In response to the urgent need for manpower to help clean up Hualien’s Guangfu Township after recent disasters, the Taiwan Tech Student Association and the EDBA/EMBA Alumni Association organized volunteer initiatives during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday (October 4). A total of 60 students and 34 EMBA alumni traveled to Guangfu to assist in the cleanup efforts, with several students choosing to stay the following day to continue removing mud and debris. During the operation, the Taiwan Tech Alumni Association and partner companies also generously provided financial and material support, demonstrating the strong unity and social commitment of the “Taiwan Tech family.”

Group photo of the Taiwan Tech Student Association members at the station before departure.

Hung-Ming Cheng, a second-year master’s student at the Taiwan Tech Graduate Institute of Energy and president of the Student Association, said that although students’ abilities are limited, being able to take part in person made this experience the most genuine and profound lesson in social engagement. He noted that the mud and damage on site were far more severe than expected and expressed gratitude to every student who set aside their studies to help with the cleanup. He added that the success of this effort was made possible by everyone’s trust and support.

Taiwan Tech students removing mud and debris.

Wang Kai-Jui Wu, a sophomore from Taiwan Tech’s Department of Applied Foreign Languages, recalled, “One person’s strength really feels so small. The mud mixed with water was incredibly heavy, and the walk from the train station to the street we were helping on felt so long. But strangely, even someone like me who always likes to complain didn’t have a single word of complaint.” His sincere words reflect the courage and maturity of young people when facing social responsibility.

Group photo of Taiwan Tech EMBA alumni before setting out.

In addition to the Student Association, Taiwan Tech EMBA alumni also demonstrated their entrepreneurial spirit through action. Chief coordinator  Mu-Ling Wang said that after seeing news of the disaster area on the night of September 30, she couldn’t calm down or sleep, so she decided to initiate a relief effort. After the announcement was made on October 1, all volunteer slots were filled within 24 hours - a testament to the passion and responsiveness of Taiwan Tech alumni.

EMBA alumna  Yi-Fei Wang described the disaster zone in Hualien as being defined by one overwhelming color - gray: clouds of dust, thick mud everywhere, bare homes stripped to their frames, and streets filled with heavy machinery alongside soldiers and civilian volunteers working tirelessly. “Even with so many people, there was still endless mud to clear,” she said. “On one side, people were shoveling mud; around the corner, disaster victims were using the same shovels to cook large pots of hot food. With blue shovels, dried mud, swirling dust, and chili soy sauce, everyone just ate together - that was the truest taste of the disaster area.”

Taiwan Tech EMBA alumni heading to their assigned cleanup sites.

Yu-Wen Wu, Chairperson of the Taiwan Tech Alumni Association, expressed deep admiration for everyone who voluntarily went to the disaster area during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday to help. “This was more than just a volunteer effort - it truly embodied the Taiwan Tech spirit of ‘applying professional skills through action and giving back to society through expertise.’”

As the road to recovery and reconstruction continues, Student Association President Hung-Ming Cheng reminded students traveling to Hualien on their own to stay mindful of their safety and health. “Only by taking care of ourselves can we sustain our strength,” he said. This volunteer mission not only spread Taiwan Tech’s compassion throughout the disaster zone but also left behind a lasting mark of warmth and strength - a testament to the spirit of “illuminating the world through action.”