Student Volunteering Programmes
Since its establishment in 2009, the Providence University Orchid Island Volunteer Team has recruited a group of passionate young people every February to join in the preparation work. These volunteers come from different regions and have diverse backgrounds and personalities, but they unite for a common goal. Together, they apply for external funding, collaborate with social welfare organizations, and organize various fundraising activities to support the operation of the Orchid Island Volunteer Team. After a series of intensive preparations, the team travels annually to Orchid Island Island, located off the southeast coast of Taiwan, a potential UNESCO World Heritage site. Orchid Island is home to the indigenous Tao people, and due to population outflow and cultural preservation challenges, local children, the elderly, and other groups lack adequate resources for living, education, and employment, making them in need of special care and support. Through volunteer services, Providence University provides diverse assistance, including free hair dyeing and cutting services for the elderly, improving their living electricity conditions, and organizing children's camps and youth camps to care for the local children.
In 2024, Providence University collaborated with the Pxmart Dreams Come True Social Welfare Foundation(https://www.phdf.org.tw/)、ASUS Foundation(https://www.asusfoundation.org/article_project.aspx?id=169) and other NGO foundations to preserve the indigenous culture of this remote island and provide educational resources for local children. (2024.6.29-7.11) This partnership not only embodies the spirit of altruism but also demonstrates the university's efforts to fulfill its social citizenship responsibilities and further promote the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Student Volunteering Programmes 、 development of educational resources
The Department of English Language, Literature, Linguistics at Providence University has partnered with the CommonWealth Education Foundation to participate in the "Hope Reading Volunteers" program(2024.11.30), promoting English reading in rural schools around Taichung. One of these schools, LongHai Elementary School in Longjing District, Taichung, , located near a thermal power plant, serves approximately 400 students. In response, the Department of English Language, Literature, Linguistics at PU designed various hands-on activities centered on " Reliable, Sustainable, and Modern Energy " that are suitable for elementary school students. Our volunteers use English picture books to guide the children through reading English stories, integrating SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) and important global issues. Through this approach, they develop educational resources to help children understand cultural features and environmental protection worldwide, while also encouraging them to think about concrete ways to take care of the planet.
Development of Education Resources、 Research Programmes
The Philippines faces a pronounced disparity between the rich and the poor, with wealth and poverty often passed down through generations. Due to limited opportunities for upward social mobility, children from impoverished families frequently remain in poverty. The lower-income population constitutes the majority, many of whom live in slum areas under harsh conditions, forming a silent majority.
As one of the countries with the highest population growth rates globally, it is common for Filipino households to have three to five children. Many school-aged children require special care and attention, as a significant portion of the working-age population migrates to urban areas or abroad in search of employment.
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation, with over 80% of its population identifying as Catholic. Churches often serve as central gathering places for communities. However, educational resources in the country remain limited. During the extended summer break, there is an opportunity to provide meaningful engagement through children's camps that incorporate religious education, life education, and cultural exchange.
From August 1 to August 15, 2024, Providence University collaborated with the Philippine Province of the international Benedictine Order to organize a children's camp. Leveraging the expertise and skills of youth volunteers, the camp will be integrated into local communities to support the Order’s outreach efforts to the poor, offering valuable training and educational activities.
For children, the camp will include courses in financial literacy, baking courses, health education, religious education, and life education. For community residents, workshops were held to provide practical handcraft classes that enhance daily life and promote well-being. Through this service initiative, youth volunteers will embody altruism, cultivate a sense of mission and responsibility toward the global community, and fulfill their roles as global citizens. This program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aims to foster mutual understanding and exchange between the people of Taiwan and other nations.
