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| The Tribe as the Starting Point, the Forest as the Teacher – A Journey of Healing Where Culture and Nature Intertwine |
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“I used to run wild in the mountains as a child. It wasn’t until I grew up that I realized the teachings of my elders could actually heal the aftereffects of urban life.” Tiang (also known as Xiao Ma), a member of the coastal Bunun community, recalled his childhood living in the mountains with his family.
In 2017, Tiang co-founded the Gao Shan Forest Tribal Ranch in Hualien with clinical psychologist Jasper Hsu. They incorporated the forest survival skills of the coastal Bunun people, Taiwan’s only Bunun group living by the sea, into their adventure-based learning programs. At the start of this summer, the Gao Shan Forest Tribal Ranch initiated a collaboration with the Australian nonprofit organization Adventure Works Australia (AWA), co-organizing a three-day, two-night “Nature and Indigenous Cultural Healing Workshop.” Nearly 40 participants joined the workshop at Gao Shan Forest Tribal Ranch, including partners from the BINBIN
Ecotourism Alliance (Fengbin in Hualien and Changbin in Taitung), as well as youths from both urban and indigenous communities. Read more.
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The Alliance Cultural Foundation:
Huatung Choir Camp – Dear Teenage Worries and Courage
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The 12th Huatung Choir Camp took Dear Evan Hansen, a Broadway musical, as its theme. Through choir, drama, and diverse courses, the camp guided youths to get to know themselves through song. The camp kicked off on July 1 at Junyi School of Innovation, gathering 85 junior high and 35 senior high school students from across Taiwan. Together with the camp instructors and 61 volunteers, they embarked on a 13-day journey of self-exploration.
The camp believes that every child can find the power of expression and connection through the arts. Volunteers offered over 50 elective classes based on their areas of expertise, covering sports, arts, psychology, and more. The senior high curriculum focused on adolescent psychological growth, emphasizing that there is no right or wrong in emotions. Students were guided to practice emotional awareness and understanding of others through image creation and free writing. The program concluded with each student writing a “letter of worry” and a “letter of encouragement,” sealed as gentle companions for their life journey.
The final concert on July 13 drew a combined audience of 440 for the afternoon and evening performances, and was also livestreamed online, allowing more people to hear the heartfelt voices of the youths. Music Director Howard also announced that in 2026, the camp will take on the challenge of Wicked, inviting everyone to stay tuned.
Watch the final concert here.
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The Alliance Cultural Foundation:
Cheng Kung Commercial & Aquaculture Senior Vocational High School Signs Sister-School Agreement with Miyazaki Marine High School
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With the support of ACF, Principal Chiu Shen Pao-Chi of National Cheng Kung Commercial & Aquaculture Senior Vocational High School led 18 teachers and students to Japan’s Miyazaki Marine High School for an exchange. On July 17, the two schools signed a sister-school agreement, and will carry out regular mutual visits and curriculum cooperation in the future. This November, Miyazaki Marine High School will also visit Taiwan aboard the training vessel Shinyo Maru, continuing the exchange.
Miyazaki Marine High School specializes in marine and food practice. When visiting the seafood processing laboratory kitchen, students first had to put on protective gear and go through double sanitation procedures, experiencing firsthand Japan’s strict standards for hygiene and food safety. They said it felt like being on the set of a Japanese drama featuring master craftsmen. Seeing the school’s self-produced canned tuna and probiotic drinks gave students new ideas about the possibilities of vocational education. Releasing young halibut raised on campus back into the sea also taught them the important concept of sustainable fisheries.
“This was my first time going abroad – everything was fresh and impressive!”
ACF supports National Cheng Kung Commercial & Aquaculture Senior Vocational High School in developing vocational education through Japanese Cuisine Course. Board member Patrick Su actively promoted industry-academia cooperation, personally attended the event to give a speech in Japanese, showing the importance placed on the exchange.
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Junyi School of Innovation:
Parent-Teacher-Student Co-Created Play – Journey to the West
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After a year of preparation, the fourth-grade class presented the parent–teacher–student co-created play Journey to the West, alternating between live actors and puppets to add a magical touch.
Every year, the fourth grade stages a Journey to the West performance. This year, homeroom teacher Wang Yu-Hsin and parents traveled north to learn shadow play techniques, working together to create the stage, lighting, and puppets. By personally embracing lifelong learning, they set an example for the children. Under the guidance of the dance teacher, the children learned body expression and, combining what they had learned from language and animal courses, brought their characters to life. The whole class also divided tasks to complete props, sound effects, and scenery.
On stage, the children were poised and confident; backstage, they demonstrated strong teamwork, deeply moving Teacher Yu-Hsin, “The children stayed calm under pressure and worked in perfect sync. Whether on stage or backstage, everyone supported and reminded each other, rather than placing blame.” Other elementary school students and parents gave enthusiastic feedback after watching the performance, “Our class kids couldn’t stop praising it. Back in the classroom, they kept discussing the actors and props that left the deepest impression on them. We are grateful to the fourth-grade class for bringing such a wonderful time!”
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Junyi School of Innovation:
Summer Internships for Senior High Students
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Every summer, Junyi offers first- and second-year senior high school students a one-month internship, encouraging them to enter the workplace and explore their future. This year, 43 students participated, with internship fields spanning hospitality, culinary services, arts administration, floral design, architectural firms, nonprofit administration, and camp organization.
In addition to longstanding partners such as Royal Hotel, Eslite Hotel, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, and CN Flower, new collaborators this year included the Paul Chiang Art Center in Jinzun, Taitung; the local South Link Line’s Dagedan House B&B; and Fangcalay, which focuses on rural healthcare. These opportunities allowed students to understand the value of community connection through hands-on
experience.
Before the internships, the school specially invited resident board member Patrick Su to share the meaning and responsibilities of internships, guiding students to establish the right attitude and goals. During the program, Chair Stanley Yen personally visited the students interning at Eslite Hotel, together with General Manager Tony Wang (former General Manager of The Landis Taipei), to offer encouragement.
With the support of industry veterans, students not only gained workplace experience but also felt the trust and care of society. This month-long experience will serve as valuable nourishment as they step from school into the wider world.
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