"Diversity, Inclusion, Co-benefiting Wenshan: Community Renaissance Project" aims to address the issues of diverse populations' coexistence faced by Ankang Community, adjacent to National Chengchi University. The project's goal is "integration fostering co-benefit, and co-benefit promoting mutual well-being". Through the university's "Social Practices and Co-prosperity of Communities Program" credit course, it guides faculty and students to integrate academic knowledge with local practice, designing service plans around the shared interests and needs of community residents. The initiative is expected to enhance students' capabilities in addressing issues related to diverse populations and to reconstruct a caring and connected community environment.
Situated in the Muzha district of Taipei and adjacent to National Chengchi University, Ankang Community is a space where diverse and vulnerable populations converge, including low-income families, single-parent households, individuals with mental disabilities, solitary elderly residents, and new immigrants. The complexities of these demographics have subjected the community to persistent social challenges and external stigmatization, hindering its ability to integrate and coexist alongside
neighboring communities. This initiative, rooted in the university's commitment to EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), seeks to attain the goal of "integration fostering co-benefit, and co-benefit promoting mutual well-being” within the neighborhood. By leveraging academic resources and the collaborative efforts of faculty and students, the project aims to extend the university's core principles into the community, thereby cultivating a neighborhood that genuinely embraces diversity and inclusion.
This project builds on the practical achievements realized during the previous phase of intensive fieldwork while responding to the field's challenges; it further underscores the vision of fostering integration, coexistence, and co-benefit within field practice projects. Emphasizing "accessibility," the project designs initiatives tailored to community residents' shared interests and needs, aiming to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and communal coexistence among diverse populations.
The project is implemented through the collaborative efforts of faculty,full-time and part-time assistants, students, and volunteers, supplemented by the "Social Practices and Coprosperity of Communities Program" credit course. This course systematically guides students into the field through structured learning, providing them hands-on experience. The project advances its objectives through three primary models: "course integration," "student teams and organizations," and "field partners," highlighting the close integration of professional education with practical experience. This approach allows students to develop through experiential learning, further realizing the synergy between education, training, and community involvement.
Beyond engaging students from National Chengchi University, the project also maintains long-term course collaborations with local high schools, junior high schools, and elementary schools. In extending the ethos of the 108 Curriculum Guidelines, it concurrently deepens the roots of social responsibility within the earlier stages of education.
This project is committed to fostering a community characterized by diversity and inclusivity, with a primary focus on empowering and integrating diverse groups within the community. The initiative aims to enhance cooperation and cohesion among residents through a range of community activities while simultaneously energize the community through the creative contributions of university students. Moreover, the project is integrated with the "Social Practices and Co-prosperity of Communities Program" credit course, which is designed to enhance students' capabilities in addressing issues related to diverse populations, allowing them to engage in hands-on learning and gain a deeper insight into community challenges.
Guided by the principle of "integration fostering co-benefit, and co-benefit promoting mutual well-being”, the project seeks to encourage active participation among community residents, thereby reconstructing a caring and connected community environment. In its first year, the focus will be on fostering positive and constructive interactions within the community; in the second year, the emphasis will shift towards deeper collaboration with the community to promote engagement. Ultimately, the project aspires to collaborate with a wide range of diverse partners across Wenshan District to establish a cross-community network, collectively building a community that is welcoming and supportive of diverse populations.
This project will implement pre- and post-activity assessments targeting various stakeholders, including students, service recipients, local partners, and project members. These assessments are designed not only to ensure that the project aligns with the university's strategic development goals but also to evaluate the Social Return on Investment (SROI) based on the project's outcomes.