Introduction of Aboriginal Education and Culture Association of Pingtung

Origin

  1. Aboriginal culture, which plays an important role in Formosa (Taiwan), has to be preserved and passed down; undoubtedly, its never easy for underprivileged cultures to survive in modern society. In the belief that awakening of aboriginals is the most precious power of change, this association was set up. Our only hope is striving after cultural inheritance like candles in darkness, instead of doing a show. Moreover, we look forward to gathering more partners with same concepts to take up the torch, lighting up the future of aboriginal culture.
  2. Civilization has much to do with education; in other words, receiving an education is the only way to get out of poverty and ignorance. As a result, aboriginal students are encouraged to pursue further studies, developing various talents in order to carve out a niche of their own.
  3. To improve the value of people, we share our love to serve everyone out of our wills, aiming to make the world a better place.

 

Our Tenets

  1. Arranging activities about aboriginal cultural inheritance and education.
  2. Researching and promoting on humanities, technology, and tribe research.
  3. Assisting community human resource development.
  4. Conducting services about social welfare, environmental protection, legal consultation, and emotional reconstruction.
  5. Having periodicals, magazines, books and various audiovisual media published.
  6. Maintaining and promoting traditional aboriginal virtues.
  7. Other events related to public welfare.

 

Organization Address: No.200, Lukai St., Wutai Township, Pingtung County 902, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

 

Main Works

  1. Promoting Education in Tribes Hope Engineering Program
  2. Setting up after-school class for free

Therere totally 82 aboriginal tribes in Pingtung. 42 tribes are located in the front part of the mountains; the rests are in the inner area. The latter one is lack of education resources, most of the families there dont have any extracurricular reading materials for their children. Furthermore, some of the tribes dont have bookstores, libraries, cram schools or talent classes, even elementary schools. (Since the remote location or low population, the schools are closed in succession)

  1. Global Views Monthly once took school closure as main issue in

September, 2006. According to the topic, many remote schools were badly cut down or merged recently. For example, 25 schools in Pingtung has been closed during 1999 to 2005. As a result, the children have no choice but tramping over hills and dales for going to school in another tribe.

We divided the procedure of establishing after-school classes into 5 steps. First of all, restructuring the classrooms in abandoned schools. The 25 tribes where have schools closed are in priority to deal with, having those deserted classrooms rearranged( weeds removal, environment sanitary, leak-proof, having the walls painted, decoration, plumbing and electricity.)

Secondly, raising for the equipment. As long as the reconstruction of the classrooms, new or used books, shelves, computers and other items were collected. Every tribe should have 10 to 20 computers(depends on the scale of computer classrooms and population,)and approximately 3,000 books.

Third, staff training which involves volunteers, storyteller, informative skills and group leadership workshops.

Forth, opening the classrooms to the public. Everyone is able to read, borrow books or use computers in the classrooms.

Last but not least, setting up after-school classes for pupils and teenagers. Retired teachers, college students and individuals are welcomed to join us as  volunteers.

 

Accompolishment

Until December, 2011, the amount of  tribes after-school classrooms have increased to 58. Besides, each tribe received over 3,000 books (shelves are included,) more than 10  computers, a large whiteboard, desks, chairs, stationery and toys.

 

Over 150 college students were recruited to be the volunteers in tribes.

 

We have kept the track of the students who used to attend after-school classes for 2 years. 197 of them are college students, 20 of them are studying for master degree, and 4 of them are studying for doctoral degree. In short, aboriginal students can be potential straight-A students.

 

The raised books and computers will be sent to the remote tribes for establishing tribe classroom in Pingtung in order to take care of the students during after-school time. Currently, about 50 after-school classes have been set in tribal villages of Pingtung.

Opening of childrens library

After typhoon Morakot striked Taiwan, we made up our minds to provide students (especially those who are homeless, orphan, or from single-parent family) in disaster area with a environment which can feel free to study, surf the internet for information, do homework and take course tutoring. For preparing the construction of the library and after-school classrooms, we submitted an application to Ministry of the Interior for the budgets, and they has approved that they will start fundraising from January 1, 2010.(Approval Code for Ministry of the Interior:0980704159)

After one year of effort, there were only NT$8,000,000 donated, which was still far away from the target NT$60,000,000. As a result, we cut down the original target to NT$20,000,000. Were so grateful that our member came up with an idea about donating freely, which had NT$2,000,000 increased as subsidy to round up the number into NT$10,000,000 totally. Those good-nature people who donating will be listed on our website.

Due to the budget, the architectural program will be divided into two stages.

The first stage(from January to July, 2012) will begin from the library, classrooms and offices.

On the other hand, the second one(from January to July, 2013) is mainly focus on the outdoor fields, cafeterias and accommodations for children in difficult conditions. Currently we are moving on the first stage, the next one might still have to rely on everyones help. The target budget we set is NT$10,000,000 for each stage. Now that the first stage has reached the amount, well have a groundbreaking ceremony on January 12, 2011. After that, we plan to ask Ministry of the Interior for fundraising, hoping that the architectural program could be finished by the end of the next year.

 

 Scholarship for Poverty

Recently, there has been a economy depression in Taiwan, many families have fell into a financial difficulty. They even cant pay for the health insurance and tuitions, especially aboriginal people, who has always been in a weaker condition than others. Although children are unable to choose their families, we still hope that at least they can have the chance to get education, so our members strived to find out solutions. Except for financial assistance, donation activities for all sorts of clothes, books, toys and computers were held as well. During vacations, students from universities and colleges were asked to be our volunteers on recreation camps to let aboriginal children to enrich their daily lives.

Emotional construction activities for aboriginal students

1.Holding lectures for career arrangement, life motivation, gender education, parental education, marriage, and so on.

2.Holding extracurricular activities such as field trips, experience camps, recreation camps, sport games, academic or artistic contests, and writing contests.

Cultural inheritance

1.We consisted Sami-Lin Ensemble of Art and Culture for promoting the beauty of aboriginal culture to both Taiwanese and foreigners.

2.Building a website about aboriginal culture in order to introduce aboriginal culture to everyone.

3.Hosting workshops, observations or competitions about creation and cultural inheritance.

4.Holding educational observation and teachers education seminars in Paiwan and Rukai tribes.

5.Publishing and compiling magazines, books, multimedia products and association news.

6.Having mother tongue workshops held, compiling aboriginal dictionaries and methodology.

 

Taking actions for reconstruction in disaster areas, being the best companion of local residents.

1.Emergency and poverty assistance.

2 .Helping the disaster areas develop cultural and creative industry in order to provide more employment opportunities. In this way, financial difficulties in disaster areas could be solved.

3.Taking care of underprivileged children, solitary elders and permanent housing residents of tribes.

4.Cooperating with other organizations to develop tourism industry in tribes, which might rebuild confidence of our people.

 Achievements

  • Won 2006 Dawn of Indigenous Award for Promoting Aboriginal Societies which awarded by Council of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Won the first place in Projects for Multiple Employment in 2007 which awarded by Ministry of Labor.
  • Won Promotion of Social Education for Welfare in 2008 which awarded by Ministry of Education.
  • In 2009, we received a certificate of appreciation from Pingtung County Government for our devotion to disaster relief after typhoon Morakot had struck.
  • Won 2015 Dawn of Indigenous Award for Promoting Aboriginal Societies which awarded by Council of Indigenous Peoples.