A charity auction in Taoyuan has secured the financial future of arts education at a local school. Education in indigenous song and dance is a specialty at Baleng 巴崚 Elementary, where traditional arts are kept alive. A local businessman decided to donate the proceeds of the auction to the school, to thank the local community for helping him in his hour of need some years ago.
A traditional wood workshop hosts a livestream auction.
Yu Chun-kuan
Wood workshop owner
Just when I was in the hardest, most unsuccessful time in my life, my daughter was caught in a dust explosion and had burns on 61% of her body. Even just to talk about that time, I feel like I''m about to cry. Many good friends reached out to help me. We owed people a lot that they had given us. Now we want to use this chance to give back.
The accident was lifechanging, but five years later, with the help of many friends, the family was swimming again. Now this workshop owner has decided to auction off these simple artworks made from highly valuable wood, and donate all the proceeds to Baleng Elementary in nearby Fuxing District. They''ll be used to support the continuation of indigenous culture and education for rural children.
Kao Li-chung
Baleng Elementary principal
This charity auction will go towards our fund for our school''s arts education program, to get the kids better and better. But we want to raise NT$500,000 to promote it in the long term. I think that would be a big support for the school.
Classes in indigenous song and dance are a special tradition at Baleng Elementary. The choir has won many competitions. This art auction was more successful than expected, and the NT$700,000 raised will help the school flourish for years to come. From time to time we all need support, and eventually it''s our chance to pay it forward again.