by Rose, Project student
On May 18, 2024, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages' University Social Responsibility Practice Program, “OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project”, held an activity arranged by its “Project Activity Planning Practice Course”. This event was in collaboration with another USR program. The primary goal of the activity was to lead elementary school students from rural Yunlin to gain an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of Zuoying Old Town.
The half-day event included a variety of activities such as cultural history lectures, an old town tour guiding, and team fun time. Through these diverse activities, the event showcased the rich cultural heritage of Fongshan Old Town, allowing the students to personally experience the deep historical atmosphere of the Zuoying area.
On the day of the event, Manager Chen from the Kaohsiung Cultural Association served as the lecturer, appearing in the traditional attire of a Qing Dynasty official. Using an aerial map of the Lotus Pond area, he vividly explained the phenomenon of religious integration in Zuoying, local feng shui legends, the history of the city gates and walls, and notable historical structures such as the Confucius Temple, Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and Ciji Temple. The elementary school students absorbed this knowledge through storytelling and reinforced their learning by completing handwritten worksheets.
Following the lecture, the students were divided into four groups to embark on an exploratory journey. They navigated four carefully designed routes: the Old Street Route, the Ancient Residences Route, the Temple Route, and the City Gates Route. Led by university student guides, the children visited numerous historical sites, including Gongchen Gate, the remains of Bizaitou Street, the Guo Family Ancient House, Spring and Autumn Pavilion, and Chi Ming Hall. These visits allowed the students to experience firsthand the historical stories and cultural landscapes discussed in the lecture.
Using hand-drawn maps provided by the guides, the elementary school students worked together to navigate to each landmark and complete the challenge, adding an element of fun to the educational experience.
This event was conceptualized, detailed, and coordinated by students enrolled in the Micro-Credit Course on Project Activity Planning Practice. Under the guidance of Professors Lu, Lin, and Xu, the students conducted on-site surveys, proposed group plans, executed the event, and self-assessed their abilities. Through the matchmaking efforts of the OUR TOWN project team, collaboration with the university’s USR project and Kaohsiung Cultural Association was established, further expanding the event’s scale.
The students not only gained in-depth knowledge of Zuoying Old Town through on-site guided tours but also enhanced their skills in foreign languages, new media, and cross-disciplinary cooperation. By widely disseminating Kaohsiung's unique historical stories, they contributed to the promotion of the Zuoying area, showcasing their dedication to local cultural preservation and advocacy.
OUR TOWN Community Sustainable Cross-Domain Collaborative Platform Project is dedicated to promoting the beauty of Zuoying Old Town. By combining micro-credit courses with cross-domain collaboration, this event not only introduced more people to the Zuoying area but also provided students with valuable practical experience. The project aims to foster sustainable community development while linking local education with practical field experiences, thereby achieving the goal of cultivating talent through its curriculum.
Manager Chen Engaging Cultural History Lecture for Children.
The elementary school students earnestly filled out their worksheets.
Students visited the Guo Family Ancient House.
The guide told the children anecdotes about Ciji Temple.
Professor Lu conducted the tour.
The team collaboratively completed the poster.
Students shared what they had learned from this event.
Group photo
