今年的佳欣冬日送暖活動最後一站我們又來到了計畫的原點-清泉部落。從2012年初次舉辦活動至今已經邁入第五年，期間也與無數不同的臉孔相遇。
五年前我們和Paula來部落為孩子們烤素食巧克力杯子蛋糕，現在我們又再一次與Joanna及Rhea一起來純素烤薑餅給孩子吃。與五年前完全不同的孩子們，臉上卻散發出完全相同的溫暖與笑容!
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這次我們也很幸運地與三位新加入的夥伴同行，其中一位並擔任這次的神秘聖誕老公公。孩子們和大朋友一起為有機麵粉及各種材料秤重，調製麵糊，然後為薑餅設計不同形狀。在世界嚴重分岐的當下，能有這樣一群來自不同背景的陌生人聚在一起彼此陪伴學習、享受共同創作的樂趣顯得格外珍貴。
在烤餅乾的香氣中，我們一同享用了”Ooh Cha Cha”所提供的季節食蔬烤咖哩和來自花蓮「友善態度自然農園」的有機白飯。儘管飄著細雨，孩子們依然帶著大朋友們在部落中散步，介紹桃山國小及部落環境。午後Rhea也為我們簡單地上了一堂關於台灣動物福利現況及如何照護狗狗的課。
接著大朋友和孩子們可以選擇不同的狗玩具種類並親自製作要送給台灣瑪莉愛狗協會所收留的狗狗們的禮物。整個過程中最有趣的莫過於「品管」的步驟，孩子們一個個親自測試玩具們是否足夠耐磨並承受大力的啃咬。在來回好幾輪的拔河測試後，我們終於正式生產出由孩子們親自製造、檢驗並認證的狗玩具!
餅乾出爐放涼以後，小廚師們分別為它們畫上糖霜裝飾。許多小朋友在工作坊進行時便忍不住先享用一塊餅乾，然後再把其他餅乾帶回去和家人朋友一同分享。對大家來說，這一天是迎接新年最美好的開端!
有時會遇見一些人讓我不斷反思進步，他們相信和孩子互動只需要提供他們最基本的飲食和足以應付考試的課程，卻對兩者的品質都毫無要求，忽略了孩子們精神上的滋養和社群建立的重要性。
我希望我們能一同繼續走上這段旅程，並且在2017年很快再在嚮光的計畫中與你們相見!
課程當天的蔬食午餐由 [OOH CHA CHA] [友善態度自然農園]「直接向農夫買」贊助提供。
嚮光協會的活動除了希望能帶給孩子們新體驗及與人互動的機會外，也持續積極導入環境保護、動物福利等議題及多元包容的價值觀。協會提供給孩子們的是現煮的蔬食餐點和數小時一同歡笑學習的短暫時光。面對初見面的人我們都能大方展現同理心並且彼此扶持，這項工作卻也需要長期不間斷的耕耘與承諾。
沒有你們的支持我們將無法繼續向前走下去，請與我們一同持續贊助嚮光的計畫。每月只要捐助新台幣500元便能為孩子提供一餐熱騰騰的健康蔬食，1000元則可以協助舉辦一堂滋養心靈的創意教學工作坊。
老師 Teacher：Joanna Chou / Rhea Chou
攝影師 Photographer：Daisy Lin
大朋友 Big Friends：Elva Wang,張麗華, 邱郁婷,吳靜婷,周文和, Rufen Cheng
贊助者 Sponsors: 佳欣及贊助者Jia-Xin and Supporters, Rachel Huang 黃子娟, Hiro Liao, 廖國宏 , 直接跟農夫買, 蕭賀韶, Yu Tsai Bilingual Elementary School 新北市私立育才雙語小學, Kevin Dam, 蕭絜, 潘怡安, 潘俊光, 鍾貴真, 傢式國際股份有限公司, Tina Chen, Soda Su, Sabrina Sutherland, Jennifer Yi, Lily Lin, 范家瑋, Jenna Cody Lynn, Lili Lin， 葛馬可 Marco Julian Grishaber
特別感謝 Special Thanks: Paula Perry, Ooh Cha Cha, 直接跟農夫買, 友善態度自然農園, Mary’s Doggies
更多照片 More Pictures: https://goo.gl/143cJI
您也可以贊助孩子，贊助我們！SUPPORT US! https://brightside.tw/donate/
We wrapped up the Jia-XIn solstice activities where we first began it in 2012 – in ChingChuan. It’s amazing the different faces we’ve seen now that it’s our fifth year here.
Five years ago we made plant-based chocolate cupcakes with Paula and we are back again creating vegan gingerbread cookies with Joanna and Rhea. The faces of the children are all different but the warmth radiating from their smiles and infectious laughter was the same!
We were so lucky to have three new friends make the journey this time, one of them our Secret Santa. As the kids and Big Friends, measured organic flour and ingredients, prepped the dough, decided on the shape of their gingerbread cookies, it seemed important that in a world that’s so divided today strangers of different backgrounds could enjoy each other company to learn and create something – together.
While we were treated to the wonderful scents of the cookies baking, we enjoyed a delicious plant-based lunch of OOCH’s Roasted Veggie Curry paired with organic local rice from HFH. Despite the light rain, kids took Big Friends on a walk introducing their neighborhood and TaoShan Elementary School. The last half of the day Rhea lead us on a mini course about understanding animal welfare in Taiwan and how to approach doggies.
Big Friends and Kids had options of the types of puppy chew toys gifts they would make and donate to stray animals that are currently under the care of Mary’s Doggies. The funnest part of the day came during our “quality control” testing with kids making sure the toys would stand the test of time and canine teeth. After many “tests” of tug-of-war, these toys are verified “Kid-Made, Kid-Tested, and Kid-Approved”!
The cookies came fresh out of the oven and after cooling could be decorated as the creators saw fit. Many opted to enjoy one during the workshop and were able to bring back the remainder to share with their family and friends. What an amazing day and a great start to start the year!
It always makes me think when i come across people who believe interaction with children should simply comprise of sufficient education to take pass exams and basic food necessities – with no stress on the quality of either. What is left out is the nurturance of the soul and the importance of the community.
I hope that we can all continue on this journey together and look forward to seeing you at Bright Side Projects in 2017! Our plant-based lunch today was sponsored by Ooh Cha Cha, HuaLien Friendly Farm, and Buy Direct From Farmers!
Bright Side activities not only strive to bring a new experience to kids and engagement between people but also focus on issues such as environmentalism, animal welfare, diversity, and tolerance. It provides a plant-based hot meal and a few hours reprieve where people learn and create smiles on each others faces. We can be compassionate towards people we just met and we can support each other. This needs to be a long term commitment.
Only through your support can we continue to move forward, please consider donating to Bright Side Projects. Your generous support of just $500 NT a month provides a hot plant-based meal for child, $1000 NT goes to funding an educational creative workshop that nurtures the mind and soul.
