In August 2009, Typhoon Morakot devastated the Hualien-Taitung (Huatung) region of Taiwan, many religious and charity organizations rushed to aid disaster stricken areas with abundant donations of money and supplies. These resources only alleviated the problems superficially and did not provide long term solutions for Huatung residents to have a sustainable future.
In addition to the donation of funds, Huatung needs the donation of “people”. Huatung needs volunteers who can envision a systematic way to create structural changes that can alleviate persistent economic problems in the under resourced communities. There is also a need for effectively pooling resources, talents, and experiences from nonprofit organizations to deploy available resources to produce maximum impact for the greater good.
On 28 December 2009, with a group of like-minded individuals, Stanley Yen founded The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF). ACF is a non-profit organization which will serve as a platform for public interest projects. We hope to connect the right resources with the right project; and our role is to be the pioneer who will experiment with alternative solutions to develop successful models to support sustainable economic development in the Huatung region.
We focus on five main areas of development - education, arts and culture, experiential tourism, business advisory, and integrating resources. In every project which we are engaged in, we ensure that our ears are solidly planted on the ground so that we can hear the true voices and address the cultural nuances of working with different communities. We hope to develop sustainable businesses and create opportunities in Huatung which will allow young people to find employment in their hometown. We want to help Huatung people preserve their family unit while participating in the economic growth of the region.
We believe Huatung’s future is closely tied to the future of Taiwan. Huatung, a remote region which accounts for 10% of the island’s land mass and only 1% of its total population, is inhabited by one-third of its aborigines with a diversity of seven indigenous tribes. Its rich cultural diversity and unsurpassed natural beauty represent some of the best qualities of life in Taiwan. Let us roll up our sleeves and work together to ensure these qualities are preserved for the benefit of our children, for them to find a voice for their cultural identity and a stage for their talents. May we join forces and be the key to change for a better society.
In addition to the donation of funds, Huatung needs the donation of “people”. Huatung needs volunteers who can envision a systematic way to create structural changes that can alleviate persistent economic problems in the under resourced communities. There is also a need for effectively pooling resources, talents, and experiences from nonprofit organizations to deploy available resources to produce maximum impact for the greater good.
On 28 December 2009, with a group of like-minded individuals, Stanley Yen founded The Alliance Cultural Foundation (ACF). ACF is a non-profit organization which will serve as a platform for public interest projects. We hope to connect the right resources with the right project; and our role is to be the pioneer who will experiment with alternative solutions to develop successful models to support sustainable economic development in the Huatung region.
We focus on five main areas of development - education, arts and culture, experiential tourism, business advisory, and integrating resources. In every project which we are engaged in, we ensure that our ears are solidly planted on the ground so that we can hear the true voices and address the cultural nuances of working with different communities. We hope to develop sustainable businesses and create opportunities in Huatung which will allow young people to find employment in their hometown. We want to help Huatung people preserve their family unit while participating in the economic growth of the region.
We believe Huatung’s future is closely tied to the future of Taiwan. Huatung, a remote region which accounts for 10% of the island’s land mass and only 1% of its total population, is inhabited by one-third of its aborigines with a diversity of seven indigenous tribes. Its rich cultural diversity and unsurpassed natural beauty represent some of the best qualities of life in Taiwan. Let us roll up our sleeves and work together to ensure these qualities are preserved for the benefit of our children, for them to find a voice for their cultural identity and a stage for their talents. May we join forces and be the key to change for a better society.
