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Kang Chiao Can Help: Learning to Take Action
Jolene Pienaar – Elementary FET
The Grade 6 “Kang Chiao Can Help” project gave students the opportunity to connect their reading to real-life social issues, focusing on how they can support families in their community. Connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, the project encouraged students not only to understand social challenges but also to take action. Through meaningful stories about children facing difficult circumstances and a presentation from the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF), students gained a clearer understanding of how poverty affects families in Taiwan.
During the TFCF presentation, students learned about children being raised by grandparents when parents are unable to provide care, as well as families who struggle to afford basic school supplies and daily necessities. Hearing these real examples helped students see that poverty is not just a global issue but also exists within our own community. Many students began reflecting on their own lives and recognizing the support, stability, and opportunities they often experience each day. Through class discussions and journal writing, they considered what it means to feel gratitude and how they might respond with responsibility.
With this deeper understanding, students worked together to organize a school-wide donation drive in support of TFCF. In groups, they planned how to share their message clearly and respectfully across the school. Some students created posters and presentations, while others visited homeroom classes to explain the drive's purpose and invite younger students to participate. Speaking in front of other classes required preparation and courage, and students approached this task with maturity. These experiences strengthened their communication skills, teamwork, and confidence.
As the donation drive progressed, students showed growing ownership of the project. They reminded classmates about the items being collected, encouraged friends to contribute, and felt encouraged as they saw participation increase across grade levels. What began as a classroom learning experience gradually became a shared effort within the school community.
Through the “Kang Chiao Can Help” initiative, students developed more than academic skills. They practiced empathy, collaboration, reflection, and leadership. The donation drive brought students, teachers, and families together to support a meaningful cause. Most importantly, the donations will provide practical assistance to families served by TFCF. For the students, seeing how their combined efforts could support real families was a powerful experience, one that helped them understand that compassion, when supported by action, can create genuine and lasting impact.
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