upon returning to Kaohsiung.

In the following year, Kuo-Hsin won the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Award by the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism. He attended the ceremony on March 27 and received the award by Fu-teng Li, the Founding President, and Chi-yeh Yung, the Second President of the school.

At the peak of his career, Kuo-Hsin did not forget to take care of his elderly mother, who has suffered from moderate mental disorders. He often visits the hospital to accompany and take care of her as well as the elders around her. He would also cook delicious meals for them and has received the National Filial Piety Award in Taoyuan District.

His stories and deeds have been recognized and supported by leaders and groups around the world.

Lito Atienza, the former Mayor of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, who is also the founder of four orphanages, encouraged Kuo-Hsin to sign up for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, also known as the Nobel Prize in Asia after knowing what Kuo-Hsin is promoting. Lito Atienza and his wife have thus helped Kuo-Hsin to fulfill his dream.

The Malaysian Political Secretary Datuk Mr. Wong Nai Chee also thanked him for coming to Malaysia to give a speech to the orphanage children and provide them with spiritual education.

Following the recommendation by the Presidents and Ambassadors of various countries, he was awarded the title of “Universal Peace Federation - Ambassador for Peace” to jointly create a culture of peace service.

On August 1, 2008, he represented the United Nations world youth leaders to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok, finding ways to solve the global orphans from being labeled, discriminated upon, inequality, and other issues. He won support and recognition from the UN Chiefs there.

Most grateful person
Kuo-Hsin is especially indebted to his parents - Chen, Lin-Zi and Chen Tzeng, Gui-Ying.

He is very thankful to his parents for bringing him to this world. He also knows that his parents could not take care of him due to poor health, and chose to send him to the orphanage.

He told his parents: “You don’t have to feel guilty at all; otherwise, I’ll feel miserable. Just remember the happy time we’ve spent together. In the next life, I would continue to be your son. For me, it’s also a kind of happiness for being able to stay by the side of parents’ sickbed.”

Kuo-Hsin owes his second gratitude to his second parents - Dean Su-Chen, and Aunt Xiao-Fang.

Immediately sent to the orphanage upon being born, he had been beaten in the orphanage and discriminated against outside the orphanage. Dean Su-Chen and Aunt Xiao-Fang took care of him as their child.

In the morning, Aunt Xiao-Fang would come to his residence and took him to school. At noon, she would deliver a lunch box to the school and gave him pocket money, etc., fearing that he would get hungry in school.

When he was 12 years old, the orphanage was ordered to dismiss by the government, causing many orphans to wander on the streets or resettled in other institutions. The orphans did not have enough food to eat, and many of them had turned to become child laborers.

Could not bear to see such misfortune, Dean Su-Chen would often buy food, clothing and other things for the orphans using her own money, never allowing them to suffer from hunger and hardship on the streets.

For them, their most significant achievement is to see that the children are safe, and their greatest hope is to know that the children can clearly understand what they need to do and take the initiative to do them. They pray every day to wish that the children can lead a happy future.

The life education milestone
  • Kaohsiung
Fu Guang Shan Ta Tzu Children’s Home, Southern Region Children’s Home, MOHW, Yongan Children’s Home, Private Buddhist Ching Jou Orphanage, Cide Children’s Home, Kao Ying Industrial Commercial Vocational High School (800 audiences), Taiwan Hope in Love Children Care Association, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism Alumni Association, Kaohsiung Red Cross Nursery Center
  • Pingtung
Sandiment Catholic Girl’s Town, Ching-Shan Children’s Home, Christian Faith Hope Love Children’s Home, Affiliated Pingtung JingJong Children’s Home, Pingtung Youth Town, Ciyu Children’s Home, GWG Society Charity Foundation 
  • Taipei
World Vision International, The Salvation Army, Greenpeace, Chinese Culture University (Master’s Program), Champions Education Association, Seed of Love Education Foundation, Rotary Club, Taiwan Junior Chef’s Association (TJCA), Chung-Yi Children’s Home, Chinese Industry Commerce Economy Trade Science & Technology Development Association (ICET), Association of Chinese Elite Leadership, Wan Fang Senior High School
  • New Taipei City
Ta-Tung Children’s Home, Ginlin Girls’ High School, Juang Jing Vocational High School (speaking to the whole school with 6,000 audiences, including the Chairman, Principal, Directors, Military Instructors, Teachers, and students), Rui Xiang Elderly Long-term Care Center , Cathwel Service, Step30, Jinghua Society Cultural Foundation Subsidiary New Taipei City Puxian Cihai, Agape Children’s Home, Elementary and High School Parents’ Association, New Taipei City, Chiang Chin-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (CCKF), China Commercial Maritime Vocational Senior High School, Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation
  • Taoyuan
Taoyuan City Government, Civil Affairs Office of Chungli District, HTC, HTC Foundation, Pingzhen District Community College, Red Cross, Northern District Children’s Home, MOHW, International Children Village, Hong-Hua Children’s Home, Global Peace Alliance, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Yu-De Children’s Home, Nanya Institute of Technology, Nanya Institute of Technology Alumni Association, Adolescents’ Home, Prison Fellowship Taiwan, Reindeer Social Welfare Foundation, Lohas Preschool, White Kite Children’s Home, Mu-Hsiang Children’s Home, Jhongli Assembly, Nankan Presbyterian Church, Luzhu Presbyterian Church, Dorcas Church Of Luchu, TszAn Long-Term Care System, Taoist Deity Nezha Association, Bao’an Nezha Temple, Confucianism and Taoism Association, District 300G2 Lions Clubs International, Adolescents′ Home, Meet & Eat, BNN Branch Association, Chungli Junior High/Elementary School Alumni Association
  • Hsinchu
Blue Sky Home, Hsinchu Ren-Ai Children’s Home, Hsinchu I-Link Community Care Association, Housheng Children’s Home, St. Teresa Children Center, St. Francis Xavier Children and Juvenile Center, The Affiliated Miracle Home of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
  • Miaoli
Yu An Retarded Children’s Home, St. Francis Xavier Children and Juvenile Center
  • Taichung
Central District Children’s Home, HOHW, Huiming Blind Welfare Association Taichung Attached Private Huiming Blind Children, Tsu-Hsin Children’s Home, Zhen-Lan Children’s Home of Dajiama Social Welfare Foundation, Lin Ye Sheng Social Welfare Foundation, Food Bank, The Affiliated Taichung Agricultural Senior High School of National Chung Hsing University
  • Changhua
Tzu-Sheng Zen-Ai Asylum for the Handicapped, En-Hui Children and Young People’s Home.
  • Nantou
Nantou Ren-Ai Children’s Home, Christian Care for Children at Risk
  • Yunlin
Xin-Yi Children’s Home, Yi-Xin Children’s Home, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
  • Chiayi
An-Ren Children’s Home
  • Tainan
Tainan Olive Garden Care Association, Yong-Jing Correctional Institute, Luye Care Center of Karma Kagyu Charity Foundation, Shanxi Temple, Lunghu Temple
  • Keelung
Keelung Fu Jen Sacred Heart Senior High School, Beacon of Faith Home for Youth
  • Yilan
Sing Fu Children’s Home, Tzih Huai Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
  • Hualien
Christian Faith Hope Love Children’s Home, The Mustard Seed Mission, Zen Light Children’s Home, “Let Your Love Rise” Tutoring Class, Kulu Tribe Tutoring Class
  • Taitung
Taitung Wutong Class, Taitung Dalumak School, Anishe Children’s Home, Delei’s Home, Hai-Shan Child Welfare, Hanna’s House, Savior Nursing Home, Animal Care Intelligent Development Center
  • Mazu
Mazu Family Center, Mazu Center for Mental Disorders
  • Kinmen
Kinmen County Datung Home
  • Yilan
Sing Fu Children’s Home, Tzih Huai Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families
  • Hualien
Christian Faith Hope Love Children’s Home, The Mustard Seed Mission, Zen Light Children’s Home, “Let Your Love Rise” Tutoring Class, Kulu Tribe Tutoring Class
  • Taitung
Taitung Wutong Class, Taitung Dalumak School, Anishe Children’s Home, Delei’s Home, Hai-Shan Child Welfare, Hanna’s House, Savior Nursing Home, Animal Care Intelligent Development Center
  • Mazu
Mazu Family Center, Mazu Center for Mental Disorders
  • Kinmen
Kinmen County Datung Home
  • Penghu
Penghu Senior Citizens’ Home, MOHW, Wuhu Family Support Center.
  • Taiwan
Ministry of Education
  • Hong Kong
Precious Blood Children’s Village
  • Macau
Caritas Mcau
  • Shenzhen
International Aging Expo
  • Thailand
Taibei Huilong Chinese School (speaking at the only local school with 700 students), Holy World Children’s Home, Therdthai Home of Star Nursery School, Wanta Village Ming Ern Chinese School, Huai Ern Elementary School, Gen Gen Elementary School, Chenxihui Detoxification Village, Mercy Centre 
  • Vietnam
8 19-3 Kaizhi Orphanage, Anda Qizhi Children’s Home, Pingzhou Nursery School, Hometown Rendao Nursery School, Xinxiang Nursery School, Chennai Nursery School, Baby Cemetery, North Vietnam Catholic Church 
  • Cambodia
Gecko Orphanage, Leather Carving Orphanage, ACODO Orphanage, Good Friends Orphanage, Haley’s House Orphanage, CDO Family Orphanage
  • Philippines
Springboard Foundation, Asian Student Christian Foundation, Mango House, Little Mary’s Home, Home For The Angels, Laura Vicuna Foundation, Tahanan ng Pagmanmahal, Virlanie, Rose Paisaje, BrightHalls Children’s Foundation, Asociacion De Damas De Filipinas, IFL Children's Home - San Isidro Cabuyao, Laguna, Concordia Children’s Service, Inc.
  • Singapore
Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home
  • Malaysia
Amitabha Buddhist Orphanage, Budimas Orion Home, Rumah Charis (Home For The Children), Rumah Victory Children and Youth Home, 4U Institute Interpersonal Relationship, Worldwide Excellence Award, Persatuan Usahawan Maju Malaysia (PUMM), The Boss Club of Malaysia
​
  • The United Nations
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), UPF, WFWP, USLS, Humanitarian Affairs