In 1981, the publication of the book People Who Shun the Sun written by a burn survivor mobilized the public to address unfair treatment and discrimination against people with facial disfigurement and burn survivors. This led to the establishment of Sunshine Social Welfare Foundation.

Now, 27 years later, Sunshine Foundation publishes Impressions of Happiness, another book written by people with facial disfigurement and burn survivors. The difference is that today, they are no longer afraid of the sun. The scars and marks are still visible, and probably still are a source of perplexity or curious stares, but they are also the key to understanding the process of growth and transformation underwent by burn survivors and people with facial disfigurement, revealing another sort of beauty, another form of happiness.

Each face is an untold story of courage, of healing and of hope for the future. It is to put these stories into words and share them with a wider public that Sunshine Foundation called upon burn survivors, people with facial disfigurement, their family members and the professionals who care for them to submit their creations.

Just as these stories have inspired countless people in Taiwan, they can inspire burn survivors and people with facial disfigurement in other countries who are still struggling to find their place in the sun, to give them courage and support.
*Impressions of Happiness was published with the financial support of the Ministry of the Interior.

We hope that these stories not only open a window on the lives and experiences of burn survivors and people with facial disfigurement in Taiwan, but also become catalysts for exchange, and encourage people in other countries to share their own stories and messages of encouragements.

We invite you to participate by:
- Sending us words of support and encouragement, or,
- Sharing with us your own "impressions of happiness" left by these stories, or,
- Sharing your own story.

You can send your messages or stories by email at marie@sunshine.org.tw or by regular mail at the following address: