SE in Taiwan
Shiding Tourism Development Association
During the Japanese Colonial Rule period, Shiding District in New Taipei City was once a major mining town, which attracted large numbers of expatriates to move in. However, with the decline of the coal mining industry, there are less than 8,000 residents today. Although Shiding is close to two famous tourism sights, Pingxi and Shenkeng, the development is limited by the water conservation regulations and the topographic conditions. In recent years, through the efforts of the Shiding Tourism Development Association, the area has gradually developed its own tourism characteristics by focusing on the famous "Crocodile Island" for marketing.
"The Small Village Far-Far Away" Makes the Village Famous by their Organic Herbs
In 2011, a young north drifted worker, Mr. Chen Ren-ding returned to his hometown of Taitung to save the village, and he even took on the responsibility of finding a livelihood for the whole village. He combined his prior experience in a skin product agency with the herb planting advantages of Shangde Village to create the first large-scale organic herb colony in Taiwan, which attracts new immigrants who love the land to co-create a new herb economy.
Dapu Philharmoniker, A Driftwood Violin Town by Tsengwen Reservoir
Dapu Township, next to Tsengwen Reservoir in Chiayi County, has a population of less than 5,000 people and is without a hospital or clinic. There is only one junior high and elementary combined school over there, and there was no medical station until 10 years ago. In the past, the town's tourism was mainly dependent on the lake view of Tsengwen Reservoir. In recent years, through the enhancement of driftwood craftsmanship and the development of the regional violin industry, "Dapu Philharmoniker" has formed a brand name that has established a sense of community among residents and driven the influx of tourist and returning employment.
Taiping Blue Brings Taiwan's Blue Dyeing to the World
Having been subsidized by the Multi-Employment Promotion Program, the Watersource Cultural and Educational Foundation of Taichung City is a success model as it steadily moves toward self-sufficiency. After growing up and leaving the program, it continually provides the local youth, senior and mid-aged people, and people with disabilities with a friendly working environment and upgrades the quality of its products. With a market-oriented business model, the Foundation steps into a brand-new style and successfully brings Taiwan's blue dyeing to the world stage.
Twelve Liao Time Village, A Community Linkage Experiment "Timelinker Time Bank"
There is a group of young people in Twelve Liao, Emei Township, Hsinchu County, who aim to build up the regional revitalization system through the core concepts of talent training, rebuilding regional lifestyles, a circular economy, and the brand of Time Village. They use entrepreneurship to solve problems and are trying to change the economic activities of the community through the "Time Bank" model to realize a dream life without money and redefine human values.
Hualien Mustard Seed Mission Creates a Promising Land for Middle- Aged and Elderly Employment
The Mustard Seed Mission is the first social welfare organization registered in Taiwan. It established the Vocational Training Center and Free Vocational School in Hualien to train working skills for the indigenous. Responding to the aging society, it has focused on empowering the senior women and elderly indigenous since 2012. In 2020, it launched "50+ Elderly Empowerment Program" to encourage the middle-aged and elderly to take advantage of their accumulated wisdom and abilities to change the perspective on retirement and return to the labor market and social service field.