Transforming Rare Lives with Love -20th Exhibition

This is the 20th year of Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders (TFRD) since 1999. In order to celebrate to come of age, TFRD held the exhibition for 20th year - Transforming Rare Lives with Love - at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Dec. 23 - 30. There were 3,111 visitors during the 8 days, including people come from Japan, Malaysia and the United States. It shows that people who are concerned about the issues of rare diseases are over the world.

To make the public gain a greater understanding of rare diseases, and even become a supporter who back up people with rare diseases, the contents of exhibition had interactive curating with popular science, arts and stories of people with rare diseases, and the process of TFRD’s work, etc. The following is the introduction of the 9 areas of theme.

Rare Condition – It is appreciated that the crew of Newtonkids and YoungNewton help TFRD to present hard knowledge of science in an easy way. Especially, the crew of Newtonkids and YoungNewton take polarizer to this area, so that visitors can get gene knowledge by practicing.

Rare History – In addition to the events, TFRD tells 13 important issues which have been solved in 20 years in three parts. There are “The Ordeals of People with Rare Diseases,” “Our Active Action,” and “The Changes.”

Rare Lives – This area let visitors experienced the necessary home furnishing for people with rare diseases in living spaces, include living room, kitchen and dining room, bedroom, bathroom, and study room. There are assistive devices like lifts and eye trackers in the house, and low-protein rice, cookies, and special fomula powder in the kitchen.

Rare Show Stage – Persons with rare diseases and patient groups appeared and share their story.

Rare Theater – Through playing “A New Lease On Life For Rare Disease” - the documentary produced this year – , visitors are invited to enter the life of people with rare diseases.

Rare Artist Gallery and Rare Story – This area displays creative video arts, large exhibits, and many other works made by people in painting class and writing class that hold by TFRD. Moreover, there are an interactive game – the Monopoly.

VR Area – Through the newest technology – VR –, visitors can see splendid view without traveling far.

Rare Market – There are handmade goods, such as purses, strings of beads, soaps and essential oil that are made by people and families with rare diseases.

Translator: Saya Tsai (SMA), Reviewer: Albert Kuo