You don't need a fortune to make a difference in your community. Many charities in Taiwan welcome small donations, and even a hundred dollars can buy school supplies for a child living in poverty. If you have no money to give, you can contribute your time instead. Students can read stories to kids at the library or help older residents carry their groceries. Some schools collect used books and clothes for disadvantaged families every winter. These actions may seem small, but together they can transform a neighborhood. After all, the real wealth of a community is the kindness of the people who live there.

When Anna moved to Taiwan from south-east Asia ten years ago, she could not speak any Chinese. Like many immigrants, she felt lonely and worried about her future. Everything around her was new, and nothing felt familiar. Then a kind neighbor invited her to a community cooking class. There, Anna taught the other residents how to make spring rolls from her hometown, and they taught her Chinese words in response. Today, she runs a small restaurant and gives free meals to elderly people living alone. "The inhabitants of this town gave me a second home," she says. "Now it is my turn to give back."