Project Narrative
Business and Community Organizations
| Our Community: |
After Sino-Japanese War in 1894, the Japanese colonized and actively developed Taiwan. They launched a reclamation project in Takko (now Kaohsiung) to complete their city development plan. Therefore, the land that did not exist in the past began to appear on the map of Kaohsiung, such as Hamasen area.
Hamasen is located adjacent to Kaohsiung Harbor. A railway along the harbor went through a fish market in the area to deliver fresh fish and other cargo. The Japanese called the coastal railway line Hamasen. That was how the area derived its name. Later , local residents called it "Hamasing" in Taiwanese. Nowadays, Hamasen, considered as an old community, has become one of the major attractions in Gushan District, Kaohsiung.
“Takao Renaissance Association” was founded in Hamasen in 2012. Members in the association devote themselves to communicate and coordinate with the officials. They try to create a win win situation for both the government and the public. Now it is paying close attention to the issue, “the reconstruction of Hamasen Old Street”.
Our Community- Kaohsiung City:
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(Left) Woodworking class. (provided by the association) (Right) We joined the class on weekend.
Xie Yilin showed us Xin Bin Street.
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There are many historical buildings over 100 years old on Jie Xing Second Street.
| Project Outline |
Ling Jhou Primary School is located in Lingya district, Kaohsiung city. It is close to Asian New Bay Area which is constructed in full swing. The area comprises of major building projects such as Convention and Exhibition Center, Music Center. It seems the city will have a prosperous future. However, the Xin Bin Old Street in Hamasen area, which is on the other side of the harbor, is facing demolition and alternation. Many residents there resist that change. Fortunately, a group of people are trying to help the residents. They thus established "Takko Renaissance Association" in 2012 and dedicate themselves to heritage preservation in Kaohsiung.
We have a chance to contact the association. Through its members' explanation, we understood the residents' helpless situations and their panic because of receiving a three-month move-out notice from the government. Therefore, we want to follow the association members' determination, "No demolition. No move. Guard Hamasen." We also hope that we can do meaningful things for "Takao Renaissance Association". We think that we can put their stories on the website so that more people can join them.| Internet Environment |
We used computers on an optical fiber network, which were connected to Taiwan Academic Network through a T1 line at school. We also used computers equipped with ADSL to search and send information at home.
| Challenges |
1. Tight Schedule:
As every team member’s free time differs, we reached an agreement of meeting on Wednesday afternoons. Even at a later phase, in order to work as a team and complete the project on time, we spent weekends working. Sometimes, we gave up our after-school classes and then made up the missed lessons afterward. We were all tried but worked hard.
2. Contact Difficulties：
We owed thanks to Xie Yi Lin and Mr. Guo. With their good personal connection to contact residents in Hamasen and cultural workers. They agreed to accept our interview. On our own, it would be very difficult to do it.
3. Computer Skills:
At first, it was difficult for us to collect and integrate information, and to make webpages because everyone’s spare time and computer abilities are different. It was hard for us during the learning period, but after our continuous discussion and modification, we finally made our web pages.
4. Fear：
The people we interviewed were busy. To show the team level of interview, we imagined all kinds of unexpected situations and contingency. We practice several times to decrease fear.
5. Questionnaires:
It needs courage to ask strangers to fill out questionnaires. At first, we were shy and hesitant to speak to strangers. Sometimes, we were rejected and we felt hurt. But after frustrating attempts, we finally learned how to successfully ask people.
6. English Translation:
In the process of the project, we did better by cooperating with Meinong Primary School. We also hope to participate in the 2014 international contest, but translating our web pages into English is very difficult for us. We therefore spent an enormous amount of time on looking up dictionaries, writing sentences, and learning grammar. We also asked our English teacher’s help to correct our writing.
<Photos
Statement>We did survey on LinHai Second Road.
| Our Reflections |
Although it is tough to proceed with the research and schoolwork, We felt glad to interview Mr. Xie Yi Lin, Ms. Guo Yan Ti, Mr. Juan Shang Hua, and Grandma Dong, who are unsung heroes silently preserving and protecting the history of Kaohsiung. To preserve the history, they did their best to fight with financial groups. All of our team members admired their spirit.
It took a lot of time to shoot images of the heritage, film, interview, and take historic tours. We had to do a lot of preparation before filming because we cannot see the manuscript at that time. Although we could not do every work well, we did our best. On the way to Hamasen, we met friendly elders and people who live there. They asked us: "Why were you here?" After understanding our study, they gave us accomplishment. That made us proud.
Although we are young, team members are from different classes and alumni, we used our methods to collect information on historic preservation. We used students' power to report those unsung heroes. We hope to do something, such as doing a survey for the city government, to help "Takao Renaissance Association. We also hope to find out more stories of Hamasen and pass them down by students' power. Therefore, we will make a website to record the stories.
<Photos statement> We designed our own script to introduce attractions in Hamasen. We also wanted to make QR codes on the guide map. Let the public can know Hamasen by the technology.