By / Compiled and reported by Li Xinyi, MOOK Travel Life Network
Do you still remember the scenes in August this year when Typhoon Tembin swept across Orchid Island? The island’s only farmers’ association supermarket and gas station were completely destroyed by wind and waves, the airport and harbor were left in chaos, and all sea and land transportation came to a halt. The same scene had also occurred more than three years ago after Typhoon Morakot. At that time, Langdao Elementary School in the Orchid Island tribe suffered severe damage to its teaching building, which was left as a dangerous structure. The principal sought help everywhere. This spring, the school's newly reconstructed “Evergreen Sunrise” building was completed. It withstood the harsh tests of every typhoon in summer and autumn, including Typhoon Tembin, and also braved the most severe winter northeastern monsoons.
Langdao Elementary School was severely hit by natural disasters but has now been rebuilt. (Photo provided by the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation)
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll build it!” With a wave of his hand, Chang Yung-fa, chairman of the Evergreen Group, made a promise that gave five schools across Taiwan that were damaged by Typhoon Morakot a chance to rise again. From being ravaged by the disaster, to reconstruction, to the Tao people of Orchid Island welcoming the completion of the building with their most solemn traditional rituals, to passing the test of wind and rain—the emotional journey of Langdao Elementary School is now recorded in the documentary “Rebirth,” filmed in collaboration between the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation and director Huang Hsin-yao.
“These schools are the real protagonists. We need to give teachers and children a voice, especially the people of Orchid Island—there are no ethnic differences in my heart.” During the filming of the documentary, Chang Yung-fa mentioned many times that he hopes to draw more attention to the widening urban-rural gap and explore issues such as the lack of educational resources for disadvantaged groups and remote areas.
The “Evergreen Sunrise” building at Langdao Elementary School, reconstructed under the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation's sponsorship, has been completed. (Photo provided by the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation)
In April this year, the “Evergreen Sunrise” building at Langdao Elementary School, reconstructed under the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation's sponsorship, was completed. Seventy members of the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra braved the waves to perform on Orchid Island, marking the first time a symphony orchestra has ever performed on the island. Wen Wen-long, former principal of Langdao Elementary School, said that most students from the Orchid Island tribe come from economically disadvantaged families, making it very difficult for them to travel to Taiwan, let alone attend cultural and artistic events. But this outdoor symphonic feast has had an enlightening effect on the music education of tribal children. The documentary “Rebirth” faithfully records this heartwarming interaction.
The documentary “Rebirth” is directed by the well-known young domestic documentary filmmaker Huang Hsin-yao and took six months to complete. In addition to Langdao Elementary School on Orchid Island, it also features visits and footage from five other schools supported by the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation: Liouguei High School in Kaohsiung, Chang Yung-Fa Lily Elementary School and Laiyi Elementary School in Pingtung, as well as Zhanghu Elementary School in Yunlin, which is still under construction. The premiere of this documentary will be held soon, and it will later be available for public viewing on the official website of the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation.
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