During this summer vacation, Chung Yuan Christian University will lead five teams consisting of 30 student volunteers to provide various services in Taoyuan, Matsu, Cambodia, and the Thai-Myanmar border. These services include rural education, issue interviews, visual documentation, English teaching, and arts and cultural education. From Taiwan to international destinations, and from issues concerning new immigrants to those affecting Thai-Myanmar migrant children, these Chung Yuan students, regardless of ethnicity or national borders, are dedicated to spreading love and making their summer vacation more meaningful.
Chen Guan-Yu, the Dean of Student Affairs at Chung Yuan Christian University, personally presented the flag and shared his own experience of being in a high-pressure academic environment. He recalled the nostalgic memories of his gloomy junior high school days and highlighted how participating in summer camp activities led by university students was the most wonderful and unforgettable time for him. He encouraged fellow students to overcome challenges during their respective team assignments and become significant individuals who positively impact the lives of others, returning with a sense of fulfillment. He then handed over the flag, symbolizing responsibility and succession, to student Yinghua Er Zeng Wanfei, expressing the hope that students would utilize their expertise to contribute to various places, taking love deep into Taiwan and reaching out to the world.
The “Passing on the Torch of Love” ceremony was conducted by senior volunteers who participated in the expedition last year. They passed on the spirit of the five core values of service, namely “passion, care, knowledge, responsibility, and honor,” to the upcoming volunteer team. Zheng Yu-Xiang, a student majoring in International Trade, expressed that he chose to step out of his comfort zone and try new things because he was not content with the status quo. Zheng Yu-Xiang said, “The motivation to become a better version of oneself is worthy of encouragement and recognition! I would like to remind junior volunteers to take care of each other and be each other’s strongest support. This is the key to ensuring a smooth and successful service experience.”
Chung Yuan Christian University has been actively promoting long-term overseas service-learning initiatives, with the longest-running program being the “Cambodia Team” which is now in its 14th year. Students continue to provide service to rural communities in Cambodia, bringing about positive changes through education. In August, they will embark on a 25-day service project in Cambodian villages, bringing donated goods and funds collected in Taiwan. The project aims to train local teachers as English language instructors and establish English classes. Utilizing interactive and engaging teaching materials, they provide abundant English learning resources to spark the interest of village children, making dedicated efforts to contribute to local education. This service initiative has been recognized with the “Excellence Award” in the Ministry of Education’s Youth Overseas Peace Corps competition!
Another team departing in August is the Thailand Volunteer Team. They will be focusing on migrant schools along the Thai-Myanmar border, where they will engage children in activities such as painting, handicrafts, music, and dance. Through these creative teaching methods, they aim to discover the artistic potential of the children and create a bridge for them to interact with the outside world. Hu Jingyun, the team leader and a Psychology major, mentioned, “These children come from Myanmar and face challenging lives in Thailand. The schools they attend often lack sufficient teaching resources and personnel, making it difficult to incorporate arts and culture activities into their curriculum. After multiple discussions with the local school authorities, we hope to provide the children with firsthand experiences in arts and culture, allowing them to explore new perspectives and cultivate an interest in the arts.”
In addition to overseas service, Chung Yuan Christian University’s “Seeding Team” has been deeply involved in local communities for many years, caring for the children of new immigrants and underprivileged families in Taoyuan. They organize theme camps and handicraft workshops to foster an understanding of multiculturalism and build children’s self-confidence in learning. At the same time, they promote environmental awareness and educate children about the importance of waste reduction and recycling, making learning a joyful experience for the children. Another initiative is the “Service-Learning Vlogger” project, where the team visits Matsu to document its cultural and historical heritage through video recordings. Adopting an immersive approach and a local perspective, the team conducts interviews and captures the wartime stories and memories of elderly residents, thereby gaining insights into Matsu’s culture and humanistic charm.
