By Ariel Wu | International Social Media Manager
Learning Heritage Craft at 64
In a bright corner of the Hualien Vocational Training Center, the rhythmic sound of weaving fills the air. Sitting by the loom is Yi-Mei of the Rukai people, 64, her hands guiding threads with focus. What began as a way to remember her mother has become a powerful new chapter in her life.
Threads of Memory
“The image of my mother sitting at the loom…becomes particularly vivid in my mind when I was learning to weave.” Years ago, Yi-Mei missed her chance to learn the traditional craft from her due to family responsibilities. But now that her kids are grown, she decided to do something for herself and enrolled in The Mustard Seed Mission’s 50+ Empowerment program.
Crafting New Purpose
Founded in 1963, The Mustard Seed Mission’s Hualien Vocational Training Center was a vital hub for providing aboriginal youth with free skill training. In recent years, the center has shifted its mission to meet the needs of Taiwan’s aging society, offering courses rooted in indigenous traditional crafts like loom weaving, rattan work, and sewing. These programs allow participants to preserve cultural heritage while gaining skills for flexible job opportunities.
Yi-Mei started with no experience. She learned to operate a loom, create patterns, and finish products. From there, she took on rattan craft and will be taking a national certification exam soon. With steady encouragement from instructors, she also moved from student to assistant and now teaches others while earning income as part of the center’s “Loom Squad.”
Her pride is tangible. “I used to know nothing. Now I can work and even teach. I’m so thankful for this opportunity,” she said.
Future of Aging
Taiwan is on the cusp of becoming a super-aged society, with one in five people projected to be over 65 by 2025. To prepare for this shift, MSM CEO Jeffrey Li is advocating for a new approach to aging: “If we can start learning 10 years earlier, we can delay long-term care by 10 years.”
The Mustard Seed Mission believes that with the right support and the chance to grow, seniors like Yi-Mei can transform from the stereotype of the helpless into integral participants of the community. Aging doesn’t have to be an endpoint, but a powerful beginning.
The 50+ Empowerment program aims to support older adults like Yi-Mei with senior-friendly skill training, workplace reintegration, and job opportunities. With your support, we can weave a secure network for seniors to thrive in Taiwan, rediscover their strengths, and pass on their wisdom—one thread at a time.
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