Demonstrating Community Welfare and Sustainable Governance: 10 Nantou Communities Advance to National Golden Excellence Selection

The Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2026 'Golden Excellence Community Selection' conducted on-site evaluations in Nantou County from July 23–24 and August 2–3. A total of 10 high-performing communities from across the county participated in the national competition: Liangshan Community, Zhuzi Mountain Community, and Ci'en Community from Puli Township; Beitou Community and Pinglin Community from Caotun Township; Guoxing Community from Guoxing Township; Yingnan Community from Nantou City; and Zhongyang Community, Zhushan Community, and Yanzheng Community from Zhushan Township. These communities underwent on-site assessments by central evaluation committees, collectively demonstrating Nantou County’s achievements in advancing community-based welfare, sustainable development, and community governance.

The County’s Department of Social and Labor Affairs emphasized that communities are vital partners in promoting social welfare and key forces in building localized care systems. In recent years, the county has consistently advanced its community-based welfare policy through flagship programs, economic sustainability empowerment initiatives, the 'Taiwan Dream' community-based youth and child support program, and various community capacity-building measures. These efforts support communities in strengthening organizational operations, cultivating local talent, and integrating public and private resources, gradually constructing happy communities that integrate care services, cultural preservation, local revitalization, industrial development, and environmental sustainability.

The 10 communities representing Nantou County each demonstrated unique development characteristics, fully reflecting the county’s diverse, innovative, and sustainable governance outcomes.

In the Performance Group, Puli Township’s Liangshan Community promotes a vision of 'Three Powers United, Building a Resilient and Kind Community,' creating a multi-generational co-living and resilient community. Caotun Township’s Beitou Community combines local culture, intergenerational learning, and revitalization of public spaces to build the distinctive 'Happy Beitou.' Zhushan Township’s Zhongyang Community showcases strong community development through community-based welfare, innovative support services for vulnerable families, cultural heritage preservation, and an outstanding volunteer team.

In the Excellence Group, Puli Township’s Ci'en Community has built a comprehensive community care network through senior volunteers, the 'Taiwan Dream' youth and child support program, time banking, and autonomous disaster prevention initiatives. Guoxing Township’s Guoxing Community integrates digital technology, new immigrant cultures, inclusive diversity, and volunteer training to create a happy community that is both innovative and inclusive.

In the Bronze Excellence Group, Caotun Township’s Pinglin Community promotes intergenerational learning, green care, back-friendly vegetable gardens, 'Taiwan Dream' youth support, and circular economy practices, showcasing sustainable development in rural communities. Zhushan Township’s Zhushan Community leverages bamboo industries, urban street culture, and public spaces to integrate elderly care, welfare services, low-carbon sustainability, and cultural preservation, creating a livable community with high quality of life and local character.

In the Silver Excellence Group, Puli Township’s Zhuzi Mountain Community has long promoted elderly care, intergenerational integration, green care, and ESG collaboration with enterprises, earning multiple honors including the top gold award in the National Golden Rural Competition. Nantou City’s Yingnan Community continues to serve as a leading community, guiding surrounding communities through the Small Flagship Program, establishing a model of shared resources and mutual support, fully demonstrating its leadership impact.

In the Gold Excellence Group, Zhushan Township’s Yanzheng Community represents Nantou County in competing for the highest honor. It has long deepened community-based welfare work, comprehensively advancing elderly welfare, community care and support stations, long-term care alleyway stations, smart health management, telemedicine, and flagship programs. By integrating cross-sectoral resources from government, healthcare, education, enterprises, and communities, it balances social, economic, and environmental sustainability, demonstrating a mature, stable, and exemplary community governance model.

Lin Chih-chung, Director of the Department of Social and Labor Affairs, stated, 'The strength of a community comes from every resident willing to contribute.' Community development has no shortcuts—it is the result of long-term accumulation. These 10 participating communities not only represent Nantou County but also reflect the collective efforts of local residents. From elderly care and youth support to intergenerational learning, gender equality, disaster resilience, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability, each community has developed locally distinctive and sustainable service models, fully embodying the core spirit of community-based welfare.

Director Lin expressed hope that the Golden Excellence Community Selection will allow the nation to recognize Nantou’s innovative energy and governance achievements. Through experience sharing, he aims to promote continuous improvement in community development across counties and cities, enabling more stories of happiness to sprout throughout Taiwan. Moving forward, the county government will continue collaborating with township offices and community development associations to deepen the philosophy of community-based welfare, strengthen community self-governance, cross-sector collaboration, and resource integration. It will promote age-friendly environments, intergenerational integration, local revitalization, and sustainable development, building a Nantou that is 'locally shared, intergenerationally integrated, and happily livable,' making communities the most secure, warm, and resilient homes for residents.