Building a dreamland in one’s homeland

Famed for its sweet Osmanthus syrup, Nanzhuang in Miaoli County attracts large crowds of tourists during weekends; however, this lively little town in Miaoli has one secret very few people know about. Located in the mountains of Miaoli, Nanzhuang lacks educational resources and the highest level of educational institution available is junior high. The fact that many young people leave the area to work and study causes a serious outflow of young people. Fortunately, one group of college youngsters carrying a dream and expertise returned back to Nanzhuang this summer with a plan to regenerate the area. 

The youngsters started with literally nothing and have personally built Salt and Light Workshop (鹽和光工作室) one step at a time. The venue currently hosts a variety of art classes to provide a diverse arts experience to residents and children. All their hard effort has won the hearts and minds of parents and elders in the community and at the weekend market, which includes a jumble sale, a group of women from the community provides much-needed support. Passionate about the next generation’s education and in creating a new future for the community, these youngsters have returned home armed with a new kind of power to topple the disparity between urban and rural areas.

Building a dreamland in one’s homeland 

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/317007

(以下為中文對照)

南庄青年夢想構築 帶主修返鄉

以桂花釀聞名的苗栗南庄，每到假日都吸引大批民眾，帶進觀光熱潮，但熱鬧的苗栗山城也有不為人知淒涼的一面。南庄位在苗栗縣山區，因為教育資源缺乏，最高學府只有到國中，許多年輕人都出外工作、求學，造成青年人口嚴重外流，但一群帶著夢想與專長的大學生，在今年暑假，開啟了返鄉計畫。

鹽和光工作室從無到有，一磚一瓦，都是學生們親手打造，目前已開設各式藝術課程，帶給居民及孩子多元的藝文體驗。這樣的努力也被鄉鎮的父母長輩看見了，在假日市集中，除了有學生們的義賣活動，也有來自一群社區媽媽的支持。青年返鄉，要用新的力量顛覆城鄉差距，關心下一代的教育、開創社區的未來。