“Walking in Hualien” Project
Challenges and Objectives
In 2022, the Hualien Nouli Community Interchange Association invited the "Going Back to Hualien" team to spearhead the "Walking in Hualien" project. This collaboration aimed to reconnect senior high school students from Hualien County with their native Fengshan and Fengli Villages in Shoufeng Township, Taiwan. Lasting six months, the project focused on fostering a deeper understanding and a sense of belonging among the youth toward their local community. Despite facing challenges in integrating diverse backgrounds, the partnership strategically engaged with local immigrant youth and past collaborators. This effort sought to address the lack of place identity among Hualien's youth, aiming to illuminate the heritage and local issues to foster a stronger connection between the students and their roots.
Collaboration Partners and Roles
Collaboration blossomed between key partners—'Team of Going Back to Hualien,' the Hualien Nouli Community Interchange Association, and the Fengtian Migration and Creation Guidance Office. Roles were distinct: 'Team of Going Back to Hualien' led planning and execution, 'Hualien Nouli Community Interchange Association' provided local insights and aided event design, and the 'Fengtian Migration and Creation Guidance Office' contributed migrant narratives and participated in planning.
Interactions mainly involved asynchronous communication, using texts and bi-weekly online meetings within the team. External partners favored texts with occasional face-to-face or virtual meetings, discussing project progress and local insights. The collaboration operated independently, closely tied to governmental funding yet retaining autonomy. It fostered shared knowledge, amplified local understanding, and expanded networks, setting a robust foundation for future alliances.
Revitalisation Activities
Revitalization efforts in Hualien County spanned various domains, notably focusing on youth empowerment and community engagement. Activities revolved around connecting returning locals with high school students, sharing personal journeys, and encouraging exploration of opportunities back home. Former participants-turned-staff facilitated skill-building and community involvement, enabling students to grasp local insights. Bridging generational gaps occurred through community interviews, sharing narratives, and fostering mutual understanding. The project aimed to elevate awareness of local issues, employing sessions with experts, peer discussions, and network building.
Innovation thrived in educational strategies tailored to local issues and high school students, a pioneering concept for Hualien County. The program served as an educational platform for local experiences, paving the way for fresh learning avenues. Challenges emerged in integrating diverse backgrounds, but collaborative community engagement and collective participation gradually fostered a more unified environment.
Revitalisation Outcome
The Hualien County revitalization project showed positive outcomes, measured by metrics like participant-to-staff transitions and enhanced cohesion within the Team of Going Back to Hualien. It notably strengthened the relationships between youth participants and their community, expanded support networks for returning youth, and fostered a more profound sense of place identity. Plans to extend the project were outlined, but achieving self-sustainability remained challenging. However, the project highlighted the significance of community support for returning youth, encouraging future participation and belonging, and offering valuable insights for similar rural revitalization endeavors.
This is the abridged version of a case prepared by AIRI Fellow Bo-Hsuan Hsu. For further information, please email Chengchi University’s University Outreach Office at agridive@g.nccu.edu.tw.