The Czech Republic had the highest per-capita coronavirus infection rate and highest death rate in the world in mid-February of 2021 despite imposing a strict lockdown.

The Czech Republic experienced the highest number of patients treated in hospitals since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 with more than 8,400 patients treated in hospitals for COVID-19, including 1,700 in ICUs. The rapid spread of COVID-19 cases pushed Czech hospitals to the verge of collapse.

In the darkest times, Taiwanese netizens expressed their support to the Czech frontline healthcare professionals by signing an Online Open Letter, leaving supportive comments for the Czech health professionals, and sending hand-written postcards directly to the Czech Republic. Angel Cheng, the Organizer of The Letter to the Czech Health Professionals from Taiwan #TaiwanCzechLetter, built the "Wall of Love," a warm initiative intended to spread compassion and deepen the friendship between Taiwanese and Czech people. 

(Source: taiwanczechletter.org)

The initiative received over 265 postcards, including a handwritten note by the Taiwanese Digital Minister, Audrey Tang 唐鳳. The postcards were displayed at the one-day-only outdoor postcards exhibition in the Fakultní Nemocnice Královské Vinohrady, Prague. The rest of the postcards were transported to the Hospital in Hradec Kralove to cheer up the local medical staff.

(source: Czech-Taiwanese Business Chamber)

Angel Cheng is the CEO of Xin Young Foundation, a devoted Youth Advisory Committee member of the Taiwan National Ministry of Education, and a highly committed professional and a passionate advocate of Taiwan Youth Overseas Peace Corps and cross-culture volunteering.