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Supporting Young Students in Taiwan
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Children at Dasi Elementary School learn to make paper
airplanes [© Seikyo
Shimbun] |
In July SGI-Taiwan
university students led summer camps for elementary school
students in a number of regions throughout Taiwan, as part
of their Soka Joy Summer Camp initiative. The initiative
focuses on elementary schools in Taiwan's mountainous
regions and isolated islands. Children in these areas come
from families that are less affluent than their counterparts
in the cities. As well as attending school, the children
usually have to help support the household in some way. The
aim of the initiative is to contribute to the children's
education.
Fengbin Elementary School in Hualien County is attended
mainly by Amis or Pangcah children, one of the indigenous
peoples of Taiwan. Thirty SGI-Taiwan student members
conducted a variety of activities at the school that were
both fun and enriching for the children. They included
science lessons, dance and drama classes, and activities
that encouraged the children to share with one another their
dreams and aspirations.
This was the second year for the camp at Maolin Elementary
School, located in Maolin Township of Kaohsiung County.
Children studying in the school are mainly from the Rukai
ethnic group. In July 2005, Maolin Township suffered severe
damage in the wake of Typhoon Haitang, and SGI-Taiwan helped
in the town's cleanup activities. On that occasion, SGI-Taiwan
student members also organized a summer camp for the
children.
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