Faced with the rising tide of technological change, disadvantaged children in rural areas struggle even more with a lack of emotional support compared to their peers in cities. According to estimates from World Vision Taiwan and the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF), around 33,000 underprivileged children in Taiwan suffer from emotional distress. Statistics show there have been 2,382 reported suicide cases among children under the age of 14. Additionally, 89% of disadvantaged children experience low self-esteem, 60% face emotional and interpersonal difficulties, and 71% struggle with poor social adjustment due to a lack of cultural exposure and learning opportunities. In the face of these challenges, what kind of learning approach do future generations—and rural education in particular—truly need?

In the spring of 2022, the Wistron Foundation partnered with MEandMine, the Chengzhi Education Foundation’s KIST School Alliance (KIPP-Inspired Schools in Taiwan), and Teach For Taiwan (TFT) to launch the Little Beaver Sustainable Education Support Program. By leveraging the educational expertise of nonprofit organizations, the program systematically and data-drivenly integrates Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into rural classrooms across Taiwan.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is not merely about recognizing emotions or managing one’s feelings. It begins with the most fundamental aspect of self-awareness: understanding one’s own body, developing a sense of self, and forming personal identity. Only then does it progress to recognizing and expressing emotions, and eventually to interacting and collaborating with others and society. Research has shown that SEL significantly enhances students’ academic performance, improves behavior, and has a profoundly positive impact on economic and employment outcomes in adulthood, as well as on broader societal development. According to research from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, the parts of the human brain responsible for social and emotional development are established before the age of seven. Furthermore, 75% of the neural connections associated with SEL are linked to future problem-solving abilities. Therefore, early childhood education plays a critical role — the earlier SEL begins, the better.

Originating from Silicon Valley—the global hub of innovation—MEandMine recognized the importance of SEL and assembled a team of pediatricians, child psychologists, educators, and parents. Their mission is to transform children's learning from a one-way, results-driven approach into meaningful, play-based experiences that enhance both motivation and learning—blurring the line between "play" and "education." Initially, their educational games were rich in knowledge but lacked engagement. To improve this, MEandMine began hosting twice-monthly playtesting sessions, inviting families to try the game boxes. These sessions guided product development to ensure the games were not only educational but also fun and engaging.