Families with children visiting relatives or just heading to warmer climes in the south can enjoy special events and exhibits for children at the National Museum of Taiwan History in Greater Tainan.
The museum’s “Kids Having Fun for Lunar New Year” program is to run from this weekend through Tuesday.
“We have six giant cartoon mascots ready to greet children coming to the museum during the Lunar New Year holidays. The kids will love hanging around with these friendly mascots, which are great for taking pictures with,” said Wei Ya-ping (魏雅蘋), one of the organizers.
The six mascots represent this country’s unique animal species and ethnic groups, each with their own personality and costume design, Wei said.
“The six mascots will become permanent partners at the museum. They will join in games, accompany kids to explore Taiwan’s history and act as guides to the museum’s exhibits,” she added.
In addition to a story-telling session in which children can learn about the legends and history behind Lunar New Year traditions and rituals, there are also games and do-it-yourself activities in which children can learn origami and paper-cutting in the museum’s Children’s Hall.
As part of an educational program, the Egret Culture and Education Foundation has been working with the museum to fulfill dreams for underprivileged children and students from the nation’s rural areas and those from offshore islands.
Under the project known as “Museum for Everyone,” the charity foundation has sent nearly 3,500 children from disadvantaged backgrounds on trips lasting from one day to three days to visit the museum, as well as take historic and ecological tours around southern Taiwan.
Egret Culture and Education Foundation chairwoman Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀), a former National Cultural Association secretary-general, said that in the past, people did not know much about Taiwan’s culture and history and that it is time to change this.
“Everyone living in this land of ours, including kids, should get to know our country better. The project is specifically aimed at kids who otherwise would not have the chance to learn and participate in these educational museum programs,” she said.
The project began last year and is set to continue in the coming years.
It is funded by government agencies, individual donors and companies such as the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp, which provided tickets allowing many children to travel on the high-speed rail for the first time in their lives.
More information is available on the museum’s Web site, www.nmth.gov.tw.
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