Who says that old and young people have nothing to say to each other? Who says that young people don’t know how to interact with older folks?

Fubon Life is debunking the widely held notion that there is an unbridgeable generational communication gap by implementing activities that revitalize the lives of the elderly and impart valuable life experiences for young adults. The goal is to create a better future with the younger and older generations seeing each other as companions and partners in mixed-age projects.

For many years, Fubon Life has pooled corporate and university resources via industry-academia collaboration, bearing in mind the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. These projects are usually devoted to charitable causes in the communities and aim to highlight the spirit of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and university social responsibility (USR).

In 2019, Fubon Life is collaborating with more than 30 universities and colleges across Taiwan on so-called USR deep plough schemes. In the course of the year, nearly 500 Fubon Life volunteers and 1,500 students will participate in some 100 community events, involving senior citizens in various activities such as life writing, free haircuts and health checks, and shared healthy meals.

Fubon Life President Benson Chen notes, “Taiwan has already entered the stage of an aged society. Fubon Life continues to deliver on elderly care and will fulfill its corporate social responsibility to the utmost. USR deep plough projects and many more industry-academia collaborations create a better, more beautiful Taiwanese society by getting diverse strengths involved.”

Companionship: Senior Life Writing to Preserve the Dearest Memories, Creating Intergenerational Bonds

Shen Fang-hsu, assistant professor at the Chinese Literature Department of Providence University in Taichung, has for many years encouraged her students to engage in cross-disciplinary studies through reading and writing.

Upon invitation by Fubon Life, Fubon Life volunteers and Shen’s students began in June of 2019 to launch senior life writing projects in local neighborhoods. The volunteers assist the elderly with life writing, helping them to recollect and describe their fondest memories and unforgettable experiences. In the course of such intergenerational interaction, young and old build an emotional bond.

Shen explains that the activities help university students better understand the needs of the elderly and learn how to provide appropriate companionship. On top of that, they can gather valuable experience learning from the caring assistance and tactful approach of the Fubon Life volunteers.

Joint Fun: Free Haircuts, Health Checks for Vitality in Old Age

Fubon Life is also collaborating with the Department of Finance and Insurance of National Taichung University of Science and Technology, National Changhua University of Education, Chung Chou University of Science and Technology and Hungkuang University on informational and entertaining events for the elderly. Recently students from various departments and nearly 100 Fubon Life volunteers provided free haircuts, health checks and information on long-term care, and engaged in fun activities with nearly 400 senior citizens in a local community.

The organizer of the project, Chien Shu-hua, professor at the Department of Finance and Insurance of National Taichung University of Science and Technology, believes that co-hosting the event with the Fubon Life volunteers allowed students to understand how the company gives back to society through concrete action, which might also help them in planning their own careers and setting personal goals.

Shared Meals: Regaining Youthful Energy Through Healthy Food

In collaboration with Hsuan Chuang University, Fubon Life recently organized an event under the motto Happy Luncheon – Young and Old Eating Together in Hsinchu County. Hsuan Chuang University professor Lee Chieh-keui, the former chef of the Grand Mayfull Hotel Taipei, led the students in cooking up several easy to chew, nutrient-dense dishes for the elderly, using organic ingredients.

More than 50 Hsuan Chuang University students and several dozen Fubon life volunteers cheerfully shared the feast with almost 100 senior citizens from the neighborhood. Some of the participants happily told the Fubon Life volunteers: “The food it particularly delicious when young people eat with us. I eat half a bowl of rice more than usual.”

Fubon Life aspires to bring loving care to every corner of Taiwan. The company promotes bracelets that can track people with dementia, addressing the needs of more than 7,000 families across Taiwan. It also organizes plastic trash collection campaigns, taking real action to clean up the environment and make our lifestyle more sustainable.

Fubon Life hopes to fulfill its corporate social responsibility by acting as a positive, proactive force at the grassroots level through diverse actions to make Taiwan a sharing and inclusive society to ensure well-being for all at all ages.

Translated by Susanne Ganz
Edited by TC Lin, Sharon Tseng
Content sponsored by Fubon Life