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The Wistron Foundation collaborates with partners such as a Silicon Valley educational startup, MEandMine, the Chengzhi Education Foundation, the KIST School Alliance, and Teach For Taiwan (TFT) to launch the Little Beavers Sustainable Scholarship Program. The aim is to assist children in their healthy development and foster positive values.
The initiative introduces the globally acclaimed Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum to remote schools in Taiwan, using interactive teaching methods with engaging materials to boost the confidence and values of underprivileged students.
MEandMine's performance statistics reveal that the Little Beavers Sustainable Scholarship Program has demonstrated significant results. Among the 318 underprivileged children who participated in the scholarship program, negative behaviors decreased by 30% after attending SEL classes. Moreover, there was a 12% improvement in positive thinking and altruistic behavior, and a 13% increase in learning effectiveness.
Long-term support for education is a significant focus of the Wistron Foundation, which is manifested on multiple fronts. This includes teacher training for specialized education, as well as the allocation of human and material resources to assist underprivileged and rural children, so as to address various challenges they may encounter in their learning process.
Starting in 2022, to help children grow into better adults, discover their positive values, and promote talent sustainability, the Wistron Foundation has joined forces with Silicon Valley educational startup MEandMine, the Chengzhi Education Foundation, the KIST School Alliance, and Teach For Taiwan (TFT) to launch the Little Beavers Sustainable Scholarship Program. The aim of the scholarship program is to introduce the globally renowned Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum into remote schools in Taiwan, using engaging and systematic teaching materials to assist underprivileged children in achieving continuous progress in learning, and elevating their self-confidence and values.
Beavers are renowned engineers and architects in the animal kingdom, symbolizing diligence and unwavering perseverance. The Wistron Foundation supports the scholarship program with the hope that just like beavers, the children will, based on social-emotional learning, wholeheartedly experience and practice what they learn, as well as nurturing a growth mindset and resilience.
According to statistics from relevant social welfare organizations, there are approximately 33,000 underprivileged children in Taiwan. Among them, 60% face emotional and interpersonal conflicts due to emotional instability and irritability, 71% face social adaptation issues because of a lack of cultural stimulation and learning opportunities, and as many as 89% whose academic performance and confidence are affected due to family issues, experience mental health issues and low self-esteem.
If such emotional stress is allowed to accumulate without intervention, it can impose adverse effects on these children's future careers. Therefore, SEL, which has been globally researched and widely recognized in the field of education, can help children develop sound mental and emotional capabilities. Chairman Ji-Ren Lee of the Chengzhi Education Foundation said that SEL is not just a desire or a need. It might be a necessary form of learning.
In rural schools, teachers often find themselves taking on multiple roles and are subject to limitations in time and resources, making it challenging to provide comprehensive support to each student. As a result, students' learning readiness frequently lags behind the teaching pace. Compounded by limited learning support from family, there is a widespread need to enhance the basic learning capabilities of rural children, as well as strengthening their learning motivation. Originally from Silicon Valley, MEandMine came to Taiwan, aiming to achieve the goal of zero disparity in urban and rural education throughout Taiwan. The organization is committed to ensuring that every child has an opportunity to receive SEL education.
In the past one year, the Little Beavers Sustainable Scholarship Program has been collaborating with the Chengzhi Education Foundation to support six publicly-run private schools, including Sanmin Elementary School and Sanmin Junior High School in Hualien County, Zhengmin Elementary School in Yunlin County, Taoyuan Elementary School in Taitung County, Zhanghu Ecological Elementary and Junior High School in Yunlin County, and Emei Junior High School in Hsinchu County. Participating teachers from these rural schools find that the program's teaching materials are invaluable tools for students. One teacher shared, "Some children used to have difficulty controlling their emotions... Now they can express their feelings using the emotion robots they assemble themselves. Their emotions have since become much more stable." Another teacher said, "MEandMine's materials emphasize hands-on activities. In the process, children get to practice intricate motor skills, teamwork and coordination. The curriculum design is innovative, fun and able to broaden the horizons of rural children and provide them diverse stimulation."
Chairman Ji-Ren Lee of the Chengzhi Education Foundation further emphasized, "Education is not just about transmission of knowledge. It should also be about cultivation of character.
The Wistron Foundation continues to support educational startups, with the hope of genuinely helping children in rural areas. As children are the seeds of sustainable development, education is the key to achieving sustainable goals. Underpinned by the foundation of SEL, we look forward to our children, like beavers, building a happy life for themselves by heartily experiencing and practicing what they learn, thus fostering a growth mindset and perseverance.