1. USR leads us to uncover the most marvelous scenery for university
“Teachers have engaged in; locals have opinions; students have discourse” is the most marvelous scenery of Chang Jung Christian University(CJCU) in the implementation of University Social Responsibility(USR). In the first phase project “Walking the Next Miles after Marakot along Laulong River”, CJCU has collaborated with some Typhoon Marakot disaster-stricken mountainous area in Kaohsiung Liugui district. As a result, admittedly, we chose a long distance and difficult road. Reviewing those days, the community showed its needs and expectations to university by revealing its subjectivity. We responded to the community’s expectations by combining three professional service units and two colleges thus teachers and students of the five departments, together worked with two communities, Baolai and LaoNong which are located along Laonong River and Little Township Association. Through this collaboration, we have explored issues on rural community economy, society, the development and restoration of indigenous culture, also ways to build resilience community.
In the second phase, we focused on Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space in BaoLai, Liugui District. Based on the existing local care and economic system, we are intending to collaborate with neighboring communities and extend the achievement.
2. Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space was a place for Baolai residents to gather and face huge changes
Mountainous areas often experience some disasters such as typhoon and flood. Unfortunately, in 2009, due to extremely huge winds and rains formed by Typhoon Marakot, had washed away lots of hot spring area in BaoLai which originally function as tourist spots. Residents were shocked by the huge incident and their individual efforts are no longer cope to fight with it. It became necessary for them to gather up. Lee, Huai-Jin, a potter, Lee, Wan-Ling, Lu, Yue-Ru and Liu, Xiu-Lan, some community volunteers, soon established BaoLai Reconstruction Association and became the earliest member of the organizations. In that case, BaoLai Reconstruction Association needs to provide a site, which is known as Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space for the residents to discuss and think big. Soon after, this place has become a significant place as a beginning sign of reconstruction.
This space was not originally created to receive various awards in the future. It was a direct self-healing response of the community after being severely traumatized. For the elderly that are trapped and living in a shattered land, it is one of the spaces for them to weep for joy.
3. In Baolai’s dictionary, “Human” is the key to define reconstruction
In the assisting of Baolai Reconstruction Association and teacher who major in architecture, Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space build a space that “starts with people, extends to land, environment and communities, and get involve in three aspects such as life, ecology and production, aims to create a good circulation and “be peaceful coexistence with the Earth”. This space has become a place for the residents to learn, share, create, and accompany each other after the disaster. Suai-A-Ka has the ambition to become the initiator of Liugui's long-term reconstruction, lead the local young farmers and small entrepreneurs to approach a whole sustainable economy and caring system.
In 2017, CJCU continued the collaboration after Typhoon Marakot along with University Social Responsibility (USR) Project. In the course, BaoLai Hummanities Association and CJCU Dept. Tourism, Food& Beverage Management get together launched a picture book and webpage about Baolai Natural and Culture Tour Guide with some traveling highlights. In order to promote green industry, and also extend to the cultural revitalization movement of the neighboring community, LaoNong, and gain a deeper understanding on Baolai community, they also provided flipped teaching field for CJCU teachers and students to learn and experience.
4. Our Next Miles
In spite of the fact that Suai-A-Ka Culture Sharing Space was created due to typhoon MarakotAfter ten years’ reconstruction, there might be some sentimental moments or sceneries. In contrast, this space was also created for the residents to leave their delightful moments as memories for them to recall. We never assume that a community in a crucial economic situation will be recovered under USR project, but in this project, we have a platform to build a fundamental and strengthen collaboration. Through this opportunity, we can also challenge the limits of university education and the ability and elasticity of university to flipped their education. In the fact that mountainous areas facing long term land use, production, information and education inequality issues, based on local community economy efforts, our next mile is hoping university resources and local organizations such as Baolai Humanities Association could approach the integrated community economy and caring system.