Pingchen community is located in Taoyuan County in northern Taiwan. Formerly it was an agricultural area. In recent years, many factories were set up. This community of 1,932 residents is near the west coast highway. Most of its 166 families are engaged in farming though some are businessmen. To modernize Pingchen Community, the government provided funds to construct public facilities and encourage residents to repair their houses, and improve the environment. The vacant land around each house was cultivated into gardens of flowers and vegetables.
The government assists the residents to build fish ponds and seedbeds to increase their incomes. It also encourages families to engage in handicraft production, and the making of shoes, umbrellas and zippers. A network of production is thus constituted. All the products are either shipped or sold collectively through the community's cooperative society. Supplies and agricultural machinery also are purchased collectively to reduce middlemen's profits. To lower the costs further, teams are organized to work at such farm services as planting, harvesting, cultivating seedlings and combatting plant diseases. One unique feature of Pingchen Community is the Boy Scouts' activities. They participate in the community services, such as traffic control, cleaning the environment and caring for the poor and the sick. Pingchen sets a fine example among Taiwan's 2,626 communities.
The purpose of community development is to inspire local residents to take the initiative and contribute their efforts in cooperation with the government. This helps them to improve their lives, promote their welfare, accelerate social progress and stimulate economic growth. It is a multi-purpose and multi-dimension project, including material and spiritual aspects, tangible and intangible welfare. Since 1968 the government has undertaken the development of 4,091 communities in Taiwan Province and Taipei city.
Improved housing after the land reform program.
Community park built on vacant land.
The green yard of a house at Pingchen.
Pingchen village government headquarters.
A neat, clean living room.
Training Boy Scouts to help control traffic.
Sports for the young of the community.
Modern kitchen facilities.
Workshop in the living room.
Raising chickens as a family side-line.
Making zippers at the cooperative society.
Roads built by community residents.
A road scene of Pingchen Community.
A school band at practice.
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