The International WorkCamp was first held in Taichung City last year, and almost fifty international young volunteers joined it passionately. This year, the first-echelon International WorkCamp will be held in Nan Jian Community of Wuqi from March 5th to 11th, and twenty international volunteers from the USA, Canada, India, and seven local youths have joined it. Their first mission will be to repair local historical architectural heritages, “Bunga houses”, and the elders there will also share a traditional folk culture, “Carrying Palankeen”, to the volunteers to allow the traditional community to show its new energy.

Recently, Nan Jian Community has turned into a “Small international village” because an international WorkCamp consisting of twenty volunteers from the USA, Canada, India, Kenya, Nepal, Hungary, Thailand, Iran, Botswana, Lesotho, China, Hong Kong, other countries, and seven local youths. They repaired old bunga houses located on Zhuang Nei Road of Wuqi under the cold weather to allow the bunga houses to show a new style, and they also become a new scenery spot.

The Social Affairs Bureau said the International WorkCamp focuses on voluntary service which combines three major cores of community services, cultural exchange, and local life. In order to welcome those international volunteers, the elders in Nan Jian Community specially shared the folk activity, “Carrying Palankeen”. Besides, the kids in kindergarten joined the volunteers to do a healthy exercise, and both the public in the community and volunteers left unforgettable experience and memories in their hearts.

The Social Affairs Bureau said voluntary service is everywhere, and Taichung City is a “HOPE125 Capital of Volunteer”. Whatever you are a local or international volunteer, we hope Taichung can become a better and warmer city. There will be sixteen echelons in the International WorkCamp this year, and the topic of each echelon will be according to community cultures, including construction of Tayal House, Hakka Blue-Dye tradition, Bailengtsun Cultural Festival, Yinbao Wedding Workshop, and the interactive corridor of children’s folklore and folkgame, etc.

Besides Nan Jian Community of Wuqi, the project, “Making a House for Owls”, of the International WorkCamp in Xinglong Community will start on March 11th, and the mission will be to make a house for owls.