The Big Issue

Changing lives forever

How can you help a homeless person? Just giving him money won't solve his problem. It's critical that he learns how to make his own money. The magazine The Big Issue gives him that chance. Any homeless person who wants to make money can apply for a job selling the magazine. First, he must prove he's homeless or soon will be. After training, he receives 10 free copies of the magazine which sell for NT$100 each. With that money, he buys more magazines for NT$50 each. The more magazines sold, the more money earned.

Where it all began
In 1991, John Bird and Gordon Roddick, of the United Kingdom, wanted to help homeless people. They founded a monthly magazine that homeless people could see. Its appealing content made people want to buy and read it. The idea spread. In April 2010, magazine editor Fines Lee published Taiwan's first copy of The Big Issue. "Instead of giving the homeless money," Lee says, "we provide them with a way to help themselves, and we encourage the public to do the same."


Editor's Summary
When you see someone on the street that seems homeless, do you have a desire to reach out and help that person?
Well, in 1991 John Bird and Gordon Roddick from the United Kingdom felt just like that.
But they wanted to do more than just to hand over money.
They wanted to provide a way for homeless people to make money.
So, they founded The Big Issue, to give people the chance to help themselves.
After proving himself to be homeless, a person receives some training and 10 free copies of this magazine.
That person can than buy more magazines for half that price and keep the other half.
So, the more magazines he sells, the more he earns.
In 2010, Fines Lee published Taiwan's first copy.
Here they sell for NT$100 each.
Many countries have joined in this life-changing business.
Lee feels he's providing people a way to help themselves and encourages all of us to do the same thing.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: The Homeless 遊民, 街友
hobo / tramp 指無家可歸的人
bum 流浪且像人要錢 (比較負面的字)
bag lady 拾荒婦女

Grammar Gym
The more magazines sold, the more money earned.
The + more + [subject1] + [verb 1], the + more + [subject 2] + [verb 2].
- The more praises received, the more confidence shown.
- The fewer mistakes made, the fewer complaints received.

Language Lab
issue n.
1 a subject or problem that is often discussed or argued about, especially a social or political matter that affects the interests of a lot of people
- This political issue ignited many controversies between the two parties.
2 a magazine or newspaper printed for a particular day, week, or month
- Starting from this month's issue the new chief editor is changing the style of the magazine cover.

homeless adj.
without a home:
- The homeless shelter is run by a local church.
- The homeless teenagers in this area were absorbed by gangs.

found v.
to start something such as an organization, company, school, or city, often by providing the necessary money [= establish]:
- The organization was founded by a group of single moms devoted to helping single parents.
- The business founded by Peter's father is now a big national company.

appealing adj.
attractive or interesting
- The girl has not only good looks but also an appealing personality.
- The restaurant has an appealing charm that is old-fashioned.



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