- NB:
These positions are for 3-12 months.
Priority will be given to volunteers who can participate for at least 6 months.
- Age:
20-50
- Project Background:
Siluo Township is located in the middle of Taiwan in the northern Township of Yun-lin County.
Siluo is the nearest township by the great Zhuo Shui River. The great Siluo Bridge is one of the famous landmarks in Taiwan and stands on the River for 60 years until now. You can see the famous sunset view here. Not only the view but also Yenping historical houses are marvelous.
You can also enjoy the typical Taiwanese culture in Siluo Old Street. Chinese Kon-Fu , Puppet show, Soy souse DIY, organic vegetable, even the sculpture park is nearby the great bridge.
Siluo, as a historical city for 300 years, with 48,500 residents there. During the colonial era by Japan, Siluo has been planned to be a modern Town, in order to cooperate with the street-widening process, architectural facades were removed and buildings’ heights were altered. During the 1930-1945 periods, there were many styles visible on Yenping Street, with various unique architectural styles. Within a few years, an 840 meters stretch of street saw the construction of hundreds of Art Deco houses, which contain the essence of Siluo’s history and Culture.
In Yenping Old Street where have 142 elegant houses remain now. Most of them were built 80 years ago. At pass time, Yenping Street was town center, every shop was opening and busies very much .But now, most of houses are empty, and some are useless. The residents got away from here. Yenping Street become silence,People has no confidence.
So We try to promote the Siluo culture and traditional article from here. We suppose to improve the live quality and self-respect here. We want to keep the social environment, classical and historical house.
We have done some repair work at sort term international workcamps, the first backpacker house was fixed at 2010 workcamp .Even it is reused but still need to maintain and management as well. The Grocery store is also repair and reused at 2011 by local volunteer. For improving the social environment, we would like to invite international friends come to join the social work. It is not only voluntary work but also exchange Culture diversity,join and experience a different live in Taiwan.
Participants will also have opportunities to visit local artist,join local activities and have a eco-tourism in free schedule, chat with local people and enjoy the passions from them.
- Aims:
1) To establish a creative cultural exchange and support the Siluo community development.
2) To help Siluo old street social environment.
3) To make friendship with global backpackers.
4) To improve the local living quality.
- Work:
Siluo LMTV workcamp is going to maintain and management the backpacker house (work A-BH)and Grocery store (work B-GS). Volunteer will maintain the daily house clean (or Grocery store), the reception, update internet blog or FB. Volunteer has to maintain the backpacker house and Grocery store to offer the locals and visitor a comfortable living condition.
Volunteers will also do some gardening and English teaching and join community environmental events etc….Local volunteer will support international volunteer to run this project as well.
For more information of Louyoung Cultural & Educational Foundation and find the Siluo workcamp information, please browse: http://www.louyoung.org.tw ;
http://ms1.louyoung.org.tw/signup2/?q=video ; http://ms1.louyoung.org.tw/signup2/?q=node/8
- Work A:
This is an international backpacker house and welcome youth from all around the world. Therefore, volunteer has to be a kindly host and in charge of daily maintain and management for the backpacker house. Volunteers will doing such as the daily house clear after the visitor check out- wash pillow cover, bed cover, clear the rooms, be a host when there is visitor.
- Work B:
Volunteer will run communities Grocery store, in chare of daily maintain and management for the Glossary store. Volunteers will do some daily clear work for the store. The store is running by the local volunteer team. They need international volunteer to support the daily operation.
English Teaching - 2 hours per week. It helps Volunteers to get involved in the community social relationship/life.
Community party/meetings - Feel free to join Silou ROTARY club weekly meeting. And learn different local opinion.
Regular meetings - With hosting (Louyoung foundation) staff and local volunteer leader. Discussion some of the working detail。
Free Day - Volunteers will have 2 free days per week on Monday and Tuesday only. Weekend is always the bid day to run the backpacker house and Grocery store. It is not allowed to take holiday in weekend.
Culture Exchange - The locals would be more than happy to welcome you in Siluo. Please use this opportunity to exchange experiences, to learn more about other social, cultural and political living conditions and to show them, in return yours. In order to promote that, we will have some special cultural event at September、 October and some Celebrates from the temple. The volunteers will be able to present their countries and have fun together with the locals.
- Work schedule:
We separate the work A and work B in different ways, 30-32 working hrs per week, 2 days free per week at least. Instead of free day in weekend, volunteer can only have free days on Monday and Tuesday. And volunteers will switch their duty and exchange work in the period if needed.
- Study theme:
participants are encouraged to share and to join the discussions on community development and share the future prospects of their motherland.
- Accommodation:
Accommodation will in Siluo backpacker House. Two volunteers will share in one double room, located in town center. Volunteers can use bike for daily transportation and the bus station, post office or 24h shop are just nearby. A comfortable blanket will be to offer, so there is no need to bring sleeping bag. And there will be some packet money around NT$ 5000 to support daily food, but volunteer has to cook by themselves, or enjoy the delicious local foods in local restaurants.
* Internet is always available both in working place and accommodation.
* There is a washing machine in accommodation.
* The weather is always changed in the season, tempter could be from 10℃- 30℃ please bring the suitable clothes. And please bring the umbrella or raining cost with you.
- Location:
A traditional Taiwan typical town in Yun-Lin County, locating on the middle-western of Taiwan. 1hr to Taichung city and 2hrs to Tainan city by public bus.
- Terminal:
Tao-Yuan international airport. Passengers need to transfer from Taipei, by King Bus(國光客運) in Taipei Bus Station), to Siluo Station directly, and it takes 3 hours from Taipei to Siluo and costs arund NTD$350.
- Leisure activities:
Excursion, exchange parties with local people, eco-tourism (optional), etc. 1hr to Taichung city and 2hrs to Tainan city by public bus.
- Requirements:
High motivation for learning and respect to local culture. CGC (Certificate for Good Conduct)+ Application form + 2 references from school or company + basic Chinese + Skype interview are request. Please offer all documents when apply.
- Costs:
Free (VYA and local host will provide meals & accommodations). Volunteers should cover the transportation and living expenses by themselves during free schedule.
- Insurance:
we only offer limit insurance to cover third party accident, please make sure you have enough insurance with you.