Hope Project for Happy Learning: Children’s Warmest Companion and Guardian
By Chang Tao-hong V.P. of Hengchun Old Town Cultural Promotion Association of Taipei City Chief Executive of Wu Nien-jen’s Happy Learning Project in Hengchun Peninsula
The initiation of Hope Project for Happy Learning:
Born in Hengchun, despite having left hometown to pursue personal development for so many years, President Wang Min-shiun has never momentarily forgotten his blood-tied, umbilical cord-like hometown, the land that nourished him, made hm strong and provided him with nutrients. On a certain occasion, while chatting with Principal Lin Po-wen, a member of a local prestigious family, Principal Lin presented what he had observed and discovered—that in the remote areas of Hengchun, there existed some serious problems for school kids’ character education. “Now in Hengchun, even in the areas of Fanshan and Fanliao, since some parents are very busy with their work, their kids simply don’t know where to turn to after school at 4 pm; that is why they tend to be naturally recruited by the community Taoist temples, starting to learn to smoke, chew betel nuts, and become a member of the so-called “Eight Plus Nine” in the society. Nevertheless, if you want the parents to stop working so as to take care of their children, it will impact the family income,” worryingly and significantly said Principal Lin. “Of course, we cannot capsize all the boats with one pole’s stroke; that is, we cannot say all the members of the “Eight Plus Nine” are bad kids. Ba Jia Jiang is also a part of the traditional Taoist temple culture. However, is it possible to find out a way that we can not only share the responsibility of the parental care, but also allow the kids to learn and feel accompanied?” After identifying the problem, the pro-active President Wang Min-shiun immediately started to act, discussing with director Wu Nien-jen, who had been advocating “Happy Learning,” about this issue. After the discussion, they found that their ideals were so accommodatingly consistent that they decided to launch the Hope Project for Happy Learning in Pingtung area.
To build a warm sanctuary for the kids:
Since we were born in Hengchun Peninsula, we all really understand one issue; that is, the more southern it is, the larger the land and the more various the crops are, but the lesser the time for taking care of the children. Hence, we must focus our resources on allocating a fixed site and hiring teachers for “Happy Learning,” so that children can come and learn regularly according to the scheduled time. However, what was not expected was: meticulous hard work and good intention did not necessarily guarantee a plain sailing and cause a sensational instant response. In the early phase of promoting Happy Learning Project, it was kind of commonplace to encounter soft resistances or parents’ denouncing. In the meantime, President Wang Min-shiun, “the most resilient volunteer” called by us, also personally rolled up the sleeves and joined us in the grassroot efforts. “Even though there are only three or four students, they are students per se; any one of them enlightened counts.” Both President Wang Min-shiun and I believed, “what must first be done is to do the basics well; just like consolidating the “footings,” with them comes the strong foundation; after all, education categorically belongs to such kind of project where it takes ten years to grow a tree and one hundred years to cultivate an extraordinary talent. Based on such a belief, President Wang Ming-shiun initiated the project of “Happy Learning After-school Program,” centering on the core concept of “companionship,” not only providing assistance for academic studies, but also preparing dinners for kids, allowing them to have a safe and affectionate environment, and helping them to best use the time when parents are not around. Despite repeatedly encountering the problems of the venue and the teaching faculty in the promotion process, fortunately, having been through multiple efforts, we could eventually get the project carried out by collaborating with "Bread of Life Christian Church, Spring of Life, Hengchun.”
The wish to guard the young generation of Hengchun:
Actually, in such rural area as Hengchun, the operating cost of “Happy Learning After-school Program” is much higher than that of the urban area. In terms of the transportation cost, teachers’ willingness cost and per capita cost, etc,, the locally required budget for Hengchun is almost twice that of the other areas! To ensure that the “Happy Learning After-school Program” can perpetually operate, in the name of “Public Welfare Medal,” President Wang Ming-shiun appealed to a host of business owners to donate, and to devote themselves to public welfare, so as not only to sponsor the “Happy Learning After-school Program,” but also to collaborate with Heng Chun Christian Hospital, providing emergency aids and funeral costs that are not covered by the institutionalized medical system. President Wang Ming-shiun straight-forwardly remarked: “The matter of money belongs to us. The kids’ future and looking after the development of Hengchun are what matter most!” Looking back, the reason why President Wang and I are continuously willing to contribute is because we want to do a little bit for the young generation. Many people might ask, “to what extent do you both want to reach?” President Wang Min-shiun replied, “don’t you see that there are still so many kids wandering around on the streets? As long as I have such a religious wish, I will continue to work together with V.P. Chang and everybody. I am not as great as a Bodhisattva, never becoming a Buddha unless I redeem all the sentient beings; however, I still want to make the most of what I humbly have, trying to sanctify our local kids in Hengchun.”
文字整理/《史料未及之永恆春日》編輯部 Edited by the Trans-history staff in charge of Spring Eternity
