街坊人物專訪 Interview ｜詹雯媓 Joe Chan

詹雯媓（Joe）是我們在2019年第一屆實習生的其中一員，在過去幾個月的活動中她擔任了不可或缺的一部分。Joe作為我們團隊的一員，在連續三個月的時間內，他每週都無私地以每週3天的時間，全心全意地投入她所的任務。因為有她，我們才能持續支持孩子們，以愛心創造一個光明的未來。

Daisy: 你是在何時、如何得知嚮光協會？為什麼想成為嚮光實習生？
J: 2019年夏末興起參與公益組織的念頭，並期勉能投入一段時間。我希望這個組織的耕耘方向是促進不分種族性別宗教物種的平等、愛惜與感恩這片我們所依賴的大地的無私，在尋找的過程中並嘗試加入了植物性飲食的條件，第一個映入眼簾的答案便是嚮光協會。稍加閱覽了嚮光多年來所努力的目標與成果後，我深深地感受到嚮光的願景就是心目中理想未來世界的樣貌，於是二話不說馬上接洽了嚮光。

D: 你覺得嚮光與其他組織有何不同之處？或是嚮光在做的事與其他組織有區別，這有什麼重要的意義？
J: 嚮光非常注重孩子的自主權、發語權，鼓勵孩子們自行著手完成任務，從中培養自信的與人格正面定向，及早為生涯打下堅實的心智基底。透過各類互動性——包含藝術性或音樂舞蹈性的——與反問式教學來建立深刻的學習印象，課程也著重身心理的安全知識、消費與媒體等物質上的正確觀念，並提倡環保愛物惜物、動物友善，提供全方面營養的植物性飲食，讓孩子們了解慈悲與愛的生活方式其實並不難。我想在臺灣能夠囊括這樣廣袤面向的兒少福祉組織，嚮光協會應是唯一且最具代表的了。

D:在參與嚮光培力工作坊的過程中，有什麼有什麼值得紀念的時刻或與孩子們的互動讓您印象深刻?
J:三個溫柔而充滿智慧的時刻：（1）每次孩子自行完成任務充滿成就感的眼神、（2）每次孩子回饋教學成果時令人感動的學習力與判斷力、（3）每次孩子享用自己烹調的餐點臉上浮現的笑容與喜悅。

噢對了還有，才見到第二面的孩子還記得我且有辦法叫出名字真是太令人暖意直升了！我自己還有些羞愧叫不出他們的名字！

D: 是否有因為實習或與孩子互動，改變你未來處理問題或與孩子相處的方式？
J:其實原本我是個不大知道如何與孩子互動的人，可能是因為平時幾乎無與孩子接觸的時間。透過參與嚮光的活動規劃與實地志工，我慢慢抓到了與孩子相處的方式，其中最重要的便是「放下包袱、放下社會約定俗成的既有束縛」，發自內心的交流與擁抱，並向孩子學習用開放的心來檢視世界。這是一種幽微自然而然的轉變過程。我們面對有些事情太嚴肅了，容易把事物複雜化，我們忘記本我真實的力量有多麽強大。

D: 實際在培力營與孩子面對面後，在辦公室的實習的時候心裡是否有不同的轉變呢？
J:我很幸運有機會參與到實地志工與孩子互動的時光，相處會產生回憶，產生情感羈絆。志工剛開始時，備課的對象比較不知道如何拿捏，模板可能只是心裡自以為的、拼湊的樣子，是用自己的角度執行；實際與孩子互動後，你會開始理解孩子接觸新事物的方法與姿態，而愉快且振奮的心靈交流會讓使命感更加堅實，這種非物理的連結具有很大的推進力，我認為不管什麼組織型態或工作內容，這股振奮感皆是極為重要的燃料。

D: 你對孩子們有什麼期望，或是你能夠做什麼？
J:我很希望現在以及未來的所有孩子們，能在最高的熱忱與振奮感之下學習，進行、完成各種任務，漸漸擺脫威權與各式不平等的韁繩，全然地發展自性與愛。在擔任志工的時刻便全心全意投入，在不是志工身份的時刻就盡量參與各種有關未來的設計思考活動，去探討、構思更有包容度的社會樣貌，並且在現實生活中一點一滴地改善鍛造。

歡迎加入我們實習生團隊一起認識孩子！

Joe was one of our first interns in 2019 and has been an integral to our success the past few months. With Joe as part of our team, unselfishly putting in 3 days a week for over 3 months all with passion and a ton of love on everything she does, we have been able to achieve so much with our kids in providing them support, love, and a chance at a brighter future.

Daisy: When did you decide to join Bright Side Projects? What made you interested in becoming an intern？
J: In the late summer of 2019, I was considering a long term stint in a non-profit organization and was hoping to find out that coincided with my beliefs. My wishlist was for an organization that promoted equality, love, and gratitude regardless of one’s race, gender, religion, and species. In the process of researching I also added veganism as one of my requirements and the first result I came across was Bright Side Projects. After more research about their goals and achievements over the years, I felt deeply that Bright Side’s vision for the future correlated with what the ideal world should look like in my mind so I contacted them immediately.

D: What do you think are unique characteristics to Bright Side Projects from other organizations?
J: Bright Side took children’s right for decision-making and freedom of speech very seriously, encouraging them to  complete tasks on their own, cultivating a personality imbued with self-confidence paired with a positive mindset, thereby laying a solid mental foundation for children’s lives at an early age.   The curriculum also focuses on well being in mind and body, analyzes consumerism, media effects and consumption, promotes environmental protection with actionable steps, animal welfare, and accessible nutritional plant.based meals makes it easy for children to understand and integrate compassion and love into their daily lives. I believe Bright Side Projects is the only child welfare organization in Taiwan that seamlessly incorporates such a wide range of topics in its lessons.

D. Any memorable moments in the workshops with the children?
J:There are three things that really have an impact on me! First the way a child’s eyes light up when they finish a task, you can see the sense of pride and accomplishment in their eyes. Second, every time children reports back on what they gained from the workshop or complete the goal at hand, you can visibly see their increased learning ability and critical thinking. Lastly, the expression of joy and the beaming smile on their faces after prepping and cooking, are able to eat the meals that they made for themselves and others. 

I almost forgot – in just my second time meeting the children, they were able to call out my name! I felt embarrassed myself that I had not memorized everyone’s name yet!

D. Has this internship or moments in interacting with children through Bright Side Projects brought about any changes in how you approach issues/kids in the future?
J:I actually didn’t know how to interact with children, probably because there are not many of them around my daily life. Through participating in BSP’s activities by planning and volunteering as a Big Friend, I slowly grasped how to engage with kids. The most important lesson  “break free from the burden and conventional rules established by society” to learning from the children themselves how to look at the world with a more open mind. This was a natural transformation process. In facing matters, sometimes we are too serious or complicate things but forget how powerful we can be if we are true to ourselves.

D: How has it been working in the office as an intern and being able to tie that in with the importance of the work Bright Side does with the children when you see their faces?
J: I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to join in events as a Big Friend to get to know the kids. By being able to interact with them, emotional bonds were formed with lasting friendships and memories. At the beginning of my internship before I met the kids, the lessons and presentations I assisted in preparing for the workshops that were more focused on my perspective but after being with kids, began to understand how to more effectively communicate with them and also how to highlight things that may capture their attention so they would be more interested to learn. Re-learning this connection and understanding is so important, positive, and inspirational, really driving home the importance of the Bright Side Project’s mission. I feel that this should be an integral part of any organization’s or corporation’s goal.

D: What are your hopes for the children or what you can do?
I really wish the kids now and in the future can learn and complete different tasks with enthusiasm and excitement. Through this learning process I hope they also gradually break out of the reins of authority and inequality, fully develop self-confidence and love for themselves and others. When I volunteer I am wholeheartedly devoted and try to participate in various design projects even when I’m not volunteering. I also want to explore ways to build a more inclusive society and instill this into my daily life.

Join us as an intern do come get to know us and kids in person!