文|蔗青文化工作室 洪崇銘
The Zhongneng Offshore Wind Farm is a joint project developed by China Steel Corporation and Denmark’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) located off the coast of Changhua. To promote shared prosperity and sustainability with the six coastal townships of Changhua, the project established the “Zhongneng Coastal Sustainable Development Fund – Changhua Coastal Township Special Fund.” Among the initiatives supported by this fund is the “Wind Momentum– Wind Leadership Initiative: Changhua Coastal Township Elementary Renewable Energy and Science Summer Camp,” which has now entered its second year. This article, through an interview with Principal Tseng Ya-Ying of Houliao Elementary School in Fangyuan Township, explores not only the design and planning of the summer camp but also the evolving vision for education in Changhua’s coastal townships.
Characterized by vast lands and sparse populations, Changhua’s coastal region has long been regarded as an area with limited access to educational resources. Nonetheless, the rise of green energy technologies in recent years has presented an opportunity for change. The launch of the “Wind Momentum– Wind Leadership Initiative” by Zhongneng Offshore Wind Farm has brought a new perspective on education for local children. With the continued efforts of numerous educators, the region’s educational landscape is undergoing a gradual transformation.






Education Is A Battle Against Poverty and Cultural Disadvantage
Houliao Elementary School, located in the remote village of Houliao in Fangyuan Township, lacks geographic advantages. Yet Principal Tseng Ya-Ying believes that the more a place lacks resources, the greater the need to connect with the community and external resources to give rural children the opportunity to see the world. She explained, “Given the remoteness of our school, children often have nowhere to go during summer break. Unlike children in urban areas who attend after-school programs or participate in numerous camps, we have to apply for summer learning programs from the Ministry of Education or seek funding ourselves to organize activities. At that time, I remembered that CIP was highly concerned with education in the six coastal townships, and I thought this could be an opportunity.”
This motivation prompted Principal Tseng to actively reach out to CIP, exploring ways to establish educational programs related to green energy and create better learning opportunities for her students. After multiple discussions and site visits, the initiative was built upon Houliao Elementary’s previous success with a green energy curriculum developed through Google’s community service program. This curriculum introduced wind turbines, solar panels, and a green energy-powered STEAM classroom. It eventually evolved into a comprehensive STREAM program, integrating Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. While broadening students’ learning horizons, it also led to the establishment of the renewable energy summer camp.
Principal Tseng believes that as long as children’s needs are prioritized, it becomes clear how to engage the community and access resources. Parents, in turn, will see the school as a place that nurtures their children and will encourage participation. To her, education is a battle against poverty and cultural disadvantage. Her proactive approach has not only opened new educational pathways for her students but also marked a transformative chapter in her own educational journey.


Inter-School Collaboration, Fostering a Positive Competitive Educational Environment
Principal Tseng Ya-Ying initially aimed to secure resources solely for the schools in Fangyuan Township. However, with the support of the Zhongneng Offshore Wind Farm initiative, the program expanded to cover all coastal townships. In its first year, four summer camps were held, and by the second year, it grew to five programs across Xingang Elementary School in Shengang Township, Dingfan Elementary School in Lukang Township, Xishi Elementary School in Fuxing Township, Houliao Elementary School in Fangyuan Township, and Dacheng Elementary School in Dacheng Township’s Experiential Learning Center. In addition to benefiting more students, this cross-school collaboration has driven each school to develop unique curricula reflecting its local culture and educational strengths.
Under the current camp framework, participation is limited to schools in the six coastal townships, with a focus on delivering refined, in-depth instruction. Teachers from participating schools continue to further develop their STREAM curriculum, which integrates practical skills like solar-powered car projects, bionic animal models, and Bluetooth speaker workshops, alongside readings such as The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind and One Earth. These activities aim to instill a profound understanding of environmental sustainability while balancing technological knowledge with humanities education. The goal is to equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to address real-life challenges, fostering both cognitive growth and positive behavioral change through hands-on learning.
“We expect more schools to join the initiative. As we’ve discussed among ourselves, there were initial doubts about student recruitment among neighboring schools, but I’ve noticed a positive shift. When students return from the camps and share their experiences, it prompts schools to reflect on how they can create their own specialized curricula. This healthy competition is driving positive change,” Tseng remarked.

Resource Investment and Value Expansion
The flexible allocation of resources in the program has given participating teachers greater freedom to develop courses without the constraints of rigid guidelines. It allows them to focus on integrating green energy concepts into their teaching, helping students understand scientific principles and energy operations through hands-on activities. Feedback from students has revealed that the impact extends beyond knowledge acquisition. It also influences their behavior and shapes their vision for the future.
Principal Tseng Ya-Ying emphasized that these courses were more than just to keep children occupied during the summer. In fact, the goal was to inspire them to think about their futures. By introducing concepts of science and green energy at a formative stage, students are educated in the knowledge while developing soft skills in subjects like art and literature, which will be essential in the future. This broader exposure opens up greater career possibilities for them as well.
“Wind Momentum – Wind Leadership Initiative” summer camp has created lasting value that extends well beyond the days of the camp itself. It reflects the three core principles of Taiwan’s 2019 Curriculum Guidelines: self-directed learning, interaction, and shared benefits. Tseng further explained, “Shared benefits refer to the ability to collaborate. When one school excels in a particular area and can inspire others, the overall quality of education across the entire township improves.” This positive influence has not only spread across schools but also reached nearby communities with its impact amplified.

When Children Become the Wind, They Generate Their Own Energy
Initially, parents had modest expectations for the summer camp, simply hoping their children would have an educational and enjoyable summer break. However, as they witnessed the hands-on projects their children brought home and learned more about the camp through media coverage, their perception shifted. They began to recognize the school’s educational efforts as highly valuable. It is evident to the parents that their children weren’t just learning theoretical knowledge but were also introduced to cutting-edge renewable energy technologies. This strengthens students’ competitiveness and challenges the stereotype of limited educational resources in Changhua’s coastal areas.
Principal Tseng firmly believes, “A remote township is defined by geographic concepts. If we place the city at the center, then coastal regions will always be seen as remote. But if we can elevate the educational capacity here, the importance of geography diminishes.” In the past, living at the mercy of strong winds symbolized hardship for coastal residents. Yet today, the wind has become a source of energy, powering turbines that supply clean electricity. Children raised in this environment, if perceived merely as passive recipients like wood or concrete, would remain unaffected no matter how strong the wind blows. However, if children themselves can become the wind, they will generate their own energy, transforming past limitations into strengths and opportunities.
“There’s no doubt that taking action is harder than inaction. But action always makes a difference,” shared the educators actively engaged in the program. Inspiring students to imagine their futures is ultimately more important than anything else. The true purpose of education is to transform behavior and thinking. Tseng hopes that, in the long run, students will choose to stay in their hometowns not out of necessity but because they have a vision and the desire to create change in their communities. This is an entirely different motivation.
Looking forward, she believes that such courses should not be limited to summer camps but should become an integral part of the regular education system, consistently providing children with exposure to science, humanities, and creative thinking throughout their schooling. As students develop a deeper understanding of global trends, they will be better equipped to find their place in society and help transform Changhua’s coastal communities. The true value of education lies not only in the transmission of knowledge but in empowering students with the ability to change their lives—an ideal that the “Wind Momentum – Wind Leadership Initiative” program wholeheartedly strives to achieve.
