The German Trade Office Taipei (GTO) led 17 German companies to New Taipei City’s Wulai Elementary and Junior High School today for its annual “CSR Day”. Through tailor-made, hands-on lessons based on their fields of expertise, German business representatives turned into one-day teachers, guiding students in exploring topics such as environment, technology, safety, and sustainability. The interactive classes encouraged curiosity and broadened the students’ perspectives on the world.
This year marks the fifth consecutive year of GTO’s CSR education initiative—and the first time the program has extended to a mountain community school. Wulai Elementary and Junior High School is well known for its commitment to Atayal cultural preservation and ecological education. Most students come from the Atayal indigenous community, and the school’s curriculum integrates mountain ecology and tribal heritage. Surrounded by lush forests and flowing rivers, the campus symbolizes harmony between nature and culture. The visit of German companies brought a meaningful cross-cultural learning experience to this beautiful mountain school.
Ms. Linda Blechert, General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd., the service unit of the GTO, stated: “Corporate social responsibility is not only a concrete expression of how companies give back to society, but also an important bridge connecting culture, education, and sustainability. German companies have long demonstrated their commitment to Taiwan through action. With CSR Day, we hope to inspire children to experience innovation and compassion through learning—and to transform that inspiration into the courage to explore the world.”
Principal Yi-Ling Tsai of Wulai Elementary and Junior High School expressed her gratitude during the event: “We are honored to welcome the German Trade Office and representatives from German companies to our school for this meaningful CSR Day. This activity is more than just a knowledge-sharing event—it opens international horizons, builds connections between teachers, students, and companies, and creates opportunities for mutual learning. Through these lessons, corporate representatives become one-day teachers who bring experiential learning into our classrooms. On behalf of all our teachers and students, I sincerely thank the German Trade Office and all participating companies for their dedication and effort. Your support for rural education will remain a precious memory for our children.”
The 17 participating German companies designed courses covering topics such as sustainable energy, material science, safety awareness, environmental education, innovative technologies, and scientific experiments. Through hands-on practice and interactive learning, students were introduced to the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and gained an understanding of how innovation can be used to address social challenges.
Since 2019, the German Trade Office Taipei has been organizing the CSR Day program, growing from 8 participating companies in the first year to 17 this year. The steady increase reflects German businesses’ strong commitment to corporate social responsibility in Taiwan. Each year, CSR Day brings professional knowledge into local classrooms while embedding the spirit of “giving back to society” in young minds—continuing to nurture hope and inspiration in Taiwan’s rural education.