The trainees came back to their respective hometowns
after the training to share feedbacks with other people.
Summer School hopes to not only inspire teens’ courage to dream but spread the “seeds of dream” far and wide. These teens (dream seeds) who received the 5 day training were sent to remote areas to serve the school children. During their service, they passed on the spirit of Courage to these children through mutual discussion, collaboration and various interesting methods.
From the initial Courage Triathlon (marathon, mountain climbing and canoe) to urban adventure with a strict budget in the big city, how did they interact with the kids? How did they build trust, even friendship? These were very challenging tasks on the communication and true test on their leadership. Through sharing session with the kids, they’ve established confidence and found that sense of achievement that “I’m also able to give!”
Dream is not only limited to adults: Courage Triathlon
Everyone has some kind of a dream but not everyone has the courage to make it through. Through the challenge of Courage Triathlon, the members led the students from San-Shia Junior High to step out their comfort zone and challenge their self limits. These kids learned to become independent and grew through each challenge. At times, they may have thoughts about giving up, but there’s always that little voice within that says to hang in there for every task would require determination to complete.
I have a dream and I want to know how big the world is: Kaohsiung City Adventure
Children in Mailiao gathered up courage to leave their familiar hometown with merely NTD700 in budget to explore the cultures in the big city, Kaohsiung. From contemplating on resource allocation to planning the route, each experience was an adventure. Everything was so fresh and different. They exchanged their dreams with strangers along the way. These little dreamers won the encouragement and applause they deserve.
Dream Seeds Serving in the Remote Areas
After receiving 5 days of training, these dream seeds learned how to be team leaders. They disucssed, designed activities and were ready to pass on their experiences to the school children in the rural towns.
Sanshi Junior High “Courage Camp”
Service School: Sanshi Junior High, New Taipei City
Service Object: 7th, 8th, 9th graders
Service Object: 7th, 8th, 9th graders
Service Object: 7th, 8th, 9th graders
Morning,July 21st
- 08:00~09:30 Transportation time
- 09:30~10:00 Warm up
- 10:00~11:00 Task Instruction, equipment allotment
[Hiking route, division of labor, equipment allotment and packaging ]
- 11:00~11:30 各登山口 Meeting point by the mountain
[Gathered at thedesignated venues. Lunch (sandwich)]
Afternoon,July 21st
- 11:30~15:00 Hiking (Tsao-Ling Route)
- 15:00~15:10 Picture at the peak
- 15:10~17:00 Return to camp area
- 17:00~20:00 Dinner and set up tent
- 20:00~21:00 Gamania Courage Sailing experience sharing
Morning,July 22nd
- 06:30~08:30 Morning jog (6km) along the beach
- 08:30~09:30 Getting toknow the canoe, skills for control and roll the oars
[Instructors demonstrate, members practice on land]
- 09:30~13:00 Going into
[Water, canoeing along Xuan-Xi River]
[Canoe ride along Xuan-Xi, group picture, change]
[seating, reset canoe in case of overturn]
Afternoon,July 22nd
- 13:00~14:30 Lunch and organize equipment
- 14:30~15:30 Final challenge: Spider Web
- 15:30~16:30 Disassemble tents and clean-up
- 16:30~ Return home
We led the students from Sansia Junior High to take on the challenge of canoe!
Maililao Junior High “Courage Camp”
Service School: MaiiliaoJunior High, Yun-Lin County
Service Object: 8th graders
Total people: 58
Service Period: Aug 1st – Aug 5th, 2011Due to factors such as geographic location, amount of people etc, unbalanced distribution of resources in schools often takes place. The schools located in the city often have easier to resources compared to schools in the remote areas. In regard of this, we seek to provide more help to disadvantaged schools in the rural towns.
Morning,Aug 1st
Team Building,Team Interaction
- Warm-up and instruction
- Value contract, team building
Afternoon,Aug 1st
Photography Course
- Photos and captions are creative and concrete means of expression
Morning,Aug 2nd
Exhibit Wall
- Establish students’ plans, encourage learning motive
Afternoon,Aug 2nd
Field Study,Interview Skill
- Connect to the real life: combining background knowledge with community issues, getting to know the surrounding community.
Aug 3rd
Kaohsiung City Adventure,Service Learning
- Taking kids to Kaohsiung for a 2-day city adventure.
- Complete the task using NTD700 budget and arrive at designated location.
Aug 4th
Kaohsiung City Adventure,Service Learning
- Taking kids to Kaohsiung for a 2-day city adventure.
- Complete the task using NTD700 budget and arrive at designated location.
Aug 5th
Organizing thoughts,Results & Feedbacks
- Organizing and reviewing thoughts, experiences and feedbacks
Aug 5th
Result Release
- Public presentation, sharing of adventures
These kids from Mailiao didn’t have access to McDonald’s there.
When they came to the big city, Kaohsiung, they all demanded to have a taste of McDonalds!
Everything about Kaohsiung is so fascinating.
Kids discussed the following itinerary in details.
First time taking the metro, it was an interesting challenge!
Dream Seeds: Pass on the Courage
Yi-Shuan Lin, Mailiao Senior High School
Yi-Shuan is originally from Mailiao. She came back to Mailiao Junior High for the program. Growing up in Mailiao, the resource was very scarce due to its inaccessible location which also influences kids’ characteristics. Kids there are usually more shy and afraid of new things. Yi-Shuan remembered that she took the kids to Kaosiung for the “City Adventure,” during the meal time everyone chose to eat McDonalds because they said, “We don’t have McDonalds in Mailiao!” Although coming from the same town as the kids, it still took her a while to convince the kids to trust her. “Trust” gained from the kids was her biggest achievement!
Mann-Ting Cho, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology
During the service, Mann-Ting particularly remembered a little girl—she’s shy and often alone. Even when everyone gathered around a circle to do activity, she was always hiding in the back. This little girl originally made a deal with her friend to come tougher, but her friend cancelled at the last minute so she was left alone. Towards the end, she bravely shared with everyone her thoughts, “I’m really happy to have met you all. Thank you for letting me know there’s so much ‘difference’ in the world.”
Kai-Wei Huang, Asia University
For Kai-Wei, the biggest reward for participating in this program is acquiring “leadership ability.” Kai-Wei learned now to empty his “burden”, he learned to avoid letting past experience becomes a limit for the present. Like other college student members, he likes to attend these social programs and gives back to the society. His parents aren’t too happy about him wandering about outside all the time. However, he also said, “To seek approvals from your parents, the best way is to invite them to see what you’re really doing and understand the meaning of the program!”
Zhi-Yun Huang, Asia University
Zhi-Yun has many service experiences, however this was her first time leading a group of junior high students. Facing these big kids who are in their rebellious phase, Zhi-Yun learned to let go of her “adult posture”, tried to be in their shoes and became their friends. She discovered each kid has his/her unique quality!
Yi-Shuan Hong, Ming Chuan University
Yi-Shuan majors in Communication, she had participated Summer School program back in 2010. Her interest for the program grew from that summer which is why she decided to register for this year. Yi-Shuan didn’t have too much social service experience. Her biggest challenge was “physical stamina.” However when she witnessed the improvements and growth from these kids, she told the counselor, “We want to pass on the experience to all,” which also became her biggest encouragement!
Yi-Chen Zuo, Soochow University
Yi-Chen majors in Chemistry so she’s very used to finishing the experiment “on her own.” She learned “team spirit” from Summer School and for him that was a challenge as well as reward! She was afraid of hanging out with so many strangers and might fail to mingle with the kids he leads. But towards the end, she realized that’s the best way to get to know herself more！
Yun-Tse Lee, Rotaract Taoyuan Branch
As the winner of “NT50 for Public Welfare”, Yun-Tse had the experience of taking care of kids in the kindergarten. Summer School program taught her an important lesson of being “patient.” Sometimes when she felt physically and mentally exhausted, she would tell herself, “Never fall before the kids.” Becoming a well-trusted team leader is her most fruitful reward this time!
Chen-Shin Miao, Asia University
Chen-Shin remembered the most about Summer School program was the fight between kids—two students had an argument at the canoe and they even use oars to hit each other. The dispute was resolved after they got off the boat. One of the key challenge about team activity is certainly how to resolve conflicts!
Let’s hear what Sanshia Junior High and Mailiao Junior High have to say
Letters sharing from student of Mailiao Junior High
The summer camp let me learned some survival skills. I could ask directions when I’m in a foreign place. I learned to ask other people, it’s really great!
Ju-Heng, student
I’ve learned a great deal from the summer camp, especially the City Adventure. We learned to do things on our own and not to shirk responsibility. We have to be responsible for others as well as ourselves. “Courage” enables me!
Ya-Jing, Student
I learned the most about unity. The trip to Kaohsiung would’ve been really boring, if there was only me. Team members helped out one another. Even though sometimes you fight, but you just can’t do things alone. Anyways, “unite, we become powerful!”
Xin-Yeh, student
What I gained the most from this program was the support and encourage. I said my own expectation through microphone. To complete our task, we had to interview strangers, talked to foreigner in MRT in English, stood in front of everyone and shared our thoughts for few minutes. Even though you have the guts and courage, without others’ support, you can’t do all this perfectly.
Chun-Yan, student
The outside world isn’t that simple. Everything about everything, you must try on your own to find out.
Jia-Li, student
Due to page limit, we can’t put all the sharing from the Mailiao kids here, but these thoughts and feedbacks are the best momentum to keep us going!
Kids from Mailio learned to express their opinions through writing.
Director Huang of Sanshia Junior High (Phone interview)
Most of the participated kids are members of “Shia-Drum Native Dance” club who are also of indigenous Amis tribe and Atayal tribe. These aboriginal kids love adventures and are more activity and sporty. The challenge of these outdoor activities presented by the program lies not the adventure but “team spirit.” These kids are often self-centered and fail to share with their partners. After the program finished, everyone learned how to help out one another and trust each other. They even care for other students and some of them became little helpers for teachers. The graduates often come back for service and pass on the experience. I feel that everyone’s become a real big family here!
After the canoe training, the kids from Sansia Junior High established a special bond,
their peers have become their families!
Want to find out more about the performance by “Shia-Drum Native Dance” school club? Search us on Facebook, check out the “Courage” performance by the kids!
FB：Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001576274423
Student of Sanshia Junior High (Phone interview)
The activities, mountain climbing, boat rowing etc really made an impression on me because I’ve never done them before! Now I’m more courageous in taking challenges! I wanted to thank the team leaders. They made me believe they could solve all my problems. They’re very reliable and let us believe I am capable!
“We’re more courageous now and have learned to take on a challenge!”
Teacher Chang of Mailiao Junior High (Phone interview)
Mailiao is a remoate town with scarce resource. Our kids don’t have or see things those kids do. This program gave them the opportunity to express themselves, make their own decisions, and utter their opinions. The kids became more lively, positive and giving. Some parents had said that their kids weren’t very confident about themselves, or they like to talk back. But during the program period, they always share interesting things when they come home. They also feel more confident about themselves after the program. One kid even made a trip to Taipei with two sisters! I discovered that these kids caused troubles because their environment was too stable and plain, once they’re in an unfamiliar environment, they learned how to explore and observe!
“The world outside isn’t as simple as it seems and you have to experience it to know it.”