Novatek Volunteers Accompany Visually Impaired Students on a Traditional Papermaking and Silk Screen Printing Experience
Volunteer Service
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Volunteer/Chan Xiao Lan
Amidst slightly chilly weather without rain, our group traversed narrow paths to reach Qionglin's Paper Hut, a place steeped in the tradition of papermaking. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the terrain within the hut is home to the Liu family lineage, featuring mountains, water, and the ancient Wenlin Trail. In the morning, we got hands-on experience with traditional papermaking. Using bamboo-made paper pulp, we first stirred it by hand for a while, then carefully placed and lifted it with a specially made paper screen. Though this step seemed simple, many adults fumbled and repeated the process multiple times! The papermaking experts chuckled beside them. It made people think of the saying, "Every profession has its master."
While waiting for the paper pulp to dry, the experts explained the traditional papermaking process to us – from turning the pulp into usable paper, sourcing water, to crafting the tools, all were made possible with natural materials and the help of oxen, showcasing the wisdom of our ancestors.
In the afternoon, we learned how to saw bamboo to make children’s toys – bamboo cicadas. Tying the cut bamboo with nylon ropes to make it spin, it emitted a sound similar to a cicada's chirp, so lifelike and echoing as if we were in the midst of a forest... The strong, sweet aroma of red beans finally awakened everyone, bowl after bowl warming us from the inside out. On the way back, I pondered: No wonder the activities organized by the foundation always mesmerize me, each journey transporting me to another universe, broadening my horizons, and recharging me with a hundred thousand volts of energy!
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