Written by Erinna Tania 陳瑮恩
This summer, ICI student Erinna Tania and her classmate Ingrid Pereira from Paraguay traveled to Puli, Nantou, to take part in a 14-day volunteer program at the Chen Chou Ama Foundation. Through cultural sharing, English activities, games, and daily interactions with the children, the two students built connections that went beyond language and cultural differences. For Erinna, the experience not only helped her rediscover the value of her own cultural background, but also deepened her understanding of community care, empathy, and belonging. In the following reflection, she shares her experiences and thoughts from her time in Puli.
If you had told me a year ago that I would be spending my summer in Puli, Nantou, teaching kids about Indonesian culture, I probably would have asked, “Are you okay?” Yet that is exactly what happened, and it turned out to be one of the most unforgettable experiences I have had in Taiwan.
For 14 days, I had the privilege of volunteering at the Chen Chou Ama Foundation. It was a whirlwind of energy, language barriers, endless games, and profound realizations.
This initiative was part of a broader University Social Responsibility (USR) project, in which the International College of Innovation (ICI) at NCCU partnered with the Chunghwa Telecom Foundation. Too often, life as an international student is about quietly adapting to a new environment and feeling like a passive guest. This project completely changed that dynamic. For the first time, my cultural identity was not a barrier to overcome, but a valuable asset that could bring excitement and new perspectives to the children. Being able to actively give back made me feel like a true participant in Taiwanese society, rather than simply an outsider looking in.
Our mission was to expose the children to English in a natural, low-pressure environment. To achieve this, my partner, Ingrid from Paraguay, and I decided that play would be our universal language. We designed hands-on classes that introduced the children to the flora, fauna, traditions, and cultures of our home countries. Bringing my own heritage into the classroom gave me a chance to represent my roots with pride.
We brought these cultures to life through activities such as cultural mask-making. We explained how masks can be used in religious rituals or as symbols for warding off evil spirits, handed out the materials, and let the kids express their creativity freely.
We also introduced a classic board game found in both Indonesia and Paraguay: Ular Tangga, or Snakes and Ladders. We turned it into a cultural trivia challenge and added a few “go back home” spaces that drove the kids absolutely crazy. Some of them landed on those spaces five times in a row, which eventually led to a sudden-death match that was both hilarious and highly engaging.
Beyond the classes we designed, we also took on the role of teaching assistants. During sports activities, we became extra players, joining badminton games and watching the kids take on table tennis challenges. We spent our mornings in their recreation room and joined the lively chaos of their laughter-filled theater classes in the afternoons.
At first, the language gap felt intimidating, and I doubted how much I could really offer. Having strangers enter their space and speak a foreign language could understandably feel daunting for the children, and they were shy at first.
But seeing how games, smiles, and genuine care gradually bridged that distance taught me something important: you do not need perfect language skills to make an impact. Once the children realized that we were simply there to play, spend time with them, and get to know them, the awkwardness slowly faded into broken English, expressive gestures, and increasingly natural interactions. That realization gave me the confidence to connect with others and feel more at ease in cross-cultural settings.
From a practical perspective, this placement was an incredibly valuable experience for international students and played an important role in my personal growth. In addition to learning how to design interactive classes and engage with children, living on-site gave me a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a grassroots nonprofit organization operates on a daily basis.
It is easy for international students to remain within the comfort of our “campus bubble” or the highly international environment of Taipei. Coming to Puli, living there, and working alongside local staff showed me a different side of Taiwan—one that felt closer to everyday local life. It gave me a deeper sense of belonging and showed me that cross-cultural connection can happen anywhere, even beyond the capital and other highly internationalized spaces.
Although most of my memories from these 14 days are filled with joy, the experience also carried considerable emotional weight. Many of the children had faced serious trauma or difficult family circumstances. Learning about their backgrounds while seeing their bright and resilient smiles was deeply eye-opening.
It reinforced an important truth for me: childhood trauma can leave a lasting impact, and places like the Chen Chou Ama Foundation are incredibly important. They do much more than provide housing. Every day, they put in the difficult and meaningful work of creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where children can heal, learn, and grow.
That is exactly why I find this program so valuable. By connecting international students with grassroots nonprofit organizations, it brings a broader and more diverse world directly to the children while giving us a meaningful opportunity to turn the idea of global citizenship into real action.
Leaving the foundation was much harder than I had expected. I went there hoping to teach the children some English and share my culture, but I left feeling much more empowered in my identity as an international student.
I learned so much about resilience, how community care works in practice, and empathy as a universal language that can reach across cultures. I highly recommend this unique experience to other students, and I sincerely hope the program continues to grow in the years to come.
Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this opportunity. To the foundation staff, teachers, and everyone who made this project possible: thank you for welcoming us so warmly and helping us feel at home from the very beginning. Your kindness made this experience truly unforgettable.
