1. Background & Objectives

Join us in answering the call of the UN's 2026 International Year of Volunteers (2026 IVY) and International Volunteer Day! Meinong, a beautiful district in Kaohsiung, boasts a profound Hakka cultural heritage and a stunning network of historic waterways. Our program centers around the "Tabacco Station" (菸仕物所). Originally established in 1939 as a bustling hub for tobacco farmers, it has now been beautifully transformed into a vibrant cultural and creative center for the local community.

This project invites international youth to dive deep into authentic Taiwanese local culture through hands-on community service. By participating, you will help preserve historical public spaces, engage in cross-cultural dialogues, and directly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Quality Education (SDG 4), Sustainable Cities (SDG 11), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

2. Service-Learning & Cultural Experience

This is a unique journey where your physical effort meets cultural immersion. The program is built on three core experiences:

·     Volunteering Work: Roll up your sleeves and become a guardian of local heritage! We will be weeding, cleaning up the environment, and planting in the outdoor public spaces of the Tabaco Station to enhance and maintain this historical site.

·     Cultural Experience: Get hands-on with traditional Hakka crafts. You will make your own botanical Indigo Dyeing (藍染) square towel, which you can take home as an exclusive cultural souvenir.

·     Community & Culture Tour: Led by a local guide, take a walking tour along the Meinong waterways to uncover the history of Hakka settlements, local water resources, and the surrounding ecosystem.

3. Date & Location

·     Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026

·     Time: 09:00 AM – 16:30 PM (Shuttle bus pick-up at 08:00 AM from a designated spot in downtown Kaohsiung)

·     Location: Tabacco Station (No. 25, Sec. 1, Zhongshan Rd., Meinong Dist., Kaohsiung City) and the surrounding Meinong Waterways

4. Fee & Value Exchange

·     Fee: Free of Charge! (Funded by the Social Affairs Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government)

·     What's Included: Round-trip tour bus transportation from downtown Kaohsiung, gardening tools and supplies, the indigo dyeing workshop, local guided tours, an authentic Hakka lunch, and venue accident insurance.

·     Why is it free? In celebration of 2026 IVY, this event is designed to create a "Service × Culture × Sustainability" youth volunteer model. We operate on a "Service for Experience" mutual exchange model. You contribute your physical effort to help beautify the community's environment, and in return, the local community rewards you with invaluable cultural workshops and an authentic Hakka feast.

5. Target Audience & Capacity

·     Who can join: International youth in Taiwan, university international/exchange students, and anyone aged 18 and above who is passionate about Hakka culture and community service.

·     Capacity: An exclusive group limited to a maximum of 15 international youth, joined by 3-5 Taiwanese university students.

6. Reminders & What to Bring

Please note that this event involves outdoor physical labor (weeding and gardening). For your safety and comfort, please follow these guidelines strictly:

·     Dress Code: Long sleeves and long pants (e.g., jeans or durable work clothes) are mandatory to prevent mosquito bites and sunburn. No sandals or flip-flops are allowed. Closed-toe shoes or outdoor sneakers are required.

·     Essentials: Bring a reusable water bottle (stay hydrated!), sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, and a sweat towel.

·     Other Recommendations: We highly recommend bringing a spare set of clothes to change into after the service work, personal medication, rain gear (umbrella/raincoat), and a copy of your personal ID (ARC, Passport, or Health Insurance Card) for verification.

7. Registration & Contact Info

·     Registration Deadline: From now until one week before the event. Registration will close automatically once the capacity is reached.

·     Organized by: Social Affairs Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government

·     Executed by: Kaohsiung Volunteer Resource Center (Taiwan Global Social Force Sustainable Development Association)

·     Contact Person: Mr. Antonio Chen, Chien-Ming (陳建銘 先生)

·     Contact Phone / LINE App (Search by phone):+886-928-716-857 (0928716857)

·     Apply Here: https://forms.gle/MEnRFTjew2T6KhQTA  

·     Important: Spaces are limited. A bilingual pre-departure notice and briefing will be sent to approved applicants 3 days before the event.

 

• 社區服務體驗 (Volunteering Work)：挽起袖子，化身地方守護者！我們將投入美濃「菸仕物所」戶外公共空間的環境清理、除草整理與植栽綠美化，共同維護歷史場域的空間品質。
• 文化體驗與手作 (Cultural Experience)：親身體驗客家傳統生活工藝。參與者將進行客家植物藍染方巾手作，帶回專屬的文化紀念品。
• 風土導覽 (Community & Culture)：由在地導覽員帶領，漫步走讀美濃水圳與客家聚落地景，深入了解美濃水資源與客家聚落發展歷程。

• 活動日期：2026年11月7日（星期六）
• 活動時間：09:00 - 16:30（08:00 於高雄市區定點集合接駁）
• 活動地點：菸仕物所（高雄市美濃區泰安里中山路一段25號）及周邊美濃水圳

• 活動費用：本次活動經費由高雄市政府社會局支持，錄取之青年免費參與。
• 提供項目：免費提供高雄市區至美濃的來回遊覽車接送、綠美化工具耗材、藍染體驗費、導覽解說、客家風味午餐及場地意外險。
• 為什麼免費？ 本計畫為響應2026聯合國國際志工年，以建立「服務 × 文化 × 永續」之青年志工體驗模式為初衷。我們採用「以服務換取體驗 (Service for Experience)」的互惠模式：您貢獻勞動力協助社區環境綠美化，社區則以珍貴的文化體驗與在地客家美食作為最誠摯的回饋。

• 招募對象：年滿 18 歲之來台國際青年、大專院校外籍生，以及對客家文化與社區服務有興趣之青年。