The Power of Companionship: An Interview with Dr. Sang-Ju Yu on Home Healthcare
“If you think something is not going well or needs change, the best way to change it is to first show an ideal model to society. This is part of what I have learned from The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF) Chair Stanley Yen,” said Dr. Sang-Ju Yu, founder of the Home Clinic Dulan in Taitung. Dr. Yu talks about home healthcare, a model that allows patients to receive medical treatment in the comfort of their homes. He says that what often accelerates an elderly person’s decline is not just the illness, but loneliness. In the face of the declining population in rural areas, through community mutual aid and the companionship between caregivers and those receiving care, these lives can rediscover value, becoming the vital force in rural areas. Read more.
Paul Chiang Art & Culture Foundation: Opening in Spring 2025 - Paul Chiang Art Center Recruitment
Artist Paul Chiang and Chair Stanley Yen each arrived in Taitung, in 2008 and 2009, respectively. One focused on artistic creation, while the other established The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF), a platform dedicated to uplifting the Huatung region. As their friendship deepened, ACF became the supporting team behind the promotion of Chiang’s art, organizing exhibitions and cross-disciplinary collaborations to make art more accessible.
In 2014, Chiang donated his studio and residential land. With broad community support, the studio expanded over the years into the Paul Chiang Art Center, which now encompasses five distinct spaces. During Chiang’s solo exhibition at the Taitung Art Museum in 2022, the art center’s first phase was opened to the public. In spring 2025, after nearly a decade of development, the art center is set to open fully. This unique space, blending the beauty of nature, art, and architecture, is poised to become a hub for international art exchange and an important pillar in ACF’s Huatung sustainability vision.
With approval from both ACF and the Paul Chiang Art & Culture Foundation board, the art center will be co-operated by the two organizations. As the opening date approaches, we warmly invite partners who resonate with the vision of the Paul Chiang Art Center to join our team in creating new possibilities and inspiring experiences. For recruitment details, please visit the official Paul Chiang Art Center website.
The Alliance Cultural Foundation: Binbin Ecotourism Alliance at Taiwan Select
Starting in April this year, a series of earthquakes, torrential rains, and powerful typhoons impacted the economy of Huatung. To promote travel to Changbin and Fengbin and boost the economic momentum of the townships, the Binbin Ecotourism Alliance applied for a support program under the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise Administration. After eight months of capacity building, Binbin Ecotourism Alliance partners traveled to Taipei from October 4-6 to participate in the “Taiwan Select” event, showcasing the unique culture and customs of Huatung.
As the only cross-county regional brand featured in the event, the Binbin Ecotourism Alliance represented a total of 60 local businesses. The alliance brought a curated selection of agricultural products, such as Fengbin’s Sea Rice and naturally harvested honey, to the venue. They also displayed traditional hunting knives and handmade Bunun flutes. When played in the forest, the flute’s melody attracts eagles and muntjacs, a 300-year-old ancient tracking technique. Many foreign diplomats and visitors at the event eagerly tried their hand at playing the flute.
During the three-day event, numerous longtime supporters of Binbin Ecotourism Alliance businesses came to show their support, while the alliance also formed connections with many new friends. Visitors were not only deeply impressed by the warmth and enthusiasm of the Binbin Ecotourism Alliance partners but also came to appreciate Taiwan as a precious, pristine land.
For more updates, visit the Binbin Ecotourism Alliance Facebook.
Junyi School of Innovation: 9th Grade Graduation Project Presentations
On September 19-20, 9th graders of Junyi School of Innovation held their graduation project presentations. After a year of preparation, 47 students overcame their nerves to share their research findings with guests and parents. Their presentations covered topics such as the exploration of indigenous cultures, candid reflections on personal aspirations and growth, and the showcasing of musical talents, leaving the audience in awe.
This year’s theme, “Vision of the Stars,” featured a visual concept of an underwater world integrated with land insects and astronauts, symbolizing harmonious coexistence and inclusivity across diverse worlds. 9th grade homeroom teacher Tung-Han Lin remarked that through the presentations, students not only demonstrated knowledge and skills but also connected with themselves and explored the meaning of life.
Parent attendance reached 100%, with many traveling from places as far as Pingtung, Hualien, and Yilan to show their support. Particularly moving moments included students saying “I love you” to their families, bringing parents and grandparents to tears. Teacher Rahic Sra, who served as the event’s introducer, said, “At Junyi, learning is not confined to textbooks or classrooms but takes place by the water, in the mountains, and in every moment of life.” These experiences have laid a strong foundation for the students’ future explorations.
For more photos from the graduation project presentations, click here.
Junyi School of Innovation: Autumn Festival at the Elementary School
In Waldorf education, teachers guide children to connect with the seasonal rhythms through festivals and ceremonies. Through morning circle activities, crafts, musical performances, and poetry creation, children experience the changing seasons and align their daily rhythms with nature.
This year, the elementary school’s autumn celebration began with performances from each class. First and second graders led a morning circle activity, third and fourth graders sang autumn songs and performed flute pieces, while fifth and sixth graders recited poetry. After the performances, teachers guided their classes in campus maintenance activities, including applying Bio-Dynamic Agriculture compost under fruit trees to enrich the soil.
The afternoon focused on artistic expression. First and second graders crafted unique autumn fans using fallen leaves, third and fourth graders made windmills, and fifth and sixth graders turned their self-composed autumn poems into kites, which they hung around the campus to dance with the wind. Through various forms of art, the children expressed their connection to and appreciation for the arrival of autumn.
For more photos of the autumn celebration, click here.
