The Mai's New Tung Yang Foundation has long promoted the "Sustainable Local Journey," focusing on cultural inheritance, educational companionship, and connection with the land. Through in-depth local experiences, it leads children out of the classroom and into the land, deeply understanding the wisdom of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. At the end of last year's event, children from Hsinfu Kindergarten held the hands of New Tung Yang volunteers and made a wish to deeply understand indigenous culture. This year, on August 7, 2026, the Foundation will translate this promise into concrete educational action, planning an in-depth cultural journey to the Wulai Fushan Tribe (Delanam), an important Atayal settlement. Through the Atayal "Gaga" spirit, the foundation guides children from forest hunting ethics and traditional weaving memories to food and agriculture practices, deeply instilling green carbon reduction and multicultural literacy in the next generation, demonstrating the foundation's long-term commitment to local development and ESG social responsibility.

A Wish Becomes the Starting Point

To respond to children's curiosity about multiculturalism, the Mai's New Tung Yang Foundation specially selected the Fushan Tribe in Wulai, New Taipei City as its learning venue and meticulously planned the "Gaga Na Tayan" cultural experience journey. This year, the Foundation, together with teachers and students from Xingfu Kindergarten, and bringing together 100 people including the General Manager of New Tung Yang, management colleagues, partner companies, and volunteer families, embarked on this in-depth journey that combined cultural roots-seeking with sustainable learning. This allowed children to step outside their local communities, understand the connection between humanity and nature, and witness the wisdom of different ethnic groups in protecting their land.

Practicing the Gaga Spirit in Tribal Life

The journey began with a blessing ceremony personally presided over by Da Na, the chief of the Wulai district of the Atayal tribe. General Manager Mai and senior managers of New Tung Yang, representing the Foundation and colleagues, reverently participated, paying homage to the land and ancestral spirits, setting an example for the children to "learn respect first, then delve into the culture." Led by the Delanam Cultural Camp's guided tour team and tribal elders, the foundation tailored cultural experience programs to deepen children's understanding of the Atayal people's wisdom:

Warrior Group | Hunting and Archery:** Children learned traditional traps and archery from experienced hunters, and also learned about "bird divination," observing natural signals from the calls and flight paths of the white-eye bird. Children learned not only skills but also understood the seasonal norms of hunting and the sharing of prey, reflecting a land ethics of respecting nature and using resources responsibly.

Weaving Group | Ramie and Weaving:** From ramie raw materials to the red, white, and black colors and diamond patterns, children learned that weaving is not just a skill but also carries tribal memories and cultural heritage. A single ribbon is both a skill passed down through generations of women and a way for the tribe to pass on its culture to the next generation.

Understanding Tribal Life Through Food:** Children made bamboo rice and millet mochi together, experiencing firsthand how the tribe used natural resources to meet its needs in the past.

The tribal teachers also shared the Atayal people's "Rainbow Bridge" (Utux Hongan) belief, introducing the children to the ancestral norms of "Gaga"—respect for nature, adherence to rules, and mutual assistance. In the sweltering summer, simple sprinklers allowed water to flow down the eaves, creating a refreshing breeze and helping the children discover that making good use of the environment and living in harmony with nature is a sustainable wisdom long practiced by their ancestors.

Deepening into the Tribal Community, Practicing Green Sustainability: The Maxwell New East Yang Foundation connected over a hundred participants, including children from Hsing Fu Kindergarten, the Wulai Fushan Tribe, and corporate volunteers, to conduct a deeply inspiring cross-cultural and life education program. The foundation presented the tribal teachers with an eco-friendly gaizhi bag incorporating Atayal ribbon elements, made from four recycled PET bottles, concretely fulfilling its carbon reduction commitment of reducing carbon emissions by 255g and saving 11 liters of water. Through the perspectives of different participants, the following are the takeaways from this activity: Executive Secretary of the Mai's Hsin Tung Yang Foundation: "Sustainability is our year-after-year commitment to the children and the land. Seeing the children's confident and cheerful smiles during our time together is the greatest reward for the foundation's efforts in promoting sustainable education." Teacher leading the group from Hsin Fu Kindergarten: "We are grateful to the foundation for keeping the children's wishes in mind for so many years. Even for younger children who might not be able to adapt to the indigenous diet, they prepared separate meals. We saw the children build immense confidence and strength through cultural learning." Teacher Wang, the guide for the Atayal weaving tour: "We were pleasantly surprised to receive the 'Qiezhi bags' prepared by the foundation! The combination of traditional Taiwanese 'Qiezhi bags' with Atayal weaving, and the use of recycled PET bottles for environmental protection, demonstrates a great respect for tribal culture and environmental sustainability." Hsin Tung Yang Volunteer Xiao Hua: "The humor and rich cultural knowledge of the indigenous chief made this volunteer trip accompanying the children incredibly moving; it was all worthwhile." Children from Hsin Fu Kindergarten Acheng & Xiaowen: "The teacher teaching us how to set traps was so cool! Although my hands were sore from pounding millet mochi, it tasted especially delicious!"

Planting Seeds of Protecting the Land in Children's Hearts
This time, the Maxwell House New Tungyang Foundation took children to the Wulai Fushan Tribe to learn about Atayal culture in a real-life setting. The children gained more than just travel memories; they began to understand that nature needs respect, food is precious, and culture needs to be understood. This is precisely the original intention of the Maxwell House New Tungyang Foundation in continuously promoting "Sustainable Local Journeys." Through warm companionship, children are taken out of their familiar circles to learn about different lands and cultures, allowing cultural inheritance, education, and companionship to truly enter their lives. From a hope to an experience, the children gained a greater understanding of the land. May this Gaga spirit of respecting the land, cherishing nature, and helping each other continue to enter the lives of more people and be passed down from generation to generation.