Every summer, children from the Xingfu Children's Home eagerly anticipate the "Sustainable Local Journey" hosted by the Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation. This year, the "Food & Travel for the Soul" sustainability initiative led the children and staff into Taiwan's cultural corners and natural landscapes. Going beyond mere companionship, the foundation takes practical action to guide children along a path of sustainable, shared learning. The first stop of the 2025 journey was Zhongzhen New Village. By combining a market walking tour, historical exploration, and food culture, the event offered a profound cultural experience. Through sight, touch, and taste, the children experienced firsthand the rich diversity and cultural integration of this land.

During the tour of Zhongzhen New Village, local students served as junior guides, seamlessly switching between English and Mandarin to share the area’s history. They carefully explained the village's past to the visiting children and event participants. Though compact, the exhibition hall featured unique displays and interactive installations that deepened everyone's understanding of modern history and the vital importance of peace. The children even left messages on the exhibition boards, using innocent, heartfelt words to express their visions of peace and hopes for the future.

The experience extended far beyond the exhibition hall. The children from Xingfu Children's Home dressed up in the traditional festive attire of ethnic minorities—including the Dai, Hani, Lisu, and Yi peoples—fully immersing themselves in diverse cultures. The guided tour then moved into the bustling Zhongzhen Market. Instructors led the group through spice stalls, migan (rice noodle) shops, and Yunnan-Myanmar street food vendors. Strolling down streets that house both a local mosque and the Canaan Church, the children witnessed the vibrant, everyday life of the community.

The itinerary also featured hands-on workshops where children learned to make traditional migan and green papaya salad, discovering cultural integration through the lens of culinary exchange. For lunch, everyone gathered to enjoy Golden Triangle specialties, pea jelly, military village braised dishes, and crossing-the-bridge noodles. Sharing these meals fostered a meaningful cross-ethnic and cross-generational cultural connection. For the children, it was a profound lesson in peace, using everyday life as the ultimate classroom.

The Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation believes that the true power of education lies in everyday experiences. Through cultural immersion, children can understand distinct historical backgrounds, learn to appreciate and embrace differences, and cultivate empathy through interaction. We hope this learning journey plants the seeds of peace and respect in their hearts, continuing to grow and flourish as they do.