我們為何在左鎮工作

路開通了，但人們卻逐漸離開。

左鎮位於台灣的西南側，是個距離台南市區約30公里遠的農村，有著豐富的在地文化和自然景觀。由白堊土構成的惡地為本區最著名的地景，然而，也由於惡地地質，左鎮的居民只能夠種植特定的作物，例如香蕉、芭樂、竹子和香瓜茄等。在1970年發現台灣最早的人類化石之後，人們將左鎮視為歷史古鎮，可是人們仍然年復一年不停遷出。十年前，人們因為日出景點重新注意到左鎮。在台灣其他低海拔山區，從未有日出景緻如左鎮一般美麗。 
Zuojhen is located at south-western Taiwan, it’s the suburban area of Tainan city that 30km far from downtown and full of local culture and natural scenes. Bad-land in pliocene mudstone is one of the most famous scenes in this area. However, because of bad-land, people here are only able to plant special corp, such as banana, guava, baboo and melon pear. Originally, Zuojhen is known as a histocial township that the oldest Taiwan human fossil are founded in 1970s. After that, Zuojhen has kept silent and let people move out year by oear. People started to notice this Zuojhen again 10 years ago for her sunrise. The sunrise scenes in other places of Taiwan never appears in this low altitude. 

這份新港文書是在公舘社區發現，可能是一份土地租賃契約。一般常見的為中新對照，本份文件則全數為新港文，為最特別之處

左鎮的主要的平埔族群是西拉雅族。西拉雅是台灣最大的平地原住民，至少500年前就有在左鎮區域活動的紀錄。17世紀時，荷蘭東印度公司來到台灣，荷蘭牧師為了通商和台灣南部的傳教工作，發明了新港文書（Sinkan Manuscripts）。今天，一些左鎮的居民仍然保留了由新港文書寫成的文件。從18世紀開始，左鎮成為了漢人政權重要的軍事和邊防據點，後續而來的日本人也以同樣的觀點看待此也。在柏油路開通前，左鎮在淺山丘陵地帶扮演了重要的角色，直到1970年代交通便利之後，重要性失去，便轉而成為一個沒落的山區村莊。
The major indigenous group here is Siraya. Siraya, a big group of Taiwanese plains aborigines who have lived in Zuozhen from at least 500 years. In 17th century, Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie came to Taiwan. Netherland preacher developed “Sinkan Manuscripts “ for religion and business affairs with Siraya people and indigenous people in southern Taiwan. Today, some people in Zuojhen still keep some document written by Sinkan Manuscriots. From 18 century, Zuojhen has become an important militarry and boudary spot for Chinese, and then Japanese government. Before drive-way built well, Zuojhen played an important role in the suburban and hill area of Tainan till 1970s.

平和安靜的小聚落，是左鎮一帶常見的風光。然而背後也隱含了社會不正義和資源不均的問題。

因為都市化，在1970年代柏油路通車後，左鎮居民面對了非常嚴峻的挑戰。在一些村莊，比如公舘社區所在地，派出所、衛生和小學都在1990年代停止運作。青年和主要的勞動人口開始往市區外移，只剩下老人和孩童待在社區。如此以降，左鎮面對的最大挑戰之一就是隔代教養和課後面學。因為路程遙遠，左鎮的學童們極度缺乏國際互動的機會，和市區比較起來，這是非常嚴重的學習資源不平等。
Because of urbanization, Zuojhen people face serious challenge after drive-way built in 1970s. In some village, such as Gongguan community, police station, local governmental clinics and elementary school are all withdraw by 1990s. Young adults and mainstream labouring population have started to leave Zuojhen to downtown, only elderly and children left. Thus, one of the biggest challenges here is grandparenting and after-school learning. In addition, because of distance, students in Zuojhen are comparatively lack with opportunities of interaction with international friends. It’s a kind of inequalities on learning resources that compared with downtown students.

在公舘社區，相關社會服務的主要提供者是公舘社區發展協會。從在地經濟發展、老人長照、農產行銷到社區志工服務等，社區協會傾全力進行相關工作。然而，年輕志工在公舘社區仍是相當缺乏，急需協助。如前所述，社區的派出所、衛生室和小學已經停止運作，我們認為現狀正是系統性的資源分配不平等所致。 
In Gongguan community, social service are majorly provided by the Tainan City Gongguan Community Development Association. From local economics development, long-tern elderly care, promotion of corps to local volunteering working, association makes big effort for that. However, it is lack of young volunteers too. Without police station, local governmental clinics and elementary school, we can debate that there is a systematic resource distribution inequalities.

2013年，成功大學開始在科技部的支持下，進行人文創新與社會實踐計畫。作為在地工作夥伴，我們試著將成功大學和左鎮、公舘社區的重要在地頭人結合，建構面對社會正義議題的工作網絡。2017年，中華民國童軍總會也加入了立之個網站，希望透過MOP（童軍和平信使）和SCENES（童軍環境教育中心）這兩個世界童軍總部主推的計畫，和青年及羅浮童軍合作並進行培力，一同加入在左鎮和公舘社區的行動。首先，我們會先建立台灣童軍的工作組織，接著我們會邀請國際童軍加入我們的行動，一同扮演社區老幼生命中的重要他人。 
2013, National Cheng Kung University(NCKU) started to working on a project supported by Minister of Science and Technology. It’s called “Projects for The Humanities Innovation and Social Practice”. As a staff, we try to connect NCKU with important organization and local leaders in Zuojhen and Gongguan community, and make a network to face social justice issues here. 2017, The General Association of the Scouts of China(TGASC) are joining the network. Through MOP and SCENES, we will cooperate for empowering young people and rovers to join the action in Zuojhen and Gongguan community. Firstly, we’ll build the tasking force organized by local scouts and youth. Second, foreign scouts will be invited to join the action force and play important role for elderly and children here in their life.

如果你有意願，請加入我們，一同對抗巨大的挑戰。  
If you want, please join us and fightback the challenge together.