Under the supervision of Prof. Li Yen-Hsi, students Li Hsin-Hsuan, Cheng Kuei-Ling, Tsai Chia-Wei, and Chu Pei-Shan participated in the 14th “Rural Revitalization Competition for College Students” organized by the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture, with the project titled “Shigui Community Tobacco Barn (Yen-Lou), Dounan Township, Yunlin County.” The team was granted several months of funding for on-site residency and was awarded the “Stone Polishing Award” and the “Rural Revitalization Spirit Award”.

From September 14 to September 15, 2024, the final presentation and award ceremony of the competition were held at the Taipei Music Center. Our students showcased the outcomes of their residency, explaining their process and achievements to visitors, and received praise from Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim. The residency project “Shigui Yen-Lou” aimed to preserve and extend the lifespan of the historic tobacco barns in Shigui, Dounan, while organizing community activities to collect local stories and collaborating with local craftsmen to repair the structures. In terms of activities, the team utilized local bamboo shoot waste to produce handmade paper for experiential workshops. They also designed aroma products incorporating elements of the tobacco barns using bamboo shoot waste and created local story booklets. Through these efforts, the project revitalized the tobacco barns and contributed to sustainable community development.