Introduction of The Peitou Culture Foundation,2008

1.To preserve community culture resources.
2.To expand education in culture and learning growth.
3.To create a space for an exquisite culture in life.
4.To make arts become an ingredient in life and bring more arts to life.
5.To sponsor any public welfare activities which conform to the principles of the Foundation.

I.Its genesis and purposes
In 1995,“the Beitou Public Hotspring Bathhouse” was founded by a primary school teacher while leading students doing investigation of local natural resources. In order to rescue the historical building which was part of the culture of Beitou, the teachers and students made every effort they could, by writing letters to the authorities and arousing the attention of the community. Some non-governmental organizations were set up and promoted the same issue.
Finally, the Public Hotspring Bathhouse was appointed and remodeled into the “Beitou Hotspring Museum”. Since then, the sense of community and environmental protection has been getting stronger and stronger. Many residents have established different non-governmental organizations. Such was the Beitou Culture Foundation, founded on April 27th, 2000. For the purposes of homeland-loving, keeping and promoting culture, implementing ecological reserves, and contributing every effort for Beitou District.

II.The Direction of the task
The Beitou Culture Foundation has been trying hard to play the role of platform of the community, to offer the community every opportunity that challenge and development bring, to face plural topics with the spirit and strategy of building the community overall. The following are some of our achievements and future expectations:

A. Industry Development
1.Hot Spring
To promote domestic economy with local features and culture, besides bathing in hot springs, we seek to provide more multi-functioned and excellent quality services of tourism combining many relevant fields of business owners. We seek to investigate the natural resources of Beitou District, train the local tour guides and reorganize the hot spring business owners to promote the Beitou hot springs as a professional unique culture.
2.The Monopoly of Beitou
We have created a game for students, sponsored by Xin-Yi Real-estate Company. Instead of the typical monopoly commercial competition type games, the students could learn by playing how to protect and maintain the culture, history and ecology of Beitou District.
Let the students realize the importance of guarding their homeland and natural resource reserves.

B.Medical Health System
1.Community Medical Treatment Group
Starting from “Family Doctors of The Neighbourhood” to coordinate 42 doctors of Shilin, Yangmingshan, Yuanshan, Luzhou, ShihPai and Beitou Community Medical Treatment Groups, with cooperation of Zhen-xing Hospital, to join the Project of Coordinating Family Doctors’ Treatment under National Health Insurance. To offer people a better quality of medical treatment and set up a community health promotion system.
2.Daily Life Caring and Attending on the Elderly
The Foundation cooperates with some charity organizations, medical units and community development committees to offer care in the daily lives of the elderly by delivering meals, regular visiting, routine health examinations and nutrition assessing.

C.Education Programs for Life-time Learning
1.Community College of Beitou District
In 2003, the Foundation was sponsored by the Department of Education of Taipei City Government to open a community college offering adults an extra opportunity to learn for life, thereby increasing the participation of people in public events and strengthening connections to the community.
2.Sponsorship for Study Programs
To encourage research, the Beitou District stipulated the award of sponsorship to any study program of either the humanities or the natural sciences. This seeks to implement local research, promote the development of the District, and furthermore, let everybody understand Beitou District.

D.Environmental Ecology Protections
1.Disaster Prevention and Provision of The Community
We seek to enhance the residents’ sense of basic security concepts by posting security maps and holding forums on disaster prevention, coordinating relevant groups and security and rescue systems to arrange activities on disaster prevention in Beitou District. And assist the police and the fire services to rescue victims.
2.River Defences
We have signed a statement by 16 representatives of NPO of Dan-Shui River. Many Foundations, Community Colleges and community groups in the District, have formed a network system to establish the defence alliance of the Dan-Shui River to encourage, consult and share with each other and defend the Dan-Shui River. Each member of the Alliance is Family.
E.Public Issues: The Citizens are Participating and Taking Action
In 2004, under the instructions of the Institute of Sociology, NTU, the Foundation and the Community College hosted the Consensus Conference together. There were 4 different issues as follows:
1.Should The Beitou Hotspring Museum Be Closed?
2.Renew Beitou Old Town.
3.Tax Reformation.
4.Restore The Beitou Stream.
We expect the citizens to solve their problems, whichever are concerns for the whole community, by holding a public forum to reach the understanding conclusions of every resident.

F.Form An Alliance, Grow Up Together
The Foundation contacted 42 communities and set up the Chairman Union of Community Development Committee in Beitou District. To form the alliance focusing on exchanging platforms and helping each other. Those issues involved in community development include:
1.To build a healthy community;
2.To take care the weak of the community;
3.To deliver meals to the elderly;
5.To purchase together;
6.To maintain the local culture and history;
7.To renew and green the environment;
8.To train local tour guides and organize community patrols, etc.

III.Prospects In The Future
In 2001, the Beitou Culture Foundation, based on the residents’ emotions and dreams of homeland, started to have the idea of a Community Charter. Through lots of discussion and gathered understanding of locals, the committee and executive team workers were found and also stipulated the Community Charter of Beitou District.
“The Ten-year Project of the Charter of Beitou “, to practice the ideas of the Charter by themed activities, citizens’ participation, publishing articles and cooperating celebration ceremonies with government. We look forward to gaining 10 thousand people's approval and participation within 10 years.
“The Community Charter” as the head of people, is our goal in the future. “The community builds overall”-training people to promote the idea- could be the work of people. Having 2 hands, one to offer health systems to the District, another to take part in environmental reserve activities and promote art industries.
By way of forming alliance, we will grow up together to build a well-developed community. To build a good healthy homeland is to set up the Beitou District complete health system. That is the most important task we are facing now.

The Peitou Culture Foundation
Address:
45-1,Chung-yang South Road, Section 1,Peitou, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel：（02）2891-7453
Fax：（02）2896-2660
e-mail：ptcfmail@ms56.hinet.net
http：//www.ptcf.org.tw