服務故事

The Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness committee was established in response to the Hualien earthquake in February 2018. It aims to help survivors heal, overcome post-traumatic stress disorder, and bring life back to the disaster-stricken area. Located on the fault line, it recognizes the importance of initiating projects that teach community members how to reconnect and coexist with nature. The Fault Line Festival and the Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness Fair were created to achieve this. Both initiatives took place one year after the earthquake between February and March of 2019, sharing the outcome of the past year.

Fault Line Festival Held from February 2nd to March 10th, the Fault Line, curated by North Point Studio, organized over 20 activities ranging from workshops to tours to the disaster zone to reintroduce the area, lectures, family-friendly events, and art and action art.

Three artists from Japan and Taiwan were invited were specially invited to create installations for the area. While they engaged with the public through their works and designed games for children to inspire curiosity in the arts, psychologists, social workers, and therapists encouraged dialogue through activities. With the event's success, the Fault Line Festival curator is in discussion with National Dong Hwa University's Art Department on the possibility of organizing a biennial festival. They also discuss initiating an artist-in-resident program collaborating with education and art associations.

Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness Fair The Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness Fair, which took place between March 1st and 2nd, brought together 80-some small business owners, from artists and aroma therapists to mobile libraries; they set up stalls and gave lectures. The fair welcomed over 1,000 visitors, enjoying local music, food, handicrafts, dance, and storytelling and learning earthquake protection, safety, and precautions.

The fair aimed to bring visitors back into the community. Located by the river where the earthquake heavily impacted it, visitors could positively enjoy its nature through the fair. Volunteers supported the event; one, in particular, was a victim of the earthquake who wanted to give back to the committee for the support she received from their initiatives.

In the future, the Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness committee plans to continue community workshops and lectures on mindful breathing and how to help and care for survivors. A website is planning to continue raising awareness of mental health wellness for survivors of disasters. The committee hopes its initiative will help prevent, help victims face, and heal through their support network.

About Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness The Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness committee was initiated after the February 2018 earthquake in Hualien by a group of psychologists, social workers, and therapists, alongside local shop owners, media workers, writers, and artists. They participated in the mental health healing of survivors through a series of activities, which included workshops, lectures, DIY projects, reading clubs, and more.

The initiative was mainly sponsored by an ACF board member and chair of Pegatron Corporation, Tzu-hsien Tung, born in Hualien. Tung created a Hualien-Taitung Sustainable Growth Fund, which supports three dimensions:

1. Mental health wellness: 1) Hualien Seven Kilometers to Happiness 2) Talk to a Listener program in collaboration with the Dwen An Social Welfare Foundation

2. Changbin-Fengbin industry and community project

3. Future of education 2019: 1) National Robotics Competition 2) Tamorak Kindergarten, which teaches the native language of Amis in Makotaay village.