Tainan City’s Bureau of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior’s National Conscription Agency, and Anding District Office have worked together in the planning of the Public Administration Substitute Service Participation in Creative Village-wide Community Development Project. On July 28 (2017), at 9:30 in the morning residents from the district’s villages of Anding, Anjia, and Baoxi were present at Anding Park for the grand opening of Gancao Lane (lit. “Hay Lane”) and a presentation on the accomplishments of substitute civilian servicemen.
The following four substitute civilian servicemen took part in Anding District’s Tackalan Community and Environmental Improvement Project: Ye Yi-sheng, Pan Ren-jie, Xiao Yu-kai, and Shen Wei-ming. The proposal for the Tackalan Community Empowerment Project, which featured an assortment of social aspects, called for young people to provide assistance by thinking up ways to change the community atmosphere. Applying their expertise that they learned at their respective schools, the substitute civilian servicemen uncovered the community’s distinctive industries and then worked with community residents in creating local cultural awareness. This effort should improve residents’ quality of life and raise the community’s value.
Located in what is now the villages of Anding, Anjia, and Baoxi, Tackalan was the name of the plains aborigines’ (or Pingpu Tribe) tribal village during Dutch and Spanish colonial rule (17th Century). The three villages share an old park that has been converted into a green corridor, and this area is an important recreation area for local residents. The four substitute civilian servicemen began by interviewing many of the area’s senior citizens, collecting information, and researching local history. They then used distinctive characteristics of the local area’s history and culture as inspiration when planning Reviving the History and Culture of Gancao Harbor—The Gancao Lane Project. The team joined forces with residents from these villages in implementing the project, which is patching up gaps in history and creating family friendly spaces. Stimulating the community’s energy and identity, this project has made the park barrier free and the perfect place to visit.