Most of the students of CUST (China University of Science and Technology), in Nangang, come from the nearby high schools, especially from New Taipei Municipal Jui-Fang Industrial High School. Based on the double link of "region" and "the source of students", this project was planned to be conducted in the Ruifang area. The purpose is to hope the students could get more cognition on where they grow and study through participating in this program. We also hope to help students to concern the place where they grow up and could stay in their hometown after they complete their studies. Hoping this project could alleviate the serious population loss and phenomenon of aging.
Ruifang is a district facing mountains with its three sides and facing the sea with one side. This place was famous for mining in the past. More than half of the local population were mining for living in the past. There had been about seven million people in Ruifang, but has been decreased to 39,992 people in 2018. About half of the population was lost. Longchuan Vil, near Ruifang train station, is one of the earliest developed areas, and is also the first pit to mine, which is also known as the first tunnel. Longchuan Vil, the first tunnel, was selected to be the main executed area in this project. (Figure 1) .
The area of Longchuan Vil is 1.15 km2. The current population here is 1,920. The number of men and women is about half and half. This project was supported by the Chief of Village, Mr. Lai. He knows everything about Longchuan Vil, and works hard on the constructions in Longchuan Vil.
Figure 1. The scene of mine in Longchuan Vil in the past
This USR project was divided into four parts, community care, green building and green communities, air quality monitoring and analysis, and environmental protection. The courses were commenced by teachers who lead students to the teaching field. In the second semester of 2019, three courses were offered, "Application of Smart Technology in Social Care", "Practical Practice of Community Issues", and "Public Art and Environmental Design", and also held monthly exchange activities with residents at the same time. Exchange activities included oral history from local elders, space organization and landscaping, awareness of communities, communities’ creation workshops, and ect. (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Various exchange activities between the project team and residents in Longchuan Vil
When students first visited Longchuan Vil, they saw block-house and oil skin felt roof (black roof). Through Longchuan Vil you could find not only the mining history here in Ruifang but also the life's footprint in that difficult period. Longchuan Vil is all gathered with mine block-house. Most of the buildings are low and narrow, lighting is insufficient, and lack of sanitary equipment. The inconvenience and hardships of life could be seen from the appearance of buildings. Miners worked so hard for a meager income, even though they knew that they might lose their lives. Faith has become an important part in life for miners. There are three temples in this small area, Qingshui Zushi, Tudigong, and Guan Sheng Di Jun. Students started their journey in Longchuan Vil from these buildings.
Many activities could not be successfully organized because of the influence of COVID-19 at the beginning. However, through several activities and interactives for months, residents were getting familiar with CUST Executive team and students, and also understood the work that we worked on. Students could understand the overall environment and also recognize that residents are aging very seriously. Students found that residents usually stood and talked between each other, so they wanted to find a most popular chatting place without destroying the original environment through discussing with residents. Students organized several places where residents could sit and talk, and also could reduce the body burden of the elders. After several discussions with residents, students revised the layout. A small garden was currently completed, and two of the gardens are expected to be completed (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Teachers and students reuse the old space through courses
With the implementation of the plan, elderly residents told stories of the pit in those years and showed their old photographs to students. Maybe we just listened to the stories, but the stories are real and are related with the rise and fall of a pit and life of miners. Stories about some workers work from the early hour in the morning in the mine block-house and experienced the blossom of the economy. These histories are gradually being forgotten because of the decline of the mining industry. CUST USR Executive team takes the mission of the historical heritage, through recording history by students, and the activation and creation of the old area by students (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Memories of the elders in Longchuan Vil