● Western China Story Program

Town & Talent Technologies founder Mr.Sayling Wen dedicated significant energy and resources toward promoting the healthy development of China’s western region. Treating the region’s schools as critical hubs, he developed network systems and assisted students to use technology to communicate with the outside world as well as to introduce the world to western China’s local culture and folk traditions.

After more than a decade, over 900 charitably motivated individuals and corporate entities have joined the Wen’s family of businesses in this worthy endeavor. Using modern Internet technology, donors can communicate directly with student beneficiaries and show their interest in student development and academic progress. As of the close of 2016, the Western China Student Scholarship Program has provided assistance to over 200 schools and nearly 40,000 students.

● West China Story – Original writing Competition

Starting in September 2016, the project began calling for student submissions of their stories under the framework of the West China Story – Original Writing Competition. A panel of judges reads and reviews the submissions, with the best student entries earning platinum, gold, silver, and bronze medals as well as cash awards. Over 3,000 student entries are expected to join the 2017 competition, giving participants a fair and open platform on which to compete, share ideas, spotlight individual talents and local characteristics, and earn worldwide attention.

● International Schools CyberFair

The International Schools CyberFair, organized by Global SchoolNET (GSN), is a project sponsored by a U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant. Over 20 International Schools CyberFairs have been held since 1995.

International CyberFair, now in its 23rd year, is an award-winning, authentic learning program used by schools and youth organizations around the world. Students conduct research about their local communities and use digital media to publish their findings online. Recognition is given to the best projects in each of eight categories: local leaders, businesses, community organizations, historical landmarks, environment, music, art, and local specialties.

This White House endorsed program encourages youth to become ambassadors for their own local communities by working collaboratively with community members and using technology tools to publish a website or create a video that displays what they have learned. The annual contest has involved more than 5 million students from 45,500 schools across 115 countries—and is considered the longest running international online event of its kind.

Competition judging also takes place online. Students evaluate each others projects using a web-based evaluation tool (rubric) designed by Global SchoolNet. The top forty entries are reviewed by international judges to determine the best educational projects. Winners of International CyberFair are announced each Spring at a event that is global in itself, with hundreds of schools participating via Internet.

Town & Talent Technologies (and, afterward, Talent and Story Technologies) Co., Ltd. has regularly organized the participation of member schools in western China in the CyberFair since September 2005. This has substantively enhanced students’ web-design capabilities and bridged western Chinese schools to the world.

As of 2016, over 50 schools in western China have earned a total of 24 platinum, 68 gold, 156 silver, and 97 special mention awards.

● Exchange & Training Program

Long-running, substantive development work in western China has facilitated the creation of a safe and highly effective mechanism of exchange between outside charitable organizations, local schoolteachers and students. The Town &Talent / Talent & Story Co., Ltd. has implemented exchange & training activities that have addressed a myriad of issues such as holding summer camps, finding and placing much-needed teachers in schools, and creating linkages with the outside world. As of 2016, 355 summer camps, exchange visits, and other activities have been held at 158 schools.

          Case 1:Summer Education Boost: Eden Social Welfare Foundation VS Xidatan Secondary School

In 2007, the Taiwan-based Eden Social Welfare Foundation organized 105 volunteers to serve as summertime instructors in four groups at Gansu’s Xidatan Secondary School, bringing donations from friends across Taiwan.

      Case 2: Visiting Educator Program: Hualien Sunny Young Youth Center @ Member Schools
                    in Qinghai Province

Since 2005, the Hualien Sunny Young Youth Center has regularly visited member schools and student families in Qinghai Province, China during the summer vacation period. This not only sustains and expands relations between Hualien County and Qinghai but also gives countless opportunities for mutual learning and exchange.

     Case 3: English summer camp: Professional Educational Services International @ Pingle Secondary
                  School in Sichuan

Sixteen delegates from Professional Educational Services International (PESI) arrived at Pingle Secondary School in Sichuan Province, China on July 14th, 2014, raising the curtain on a one-week English summer camp at the school.

      Case 4: English summer camp: University System of Taiwan @ Lanzhou 18th Middle School

Between July 22nd and 31st, 2014, 16 University System of Taiwan (UST) teachers and students conducted a 10-day English summer camp activity at the 18th Municipal Secondary School in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, China.

       Case 5: Northwest Love: Taiwan’s Shuinan Christian Foundation @ Qingshuiyi Secondary School,
                    Yuzhong County, Gansu Province

With the assistance of Town & Talent Technologies, the Shuinan Christian Foundation organized “Northwest Love” summer camp activities for rural youth from 2013 to 2016. In 2016, nine volunteers conducted these activities at Qingshuiyi Secondary School, with over 50 youth attending.