1. The throbbing of life in the caring action
Having good health is not something we are born with, instead, it requires attentive care to ourselves. Among all caring facilities, teachers, and students from Chang Gung University of Science and Technology are offering their professional skills to take care of elders and at the same time help monitor and improve their health status. This is a graduation picture for the record. Accompanied by 10 weeks, the elders showed the fruitful results of health with confident smiles.
In silver-haired generation stress relief and slow-motion activities, the HRV is used to measure the degree of continuous heart rate change through the induction of the fingertips. From this, we can know the current heart function, pressure index, and balance of autonomic nerve function. The students not only massage for the elders but also share the stretching techniques that can be done at home to prevent the increasingly stiff muscle group. Seeing the joy, kind smiles, and praises of the elders, students deeply realized that it is a beautiful thing to help the elders maintain their health through small strength and professionalism.
2.Expanding the multiple learning perspectives in rural and local elementary schools
Da Pu Primary School is a rural school. The children’s cultural stimulation is relatively lacking. The students of Chang Gung University of Science and Technology wrote a children's drama called "Call me No. 1". The story describes a proud animal that performs well in painting and criticizes others’ works. Finally, he finds that the connotation of other animals' works is not the same as what he thinks. Therefore, he realizes that he should be more empathetic, think from the other side's point of view and not criticize at will.
The work was discussed by students, self-made teaching aids and made into a microfilm, which was shown in the after-school class of Wen Shing Elementary School. In response to the festival, the students in the after-school class of elementary school were led to make zongzi pendants on the Dragon Boat Festival, and the modeling cards were made on Mother's Day to express gratitude.
In addition, students’ self-made sensory aids and gender equality teaching aids guide children to operate in groups. Children improve their cognitive development from the game, learn the concept of career and family equality as well.
Through the exchange and interaction of local services, in addition to enhancing the professional ability of university drama performances and self-made teaching aids, the students' self-made kindergarten teaching aids won the national championship, runner-up , and masterpiece in 2020. Four patents have strengthened students' self-confidence and their sense of accomplishment. Children are learning while playing under the guidance of college students, which also improves their learning fun and ability.
3. Accompany the families of people with disabilities and enjoy the parent-child time on the weekend
In the past, parents always consider their children severely disable and being bystanders in games. We modified the methods of the games according to the situations of children with severe disabilities. Parents were deeply touched when they saw their children’s potential. Our students made good use of their knowledge and skills to help those special children and encouraged the shy ones to participate in activities together. They also made teachers feel grateful and be proud.
In addition to the families of people with disabilities gaining resilience, students also were aware of the meaning of caring for life. We are different human bodies, but everyone’s life intertwines through activities with each other. Although it’s a temporary interaction, the palpitation of the life will be kept in memory forever.
Being understood and supported by professional staff, parents of people with disabilities had a chance to express their heavy pressure and emotion. We arranged a series of interesting activities to encourage children to express themselves and interact positively. Enhance parent-child interaction and healthcare ability during the happy parent-child hours.
There are great differences bwtween characteristics and demands among children with disabilities. Therefore, it’s very important for students to be trained at different stages through analyzing the needs of each child’s characteristics before activities, modeling students how to assist these children during activities and discussing what should be improved after activities. These training helped students to be aware of their role more clearly again and again. This is not doing for children but helping children to engage in the activities as possible.
4. Caring for children and concerning about underprivileged groups, and empowering parental are our mission
There is an extreme gap in the M-shaped society in Taiwan. In a summer camp activity for disadvantaged children in July 2020, the teacher and the children discussed the scenic spots and food in various counties and cities in Taiwan. One of the 8-year-old children said that she had never been to other counties or cities. What she saw was in the book and they were just imaginations to her.
A child with emotional handicapped was brought up by his grandparents. He came here full of defensiveness and hostility on the first day. He was unable to concentrate and liked to go to dark corners all the time. He looked for any objects that might attack others. Accompanied by our students and caring volunteers, he slowly put his defense down. He cried and told his experience of domestic violence. After feeling the positive atmosphere of interpersonal relationships for two days, we saw him smile slightly and interact with others gradually. It was particularly poignant for us at this moment.
With unbalanced family and social resources, we hope to provide services for children and hope they will experience the warmth of love. We accompany them to enjoy the pleasure of learning, to broaden their horizons of life, and to guide parents to positive parenting at the same time. This is our responsibility and mission!