嚮光協會很幸運的有如棻加入我們的團隊！她已經成為我們組織裡不可或缺的一份子, 孩子們看到她的時候總是很開心, 並用她的綽號”阿昏”稱呼她。不論是帶領一個工作坊, 和孩子們玩, 煮一頓好吃的, 開車, 整理打包, 清潔環境, 付出她的時間, 車, 或捐款, 阿昏總是和我們及孩子們在同一陣線, 付出她百分之百的心力。阿昏現在還協助我們處理十分迫切需求的募款活動和補助金的申請。我們非常榮幸能夠擁有他們為我們社團的一份子!

Daisy: 你是在何時、如何得知嚮光協會？為什麼想參與？
ㄚ昏 : 大概是2013年底的時候，因緣際會在一個定期聚會裡認識創辦人，有一次我問Daisy平時在做什麼，就說到了協會的事情，組織的經營與培力向來是我很有興趣的事情，加上原本就有在其他NGO團體協助發展兒童的相關課程，我自己的碩士論文寫的也是跟兒童培力相關的主題，覺得Daisy對於兒童課程的某些理念與我過往的經驗相仿，所以就想要來參與，一方面想看看各種不同的兒童培力方式，一方面或許是雙子座的強烈的好奇心使然，起心動念就來了。

D: 從我們相處的這段時間以來，對於你與孩子之間互動的改變，你的感覺是如何的呢？
ㄚ昏 : 一開始跟著協會課程時，跟小孩互不熟悉，我不是那種個性就很熱情的人，想當然爾，小孩跟我的互動一開始是生疏的，但我一直相信真心誠意才是贏得友誼的最好方法，也許是互動久了，小孩知道我就只是個害羞愛裝酷的假大人罷了，每次參加活動，總有些孩子愛跟著我後面一直叫我的名字”ㄚ昏”，一邊叫一邊笑鬧著，我雖板起臉孔罵他們但下一秒就跟著孩子們玩起來，喜歡跟孩子們這種類似朋友般的互動，舒服沒有壓力。

Daisy: 你最喜歡哪一次的工作坊？為什麼？
ㄚ昏 : 記得2015年1月到清泉的活動，除了做紮染，也利用周圍的環境素材佈置自製的小聖誕樹，喜歡這種以大自然為素材發揮想像力的活動，可以感受到孩子們與大自然的關係以及對於創作的熱情。

D: 有什麼願意與我們分享的難忘時光嗎？
ㄚ昏 : 說真的，其實每一次的工作坊對我來說都是驚豔，每一次活動不確定的因素很多，尤其是要去有一點遠得要命的清泉的話，這些不確定常常讓我很緊張，大概是這樣，所以就算每次活動前我吃了一頓很豐盛的早餐，肚子總是很快就餓了，因此每次活動精心準備的營養豐盛餐點，總是讓我很難忘，哈哈哈……我不是在開玩笑的，最近幾次的活動，我發覺我越來越喜歡待在廚房幫忙了。

另外我還記得有一次在清泉，活動提前結束了，大夥兒就手牽手到處逛逛，我跟一些孩子躺在桃山國小的樹蔭下，一邊休息一邊聽音樂、聊天，看著湛藍的天空與孩子們共同享受這片刻的放空與悠閒。

D: 為何你會持續參與嚮光協會的活動？
ㄚ昏 : 協會的活動常常搞到我筋疲力盡，回到家後倒在床上大睡，身體雖然累了，但心裡卻感覺重新被注入一股能量，與好久不見的孩子們嘻嘻鬧鬧的玩耍，暫時忘記日常瑣碎的煩人事務，好像又能夠重新燃起對生活的熱情。

D: 你對孩子們有什麼期望，或是你能夠做什麼？
ㄚ昏 : 對於未來的社會環境的想像，大概就是我對孩子們的期待，期待社會能夠多一點的公平正義，而公平正義的社會環境是什麼，則需要孩子們自己去找答案，我想我能夠做的，就是不要阻礙他們發展找答案的能力，雖然社會的運行已有一套既定的框架，不管在性別、道德、社會習俗等等各方面的，以維持所謂的社會秩序，但也讓人成為沒有靈魂的橡皮圖章，這個框架不斷地也不自覺地無時無刻影響我們每一個人，我能夠做的就是在陪伴的過程中盡所能去引導孩子看到這個既有框架，期許孩子們看到另一種可能的想像後，能培養對於事物的敏感度，在未來能夠自己去思辨社會上所發生的事務，找到自己要依循的中心價值。

我們很期待有你的加入!

Bright Side Projects has been fortunate enough to have Rufen join our team! They have been become an indispensable part of our organizations and kids are always happy to see her and call her by her nickname “Ah-Hun.” Whether it’s leading a workshop, playing with kids, cooking a meal, driving, packing, cleaning up, lending her time, car, or donating money, Ah-Hun is always there for us and for the kids 100%. Ah-Hun will now also assist us with much needed fundraising and grant applications and we are so honored to have them as a part of our community!

Daisy: How and when did you find out about Bright Side Projects and what made you want to get involved?
Rufen: It was around the end of 2013 during another NGO’s regularly weekly meetings that I had the chance to meet the founder. I asked Daisy what she usually does and she began to talk about her association (Bright Side Projects), development, and empowerment, which are topics I’ve always been interesting in. In addition, I’ve been assisting other NGOs for children development programs so this was right up my alley. Knowing Daisy’s ideas and beliefs for children development echoed my postgraduate thesis on empowerment so I was motivated to get involved. One part of me wanted to witness the process of empowerment by kids and the other part of me thrives on a Gemini’s strong curiousity to learn more.

D: How do you feel your interaction with the children has changed over the time you have been with us?
R: When I first started going to workshops, I was not close to the kids. My personality isn’t exactly outgoing, so naturally there wasn’t much interaction between the kids and myself. However, I have always believed that being sincere is the key to true friendship. After a little bit more interaction the children realized that perhaps I was shy a shy grown-up trying to act cool. Every time I join an event there’s always kids following me and calling out my nickname “A-Hun” while laughing and poking fun of me. Although I would make a serious face and pretend to scold them, in the next instant we will be playing alongside each other. I really enjoy the interaction with the kids, it’s the same as with friends, a degree of comfort without stress.

D: What has been your favorite workshop and why?
R: I remember in January 2015 we went to ChingChuan for a tie-dye workshop. Apart from the tie-dye, we also used materials we picked up during a mini nature walk to make little Christmas Trees. I like the type of activity which uses nature as our source material and to inspire our imagination. I could feel the relationship between kids and nature, as well as their passion towards creation.

D: Are there any memorable moments you can share with us?
R: Honestly, every workshop comes out surprisingly amazing. There is always a lot of uncertainty involved, especiailly when we hav eto go to ChingChuan which is located far away from the city. When I have to think about all the variables I get nervous. Even though I always eat a big breakfast before event, I get hungry pretty fast so what stands out the most is definitely remembering some of the delicious meals during the workshops. I’m not kidding – I recently discovered I enjoyed spending more and more time in the kitchen during the workshops!

I also remember another time in Chingchuan, when we finished the activities earlier than planned. Everyone was walking around hand in hand. Some of the kids lay down under the shade of the trees and just listened to music and to chat. I really enjoyed this simplistic moment of relaxation with kids and looking up at the blue sky.

D: Why do you keep coming back to ChingChuan or Bright Side Projects events?
R: Bright Side events always leaves you pretty tired by the time you get home. However, although you may be physically exhausted, your heart will be invigorated. The source of this comes from seeing the faces of the kids and their energy. For a few moments in life you can forget about the trivial matters in the every day world, ignite passion for life.

D: What are your hopes for the children or what you can do?
R: In regards to the future social environment, is probably what I’m hoping for the kids, that there will be social justice. What this social justice and environment is will be dependent on the children and up to them to find the answers. What I believe I can do in these respects is to ensure that I do not hinder them in their quest to find the answer. Although society has already set up a very specific framework from everything including gender, morals, social customs, etc, in order to “maintain” social order, this also creates soulless “cookie cutter” figments of people.

What I can hope to do is that during the time I have the chance to be with the kids is to let them know that this framework exists and also that they can break out of it. I hope they can become infused with a sense of empowerment and empathy for others. With this, they can create a framework and determine their own, not one that is dictated by society.

We look forward to you also joining the Neighborhood and our community!