Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "agriculture" projects in Taiwan

This workcamp is organized by VYA together with Manna Organic Life Association (Manna). The goal of the camp is to promote organic agriculture in the Tsou aboriginal community in Mt. Ali (Alishan), a very popular scenic spot in the center of Taiwan.
There are more than 400 thousand aboriginals, around 2% of the total population, living in the remote areas in Taiwan. Most of them earn their living through farming and fishing. Since the rural-urban divide industries transformation, and Taiwan’s accession to WTO, the tribe economy has faced a lot of challenge, which raises further difficulties such as population migrations, grandparents rearing grandchildren, and the discontinuity of local traditional culture.
According to Manna’s six-year service experience in the aboriginal community in Mt. Ali, Manna concluded that organic agriculture industry development is the best way to fundamentally solve all the problems Tsou aboriginal community currently faces. Because it takes laborious human efforts to take care of the organic agriculture, and organic agriculture products can be sold at higher prices, it provides more job opportunities for local people. At present, Manna has established a platform for local peasants to conduct organic agriculture. Until now, 21 households have already participated in the organic peasant's production schedule.
It is the first time that Tsou aboriginal community hosts this international WorkCamp with Vision YouthAction and Manna Organic Life Association. We hope to co-operate with the local peasants to extend the organic agriculture project and bring more youths into this work.
Participants will have the opportunities to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alishan National Scenic Area and the unique culture of Tsou aboriginal tribes.

To cooperate with local peasants in farm operations; to allow international volunteers to know the difference between organic and traditional agriculture by help with farm management; to promote the concept of organic agriculture in the Tsou aboriginal community; to promote friendship/understanding/solidarity among local people and global volunteers; to provide a chance to live with a cross-culture group, and learn from each culture.

We will help local peasants to deal with affairs relevant to organic agriculture, such as soil preparation, weed the farmland, scratch shrewmouse, get rid of the insects, spread or plant seeds, gather the ripe cropper, and packing the cropper in the small factory, and clean out the small factory etc. Volunteers will also get to know the organic agriculture development in Alishan Tsou aboriginal community

Organic agriculture. During the workcamp, participants will have the chance to experience the overall production process of the organic agriculture. Participants are encouraged to share their viewpoints on organic agriculture.

Local boarding house. Sleeping bag is unnecessary! Volunteer will cook by turns and locals will offer 3 meals a day. Besides, volunteers will be requested to cook food in their country flavor in some cultural exchange events.

Alishan Township in Chiayi County, located in middle-western Taiwan.

Tao-Yuan international Airport. 5 hours of bus trip to Chiayi (about NTD$ 600, passengers may need to transfer in Chiayi to get to Mt. Alishan by bus).
Kaohsiung International Airport. 4 hours of bus trip to Chiayi (about NTD$ 500, passengers may need to transfer in Chiayi to get to Alishan by bus)

Jelly Fig DIY, weave the rattan, experience the culture of the Tsou Aboriginal, view the best-known Alishan sunrise, visit scenic spots in Alishan National Scenic Area, etc.

High motivation for learning and respect to local culture. Having International driving license is welcomed but not necessarily required!

The workcamp is newly organized together with Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation since 2009. Sishih, located in the northern part of Fusing Township, Chuang-Hua County, is an agricultural village in the middle of the western coast of Taiwan. The main agricultural products of Sishih are rice and broom. The unique brooms made from Kochia scoparia. Schrad are essential economic products for the villager. However, with the industry transformation, the broom industry has been declined, and transformed to a refined culture industry. For nearly fourteen years, Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation has been working for the elderly with the concept of ‘ageing in place' and ‘active aging' in many communities, such as Sishih. Right now, there are 22 local volunteers serve about 30 elderly people in Sishih. It is the first time that Sishih Village hosts this international WorkCamp with Vision YouthAction and Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation. We hope to promote variety of elderly care, eradicate discriminations against aging and bring more youths into this work. The aims of the camp are to solidify local organizations in order to provide multi-services in the community, to care for elderly people and to allow international volunteers to have opportunity to serve and interact with local elderly people and learn about ‘active aging' in Taiwan, to promote friendship/understanding/solidarity among local people and global volunteers and to provide a chance to live with a cross-culture group life, and learn from each culture.

Sishih Community care center. Sleeping bag is required! Volunteer will cook by turns and Food will be offered 3 meals a day by local people. Otherwise, volunteers will be request to cook food in their country style in some cultural exchange events. Toilet will be available in each floor and shower is available in local volunteers' houses near by Accommodation within 5-minute walking distance.

Sishih Community, a small agricultural village in the middle of the western coast of Taiwan. The driving distance from Taichung City to Sishih village is around 50-minute, and from Taipei (the capital of Taiwan? to Sishih Village is around three hours.

With passion on the elderly and high motivation for learning and respect the local culture. Chinese language and Japanese are welcomed but not necessarily required.