Carpentry teacher sets up Hualien studio to create job opportunities

Turning now to Hualien, and a teacher with a mission to support young people. Carpentry teacher Wang Chia-na moved to a remote town in Hualien more than two decades ago. He wanted to bring fresh skills into an area where many young people face poverty and lack opportunities. Now he’s set up a carpentry studio where he can employ his best students. His pupils say he’s great at building up their confidence in the demanding work.

Earmuffs on, Wang Chia-na cuts into this piece of wood with total concentration. He’s making a beautiful set of solid wood furniture. Young people are also hard at work in the studio.

The students are delighted to show off their creations, filling Wang with pride. He’s been teaching woodworking for more than 20 years, and now is trying to use the skill to help young people in this rural spot.

Wang Chia-na
Carpentry teacher
When I was in my second year at the school, more or less, I realized that our Indigenous kids had a talent for artistic creativity in their blood. So I thought, maybe we can learn by doing it, to bring out the kids’ motivation to learn.

In high school, Wang’s abilities won him a gold prize at the Taiwan Skills Competition. And as a student at National Taipei University of Technology, he won gold in both the furniture construction and carpentry rounds at the World Skills Competition. He had a well-paid job at the time, but after a chance meeting, returned to his hometown of Yuli in Hualien, to become a schoolteacher.

Wang Chia-na
Woodworking teacher
I went there for an internship, and I saw the state of education nowadays, and the children, and the situation of their families. And I thought, actually I have a sense of purpose. I want to stay here and spend more time with these children.

Liu Chia-chien
Woodworking student
He suddenly approached me and said, “Chia-chien, do you want to try the carpentry class?” His teaching style makes it easy for students to have a sense of accomplishment.

In 2021, Wang retired from teaching early to set up this carpentry studio, giving these young people work opportunities.

Wang Chia-na
Woodworking teacher
When I look back on the last 25 years, and how I wasn’t really able to help these children our of their predicament, I think perhaps it was because there are no industries here. So I’ve started this up to give it a try.

Many students have found their lives changed positively through Wang’s carpentry class. Now that he’s even helping them get on their feet as professional carpenters, he hopes to see them thrive even more.