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Integration of Culture, Education and Life Makes You Feel at Home
Emphasizing on the Development of Culture and Education to Keep the Next Generation on the Right Track
It was October 1987, when Dr. Chen Jin-Huang founded the “Hsin Kang Foundation of Culture and Education” (hereinafter referred to as the “Foundation”) with the donation of Mr. Lin Hwai-Min, Dr. Chen’s nephew from his homecoming performance, along with funds raised by the locals. In 1996, the Foundation assisted in the establishment of “Hsin Kang Fu Yuan Social for People with Disabilities” to support people in need. In 2001, local volunteers in Hsin Kang cleaned the abandoned railway tracks covered in weeds and trashes, and transformed them into the nation’s first magnificent “Railway Park” where is now full of flowers and trees. In 2004, the Foundation worked with the local Township Office and rented the old dormitory of Taiwan Sugar Corporation across the street from Railway Park. With the same Railway Clean up Spirit, the old and shabby building was renovated its features of wooden structure in Japanese-style and white walls preserved. With trees and flowers in the garden, it is now “The Living Room in Hsin Kang” (hereinafter referred to as “the living room”) to treat the guests, known as a place with hopes, beauty, happiness and hospitality. One can feel as ease as at home enjoying the time of treating or being treated.
Hospitality from the Heart to Bring the Culture in Hsin Kang into Full Play
From 2004 to 2010, The Living Room in Hsin Kang gradually came to financial independence, thanks to the assistance’ “Multiple Employment Promotion Program (MEPP)” held by Ministry of Labor (MOL). Since June 2004, the Living Room has started to use local fresh vegetables and fruits along with local turkey and Taiwanese pork to make special meals. With coffee, beverage and afternoon tea served, the Japanese-style building full of serene atmosphere is a good place to dine, rest and chat.
In 2011, the grant from MEPP ended. With the struggle and hardworking of its employees, the Living Room has succeeded in building up its reputation as a restaurant of quality and uniqueness, the management of it is still steady. As for employee empowerment, the Foundation arranged a series of training courses, inviting experts in fields like products, catering, leisure activities and tour guide from the community to give lessons and on-site training to enhance the knowledge and skills of its employees, helping them acquire job skills their future career. Besides, the Foundation even arranged field trips to top-notch companies in related fields to help its employees expand their visions.
In addition, the dedication of the association in community friendliness couldn’t be underestimated. Apart from creating social economic benefits and leading local development, the association has promoted reading. With more than 30,000 books in its library, it has successfully promoted the trend of reading. In addition, other than inviting groups in performance art, the association supports local groups, which have their regular performance on the stage next to railway on Saturdays. The Foundation also held lectures like “Life in Books”, inviting travel writers to share their experience of “travel by your taste buds” regularly to bring up conversational topics and fame.. The Foundation even took part in the “National Youth Commission’s Community Part-Time Job Project for Summer Holidays.” The part-time workers participating in this project signed up for the “Contest of the 2012 Community Part-Time Job Performance for Summer Holidays” with the title “Our tasty relationship with The Living Room in Hsin Kang” and won an “Excellence Award” in the finals!
Over the past 25 years, with its aspiration of keeping the next generation on the right tract, the association promotes culture and education by setting up free after-school classes, summer camps for children from the financially underprivileged, the single moms and physical and mentally challenged families. Now with its consulting service for travel, the tour guides in Park and DIY activities, The Living Room in Hsin Kang’s role as a place to treat, serve and change information can be more carried forward.