In the coastal village of Zhongmen on Pingtan Island, the sound of children reading and the delicate notes of harp drift from an unlikely place. This is not a formal school but a community welfare project founded by Yuan Qingyang, who moved from Taipei to this small fishing village. She came to use her skills where they were needed in a place that symbolizes cross-Straits integration, being the closest part of the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan.

Yuan first visited the Chinese mainland as a child in 2006. "I came with my father to see the vibrant life in the streets and the beautiful scenery," she recalled, her eyes warm with the memory. Last year, a rural development opportunity brought her to Pingtan. Despite uncertainties, the natural beauty convinced her to stay. "When I saw Zhongmen with its blue seas, green mountains, and stone houses, I knew this was where I wanted to be," Yuan said.

Integrating into the village presented challenges, primarily the language barrier with older residents. Yuan's approach was simple: "First, make friends. Among friends, what words truly need explaining?" She started by greeting everyone on her morning runs, accepting gifts of cilantro from village grandmas, and volunteering to document over 200 village fishing boats—a task that took her five days. 

She soon noticed that many local children, often cared for by grandparents, lacked after-school engagement. One child in particular, who spent afternoons sitting alone on a rock, inspired her to act. "I asked if she wanted to learn to draw. Her eyes lit up, but then she looked down and said, 'Grandma needs me to look after my brother at home,'" Yuan recounted. "I can't change their family situation, but I could at least create a place for them to feel loved and learn."

In the summer of 2024, she started her project. With no permanent space, she borrowed rooms from local businesses. She bought art supplies herself and enlisted friends as volunteer teachers—a lawyer from Shanghai, an aquarium employee, and a foreign national based in Pingtan. "When we first had a bubble tea shop owner teach the kids how to make drinks, one child couldn't get the thin straw into the cup. She was trying so hard, her nose was beaded with sweat. It made my heart ache, but I knew then that this project was absolutely necessary," Yuan said.

With support from the local government and local associations, the after-school project has since offered over 100 classes in dance, painting, and music, serving more than 2,000 child visits. The children's newfound confidence is the greatest reward. "Before, many children were very quiet. Now they actively share their drawings and ideas with me, saying, 'Miss Yuan, I want to be an artist when I grow up,'" Yuan said with a smile. Her story of cross-Straits connection was recently featured in a stage production during the 14th Common Homeland Forum, symbolizing a new chapter in people-to-people exchange.