Today, I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible team behind Herita Grow (2026 YOUNG FLY TEAM) to discuss an inspiring project bridging the gap between cultural preservation and active ageing: “Echoes of Tainan: A Senior-Led Walking Journey.”
As Taiwan steps into a super-aged society, finding meaningful, dignified ways to encourage active social participation for older adults is more critical than ever. At the same time, rich local histories risk fading away as generations change. Meeting with the team today made one thing abundantly clear: Echoes of Tainan isn’t just addressing these challenges—it’s turning them into an opportunity for connection, health, and living history.
Flipping the Script on Healthy Ageing
Too often, healthy ageing initiatives treat older adults merely as care recipients. Step into Tainan turns that narrative on its head by recognizing seniors as active contributors and cultural ambassadors.
Instead of sitting in a classroom, local seniors are taking to the streets. By leading guided walking tours through Tainan’s historic districts, they aren’t just getting light physical exercise—they are strengthening their cognitive and social well-being, all while preserving the soul of their city.
How the Journey Works
During our meeting, the team walked me through their thoughtful, step-by-step framework to empower these new community leaders:
- Recruitment & Mobilization: Partnering with local organizations to reach community-dwelling older adults and welcome them into the initiative.
- Interactive Guide Training: Hands-on workshops covering four core pillars: Heritage, Narrative, Guiding, and Practice—building both confidence and storytelling skills.
- Community Walking Tours: Trained seniors step out as guides, weaving their personal memories, lived experiences, and untold local lore directly into historic landmarks.
What Makes This Project Special
What excited me most about our discussion today was the multi-layered impact of this model:
- Physical & Mental Health: Regular walking combined with narrative recall keeps both mind and body active.
- Intergenerational Magic: Younger participants get to experience Tainan’s history not from a textbook, but through the eyes and voices of those who lived it.
- Scalable Impact: The team’s goal isn’t just local; they are building a sustainable, replicable community framework that can be adapted in cities everywhere.
Looking Ahead
My meeting with the Herita Grow team left me energized about the future of community-led social innovation. Echoes of Tainan is proof that history isn’t just found in museums—it lives in the memories of our seniors, waiting to be shared, step by step.
I’m thrilled about the collaboration opportunities we discussed today. As a exciting next step, the team will be joining our Special Interest Groups from around the world to present their project at a future global meeting! We can’t wait to introduce their inspiring model to our broader community and watch these tours bring Tainan’s historic streets to life.
Get in Touch: Interested in learning more about the project or supporting the initiative? You can reach the team directly at heritagrow@gmail.com.