To promote a culture of sports among persons with disabilities and foster team spirit, Eden Foundation hosted the “2026 Eden Cup Community Workshop Tee-ball Game” on the 12th, Aug. A total of 32 Eden small-scale sheltered community workshops and day care centers from across Taiwan once again gathered at the Gymnasium of National Chung Hsing University in Taichung for an exciting competition. A total of 26 teams participated in the event, with 460 persons with disabilities, 140 educare givers, and more than 40 volunteers working together in unity. The event aimed to create a platform for persons with disabilities to interact with one another and enhance their social participation, thereby putting the spirit of equality enshrined in the CRPD into practice.

 

Now in its third year, the “Eden Cup Community Workshop Tee-ball Game” saw participants travel from all across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, arriving at the venue early in the morning, ready to compete. As all teams marched in formation, Taiwan’s renowned dance director and choreographer “Instructor Rambo” and his young daughter Mei Mei led the players in a lively warm-up dance and the oath of participation. Eden Foundation’s President Mr. Yu-Chao Chen, CEO Mr. Tine-Yuang Ho, and Mr. Jung-Sung Ho, Senior Executive Officer of Social Affairs Bureau, Taichung City Government also enthusiastically participated, jointly swinging the bat to throw the ceremonial first pitch and kick off the exciting game.
 

The atmosphere on the field was as scorching as the summer sun. The players ran and batted with all their might, sweating profusely as they demonstrated the results of their daily training; meanwhile, the educare givers and volunteers on the sidelines watched over them attentively and cheered them on enthusiastically. The defending champion—the “Chia-Yang Community Workshop” team—were in high spirits and demonstrated their determination to defend their title as soon as they took the field. One player, Hsiao-Ting, shared that although she felt a bit of pressure and was nervous, she believed that with their solid training, she and her teammates could secure the victory together. Meanwhile, the “Yanchao & Light of Grace Community Workshop” combined team—which won the Southern District championship last year after missing the “Eden Cup Community Workshop Tee-ball Game” in Taichung due to a typhoon—was no less formidable. They came on strong, determined not only to build friendships through the game but also to deliver one thrilling game after another with the fiercest competitive spirit of southern Taiwan.
 

Instructor Rambo, participating in “Tee-ball Game” for the first time, was deeply moved by the sight of the players giving their all on the field. Having experienced his own low points due to illness in the past, he understands all the more the preciousness of overcoming obstacles and standing on the field once again. “I hope every player with a disability on the field can fully enjoy the game and the feeling of working hard together with their teammates,” shared Instructor Rambo. Whether it’s practicing dance or playing tee-ball, he emphasized the importance of being brave enough to try and practicing constantly; regardless of the final outcome, these experiences will serve as nourishment for future growth and improvement.
 

Unlike traditional baseball game, the gameplay and rules of “Tee-ball game” are specifically designed to suit persons with disabilities. Through promotion in recent years, Eden’s small-scale sheltered community workshops and day care centers for persons with disabilities across Taiwan have incorporated this sport into their daily activities. In addition to fostering exercise habits and maintaining physical health, professional coaches use simple, easy-to-understand methods to gradually assist service users grasp the concept of “rules”; At the same time, through team sports, peer interaction is enhanced, and participants learn how to cooperate, thereby improving their ability to participate in society.
 

Eden Foundation indicates that Article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) states that persons with disabilities have the right to participate in cultural, recreational, and sporting activities. However, in daily life, many people still harbor prejudices and stereotypes—such as the belief that persons with disabilities cannot be independent, deserve pity, or should simply stay at home. These assumptions deny the possibility of independent living for persons with disabilities and hinder their right to participate in society. Therefore, Eden believes that inclusion is not just the responsibility of the service users but requires the collective commitment of the entire society. Through sports, persons with disabilities can express themselves and show society that they have dreams and abilities.
 

Over the past 44 years, Eden has accompanied persons with disabilities—each with their own unique needs—through the most critical stages of their lives by providing diverse services such as daily care, vocational rehabilitation, and employment support. In the future, we hope the general public will continue to offer strong support so that persons with disabilities can confidently step out of their homes, enjoy a variety of recreational activities, and leverage their strengths and talents to gradually seize opportunities, take control of their lives, and become the heroes of their own stories!