【Article by International College of Innovation】

This summer, Erinna Tania and Ingrid Pereira, students at the International College of Innovation (ICI), National Chengchi University (NCCU), participated in the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation’s Summer International Volunteer Service Program and spent two weeks volunteering at the Chen Chou Ama Foundation in Puli, Nantou. Coming from Indonesia and Paraguay respectively, the two students interacted with local children through English learning, cultural sharing, games, and daily activities. By bringing their own cultural backgrounds into the program and taking part in the local community, they also gained a closer look at life and community work in a different part of Taiwan.

Promoting Cross-Cultural Exchange Through Games and Cultural Activities

During their two-week stay, Tania and Pereira participated in a variety of activities organized by the foundation. In the mornings, they joined the children in table tennis, badminton, cooking activities, and games. In the afternoons, they participated in classes and interacted with the children. They also designed three cultural classes introducing the flora, fauna, cultures, and traditions of Indonesia and Paraguay, giving the children opportunities to experience English and learn about different cultures in an interactive setting.

Language differences were one of the challenges they faced. With their limited Mandarin and the children’s varying levels of English, the two students used games, gestures, and demonstrations to communicate. During the classes, they led a cultural mask-making activity and introduced how masks are used and understood in different cultures and traditions. They also introduced a classic board game found in both Indonesia and Paraguay, Ular Tangga (Snakes and Ladders), and incorporated cultural trivia into the game, allowing the children to learn about different cultures while using English in a natural and engaging way.

At the beginning of the program, differences in language and cultural backgrounds meant that both the students and the children needed time to become familiar and comfortable with one another. As they spent more time together through classes and daily activities, the children gradually began to approach and interact with them more actively. By the second week, some of the children would sit next to them, invite them to join activities, and look for opportunities to spend time together.

Through these interactions, Tania and Pereira realized that cross-cultural communication is not only about speaking the same language. Patience, observation, and a willingness to adapt the way they communicate can be just as important when building connections with people from different backgrounds.

Reflecting on Child Support and Community Care Through Cultural Differences

As they spent more time with the children, the two students gradually learned more about their living environment and some of their individual stories. Living on-site at the foundation and participating in its daily activities also gave them an opportunity to understand child care and support from a different perspective.

For Pereira, the experience led her to reflect on issues concerning children in her home country of Paraguay. She noted that violence against children remains a serious social concern in Paraguay. Seeing the work of the foundation firsthand made her think more deeply about the role that organizations and communities can play in supporting children, as well as the importance of providing safe, supportive, and nurturing environments where children can learn and grow.

Tania also shared that learning about the trauma and difficult family circumstances some of the children had experienced gave her a more concrete understanding of the foundation’s work. By observing the daily interactions between the staff and the children, she came to see that the foundation’s role goes beyond providing a place to live. Daily care, companionship, and support are also important parts of creating an environment where children can grow.

Stepping Outside the Campus and Rethinking Cultural Exchange Through Local Experiences

During their two weeks living and volunteering in Puli, Tania and Pereira not only participated in teaching and activities with the children, but also had the opportunity to observe how a local nonprofit organization operates on a daily basis. The experience allowed them to step outside the campus and experience an environment different from the highly international setting of Taipei.

Tania noted that international students can sometimes find themselves staying within the comfort of their “campus bubble” or the highly international environment of Taipei. Living and working alongside the foundation staff and children in Puli gave her a chance to experience another side of Taiwan. The experience also showed her that cross-cultural connections can happen anywhere, not only in highly international cities, but also through everyday interactions in local communities.

For Pereira, the experience also changed the way she thought about cultural exchange. She came to realize that cultural exchange is not simply about introducing others to one’s own country and traditions. It is also about listening, observing, adapting, and allowing oneself to learn from people from different backgrounds. Through the two weeks in Puli, she not only learned more about the local community, but also reflected on her own culture and society from a different perspective.

Before leaving the foundation, the two students prepared small souvenirs from their home countries, including sweets and keychains, for the children as a reminder of their time together. While they had originally joined the program hoping to share English and their cultures, the experience also gave them a deeper understanding of community care, child support, and cross-cultural interaction through their time with the children and foundation staff.

The two-week volunteer experience allowed Tania and Pereira to bring the cultures of Indonesia and Paraguay into the Puli community while gaining hands-on experience in cross-cultural communication and community engagement. Both students said the experience gave them new perspectives and meaningful learning opportunities, and they hope to participate in similar cultural exchange and volunteer programs again in the future.

The International College of Innovation has long encouraged students to step outside the classroom and extend their learning into different social and cultural settings. Through hands-on participation, students are given opportunities to deepen their understanding of local communities and society in Taiwan. ICI will continue to support students in participating in cross-cultural exchange and social engagement, providing diverse learning opportunities that help students from different cultural backgrounds build stronger connections with the communities around them during their time in Taiwan.