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Kang Chiao International School (2014 CyberFair Project ID 7779)
Taiwan,
New Taipei City
Official Status:
Final Project: Ready for Judging
Teacher:
Category: 2. Community Groups and Special Populations
We estimate 18 student(s) from 15 to 18 will work on this entry.
Description of Our Community: Hou Tong is located in Rui Fang, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Before Hou Tong turned into the Cat Village, it was a deserted mining town; it was also an important intersection for the Northern railways. In addition, an essential silver and copper mining site was founded in the steep and dangerous mountain terrain. Unfortunately, due to the shift in the economy, Hou Tong became a hollow shell. Recently the New Taipei City government's tourism association has transformed this abandoned and lifeless shell into a vivid, blossoming town. Although the reputation of the Cat Village was built up, problems and issues floated up as well. Worst of all, mass abandonment of cats occurred frequently. This action caused the local residents to spend most of their spare time on saving stray cats. In response to this action, the warm-hearted locals and volunteers created this non-profit group to help out; it is known as the Independent Association of Cat Volunteers. However, numerous amount ot stray cats and inhumane acts including violent abuse on cats, still happen. Thus, the hearts of selfless local residents and volunteers are to work harder and transfer the love from untouchable sparks into waves and waves of actions of kindness into helping the Cat Village to keep a good name and positive reputation.
Project Description: Houtong, a traditional Taiwan town, originally Rui-Fang and Jiu-Fen's major output for copper and coal mining during the reign of the Japan. As the amount of mine decreased and the emigration of townspeople, Houtong has declined since the 1970's. During the late 1990's, the government advocated tourism in Houtong, which accidentally raised a great fervor of “cat-watching”, leading to the popularity of Cat Village. Therefore, this small town filled with stray cats that once belongs to the miners have received attention from the society and became lively. Until now, HouTong Cat Village has been selected by CNN as one of the World's Six Greatest “Cat-Watching” sites, becoming an alternative Pride of Taiwan. However, as Houtong gradually becomes famous, the situation of people abandoning cats has become more often, causing massive problems related to recycle, sanitation, and humane. Though in the early period there were support from the locals and warm-hearted volunteers, but after all they weren't capable of long-term care. After a few passionate volunteers have worked hard for nothing in return, an independent humane rescue organizations, the HouTong Cat Village Independent Volunteer Association, has been established. The purpose of the association is to protect the local cats' basic living rights, to provide better health care and the midway caregiver in order for them to be adopted, and at the same time to combine the abilities of the local residents to prevent cats from being abandoned furthermore. When we found out about the information of this association, we were interested and curious about it. Therefore, we would like to investigate this group that consists of passionate and hard-working volunteers through academic research and study, and the various methods to improve cats' living environment in Houtong. At the same time, we can thoroughly understand HouTong Cat Village's recent situations and realistic rescue plan and preventions.