USR International Exchange｜International Students Witness the Sustainable Resilience of a Reborn Community in Suai-A-Ka

International master’s and doctoral students from the College of Management at Chang Jung Christian University (CJCU), representing Vietnam, India, Tanzania, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Ghana, joined Professor Yi-Hui Ho on November 3, 2025, for a field visit of the course “Seminar on Business Ethics” to the Suai-A-Ka Cultural Sharing Space in Baolai, Kaohsiung. The visit served as an immersive journey that blended local revitalization, sustainable practices, and international exchange.

This visit was part of CJCU’s USR Project “Meet at Suai-A-Ka”, which aims to foster cross-cultural engagement and provide international students with first-hand experiences in Taiwan’s community-based sustainable development.

Through guided tours and meaningful interaction, students learned how the Baolai community has, over the past 16 years since Typhoon Morakot in 2009, rebuilt itself and developed a unique community-based social enterprise model. The organization highlights three major features: Baolai Pottery, Plant Dyeing, and Baolai Bread, integrating nature, art, and community strength to show the vitality of local innovation and sustainable growth.

During the activities, students also experienced making Taiwan’s unique Aiyu jelly, learning about this eco-friendly cultural tradition, and creating their own plant-dyed crafts, discovering the beauty of sustainability in everyday life.

This USR international exchange not only deepened the students’ understanding of business ethics and social responsibility but also allowed them to witness firsthand the resilience and creativity of Taiwanese communities, strengthening the dialogue between Taiwan and the world.